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Remember back in 2016, when the Cubs were really lucky with injuries? Sure, Dexter Fowler missed some time in the middle of the year, while John Lackey, Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon missed time near the end of the season and Kyle Schwarber’s injury was so early that the Cubs adapted quickly. Yet, overall the Cubs didn’t have any serious injuries. That hasn’t been the case in 2018, and with less than two weeks left in the regular season the Cubs have shut down another key pitcher.
There was already a slim chance that Brandon Morrow would be able to contribute down the stretch, as he was hoping to return from his army injury that’s kept him out of action since the middle of July and now those chances are gone.
Before Tuesday’s game against the Diamondbacks, Theo Epstein announced that Morrow has been shut down for the season, joining Yu Darvish and Drew Smyly, who was hoping he could pitch this year after having Tommy John surgery last summer.
So, the Cubs will officially be without Morrow for the rest of the year.
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Theo says Brandon Morrow's season is over.
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) September 18, 2018
Since Morrow first got an MRI on his right arm, as he went on the DL with a biceps injury, he said he always felt something. Even as he was optimistic that he’d return some time in September, Morrow continued to say that he felt something in his arm, but that he would pitch through it.
That seems to be a risk the Cubs weren’t willing to take.
Here's an idea of how improbable Brandon Morrow anchoring the #Cubs bullpen in October would have been: He said he felt a grabbing sensation in his right elbow/biceps while doing everyday things like reaching for his cup of coffee.
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) September 19, 2018
So, guys like Jesse Chavez, Justin Wilson, Carl Edwards Jr. and Steve Cishek will have to step up and maybe this even opens up a shot for Dillon Maples, but his command still scares me.
Also, it now looks like Jorge de la Rosa is a lock for the postseason roster. No way anyone saw that coming when the Cubs picked him up in the middle of August after he was cut by Arizona.
The good news is that the stating rotation has been amazing for the past month, finally pitching up to its collective potential and hopefully that carries into the playoffs. If we keep seeing long outings, then that obviously takes some pressure off the bullpen.
Back to Morrow. The injury doesn’t require surgery, just more time to heal.
Brandon Morrow's injury doesn't require surgery, and with a full offseason to recover, the #Cubs expect him to be 100 percent for spring training (though Theo Epstein is already talking about how to manage the closer's workload in 2019).
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) September 19, 2018
As always, expect the Cubs to explore every avenue to get more pitching help in the offseason because at this point you can’t really rely on Morrow for an entire season. Morrow is still signed through next year for the Cubs.
