Chicago Cubs bullpen health update: Who’s due back and when?

The Chicago Cubs have been besieged by pitching injuries this season.

The misfortune of the starting rotation has gotten the most headline attention, of course. Losing Cade Horton for the season and Matthew Boyd, Edward Cabrera, Ben Brown, and Jameson Taillon for extended periods of time is exceptionally noteworthy. Then, of course, there was the setback in Justin Steele’s rehab from elbow surgery last year.

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But the Cubs bullpen has also been rocked by injury, stressed and strain to the point of near collapse. Currently on the shelf are closer Daniel Palencia and anticipated high-leverage relievers Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, and Hunter Harvey, along with Riley Martin and Ethan Roberts.

The hope is that a lot of the Cubs’ big bullpen players might be in line for a return after the All-Star break and that, possibly, there might be some reinforcements acquired before the August 3 MLB trade deadline.

Maton’s rehab assignment, Palencia’s target date

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Here’s an update on the status of at least a few of the team’s bullpen pieces:

Phil Maton, who was put on the shelf June 26 with right knee tendinitis—his second stint on the IL with the same issue—had his first minor league rehab outing with the Iowa Cubs on Wednesday. The veteran right-hander looked sharp in striking out four in 1.2 scoreless innings.

A healthy, productive Maton would provide a big boost to the Cubs, who signed the reliever to a two-year, $14.5 million contract expecting him to be an anchor in a restocked bullpen. The ten-year veteran, however, has struggled all season and is currently posting a 6.08 ERA through 30 appearances.

An even bigger deal for the Cubs is probably the status of closer Daniel Palencia.

The hard-throwing 26-year-old is working through his second stint on the IL, this time dealing with right elbow inflammation and a mild flexor strain. This injury, along with an earlier lat strain that had him on the shelf, has limited the righty to just 16.2 innings over 19 appearances this season.

Recently, Cubs manager Craig Counsell offered an update, stating that the closer won’t begin throwing to any serious degree until after the All-Star break.

The news puts into question Palencia’s ability to step back into his late-inning high-leverage role. In turn, it also adds another item to the Cubs’ trade deadline shopping list—a capable closer.

Milner and Martin

Lefty Hoby Milner, who had been one of the team’s most reliable bullpen arms until sidelined on June 27 after an emergency appendectomy, seems to have a more straightforward path to his comeback. If there are no unforeseen setbacks in his recovery, the window for return appears to be early-to-mid August.

Surprising rookie breakthrough bullpen asset Riley Martin is now throwing and stepping up his rehab after going on the 60-day IL with a left elbow flexor strain. A late August return seems to be the most realistic estimate for him.

In the meantime, as the Cubs wait on their returning bullpen assets, the team will continue to make due with their current ragtag group of relievers, consisting in great part of castoffs from other teams.

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