Overview
- Edward Cabrera, who is expected to be activated Friday, is slated to start the opener against the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field.
- Left-hander Matthew Boyd has completed one rehab start with Triple-A Iowa and is scheduled for another this weekend that could lead to a near-term return to the big-league rotation.
- Chicago’s depth has been eroded by a string of injuries — including Cade Horton’s season-ending elbow surgery, Justin Steele’s rehab setback, and right-hander Jaxon Wiggins’ elbow inflammation — a reality Jed Hoyer said has pushed expected pitching depth to its limits.
- Right-hander Ben Brown has emerged as the rotation’s lone consistent starter with a 1.73 ERA in 26 innings, while Shota Imanaga and Jameson Taillon have been uneven and the group’s recent 6.33 rotation ERA ranks near the bottom of MLB.
- With internal returns offering only partial relief, analysts have urged aggressive trades for top arms such as Tarik Skubal, though sources note June is a slower market and cost will complicate any near-term deal ahead of the August trade deadline.