Cubs pitcher Edward Cabrera headed
to IL after being carted off the field with a left leg injury
[June 24, 2026]
By MIKE FITZPATRICK
NEW YORK (AP) — Edward Cabrera is about to join a string of starting
pitchers on the Chicago Cubs' injured list.
The right-hander was carted off the field Tuesday night after
hurting his left leg stretching for a throw at first base against
the New York Mets.
Cabrera has a left hamstring/adductor strain. He will get an MRI on
Wednesday and be placed on the IL, manager Craig Counsell said.
It's another blow to the Cubs (41-37), who already have four
starters sidelined. Matthew Boyd (left meniscus) and Jameson Taillon
(strained left hamstring) are on the 15-day injured list. Cade
Horton (right forearm strain) and Justin Steele (left elbow) are on
the 60-day IL.
That leaves Shota Imanaga, Colin Rea, Ben Brown and Javier Assad as
the only healthy pitchers remaining in the rotation — and Counsell
was asked his level of concern.
“Concerned. Yeah, I mean, we’re in a rough spot," he said Tuesday
night following a 9-6 victory. "I think we can get through it, you
know, to the All-Star break. But yeah, we’re going to have to — it’s
going to be a little bit of a puzzle until then.”
With two runners aboard in the fifth inning, Cabrera hustled over to
cover the bag when Jared Young hit a two-out grounder wide of first.
Second baseman Nico Hoerner made a sliding stop on the outfield
grass and threw to Cabrera, who went into a split as he caught the
toss for the final out of the inning.
“In that moment, all I was thinking about was to get that out,”
Cabrera said through an interpreter. “That's the only thing that was
going through my mind.”
The 28-year-old Cabrera grabbed for the inside of his left thigh,
then got to his feet and tried to walk toward the dugout. But he
went back down in obvious pain and needed assistance just to stand
before a cart arrived. With a towel draped over his face, he was
driven off the field through an opening in the outfield wall at Citi
Field.
[to top of second column] |
Chicago Cubs' pitcher Edward Cabrera leave the game after an injury
during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets
, Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
“It was a new sensation. A feeling I never felt
before,” Cabrera said. “In the moment, it did get me upset.”
A few innings later came an announcement in the press box saying
Cabrera exited with a left hamstring/adductor strain.
“He’s gone through the ringer the last three starts, it seems,”
teammate Pete Crow-Armstrong said. “It’s a big bummer, for sure.”
After the game, Cabrera stood in front of his locker on crutches and
said he felt better. The next step is the MRI, which could provide
an idea how long he'll be sidelined.
“See what they say and then we'll go from there," Cabrera said. “I
always just stay positive. That's my mindset.”
Cabrera threw 99 pitches and left with a 7-2 lead. He earned the
win, improving to 5-4 with a 5.10 ERA over 14 starts in his first
season with the Cubs since they acquired him from Miami in January.
Cabrera took Young's second-inning comebacker in the groin area
before picking up the ball and throwing to first base for an out. He
was checked on the mound by Counsell and an athletic trainer before
throwing a warmup pitch and remaining in the game.
“The only thing that was going through my mind was I can't leave the
game this early,” Cabrera said.
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
