Hendricks to IL; Cubs’ focus is injury, then pitching
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Jesse Rogers, ESPN Staff Writer
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs placed struggling right-hander Kyle Hendricks on the injured list Tuesday with lower back pain.
Hendricks, 34, has a 12.00 ERA over his first five starts, which include a league-high eight home runs, 37 hits and 28 earned runs.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Hendricks felt something in his back as he was warming up for his start Sunday against the Marlins. He lasted four innings, giving up four runs on six hits. The outing actually lowered his league-high ERA.
“We have to get past the injury first, then put our heads together on a plan to get him pitching better,” manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday afternoon.
Counsell was asked if this could be the end of the line for the longest-tenured Cub and only remaining member of the 2016 World Series championship team. Hendricks is set to be a free agent at the end of the season.
“No, I don’t think that at all,” Counsell said. “Kyle is not pitching the way he wants to pitch. Kyle has high expectations for himself. When we get past this injury, he’ll go back to work. He’ll commit to him doing everything he can.”
The Cubs recalled right-hander Hayden Wesneski to replace Hendricks on the roster. Either he or Ben Brown could take his spot in the rotation, though Counsell wouldn’t commit to anything just yet. The team is beginning a stretch of 16 games in 16 days and will need a fifth starter later in the week.
The Cubs also placed reliever Drew Smyly on the injured list with right hip impingement, which he began to feel at the end of the Cubs’ last road trip in Phoenix. He pitched effectively on Sunday but will need time to heal.
“He was pitching with it while he was out there,” Counsell said.
Additionally, the team recalled left-handed first baseman Matt Mervis while designating righty Garrett Cooper for assignment. The latter became expendable when corner infielder Patrick Wisdom was activated from the injured list recently. The Cubs wanted a more even split of righties and lefties on the bench.
“The thought was similar players on the roster,” Counsell said of Wisdom and Cooper. “And we’re facing a lot of right-handed pitching.”
Mervis is in his second stint with the Cubs after tearing up Triple-A pitching last season. He struggled in his initial call-up in 2023, hitting just .167 in 27 games. His role will be to back up rookie Michael Busch, who is off to a hot start for Chicago.
“I think it’s a little different this time,” Counsell said of Mervis getting recalled. “He has the experience of that to help him. And it’s coming up in a difference spot. The expectations are different.”
The Cubs host the Houston Astros this week before heading out on the road to face the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets.
The San Diego Padres placed right-hander Michael King on the 15-day injured list Thursday because of left knee inflammation.
King (4-2, 2.81 ERA) had just come off the IL on Saturday, allowing two runs in as many innings of a no-decision against the Boston Red Sox.
It was his first start since May 18 as he dealt with shoulder inflammation.
Now, he’s back on the IL with a knee issue in a move retroactive to Monday.
It’s a setback for a red-hot Padres team, who will carry a five-game winning streak into a weekend showdown against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. First-place San Diego is one game ahead of L.A. in the NL West.
King had been scheduled to start the series opener Friday.
In the corresponding roster move, the Padres recalled right-hander Randy Vásquez from Triple-A El Paso.
While the Milwaukee Brewers keep on rolling, another Wisconsin business is stocking up on beef and buns.
For the third time in its history, George Webb Restaurants will make good on its promise of giving away free hamburgers as part of a longstanding promotion to celebrate the Brewers winning 12 consecutive games.
The free burger giveaway will be held Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. CT at all 23 of the restaurant’s locations throughout Wisconsin. Vouchers for a burger at a later date will be available at all locations starting Friday.
“Hungry fans are welcome to stop by any location for a free, juicy burger and some camaraderie with fellow baseball fans,” the restaurant said on its website.
Starting way back in the 1940s, when Milwaukee was home to the minor league Brewers of the old American Association, George Webb promised free burgers if the local baseball team won 17 consecutive games.
The promotion dropped to 13 games by the time the Braves made Milwaukee a big league city in 1953, but that franchise couldn’t make it happen before departing for Atlanta in 1966.
George Webb changed the promotion to 12 games when the Brewers moved from Seattle in 1970. In 1987, the Brewers opened the season with 13 wins in a row, and more than 170,000 burgers were given away to mark the occasion.
The Brewers accomplished the feat a second time in 2018, closing the regular season with eight victories followed by four playoff wins. That streak led to 90,000 free burgers being given away in addition to 100,000 redeemable vouchers.
Prior to reaching the magic mark on Wednesday, the Brewers had come close on a few occasions, including an 11-game winning streak earlier this season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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