Cubs' Marcus Stroman to be activated off COVID-19 list to start vs. Diamondbacks on Thursday

Chicago Cubs right-handed starter Marcus Stroman is back. 

As ESPN's Jesse Rogers explained, Stroman is on track to be activated from the COVID-19 injured list so he can take the bump against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday evening. Stroman hasn't pitched since May 1 when he gave the Cubs seven scoreless innings in a victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, his first win of the season and first with Chicago. 

The 31-year-old is 1-3 with a 5.13 ERA in five starts on the campaign. 

"We've missed him," manager David Ross said of Stroman before Wednesday's matchup versus the Pittsburgh Pirates. "That's for sure. Guys have picked up the slack. It will be nice to get him back. He was throwing the ball as good as anyone before he went down. This is a version of our rotation we felt it would look like coming out of spring training."

Additionally, Chicago activated closer David Robertson off the COVID-19 IL in time for Wednesday's encounter. 

"You never know until you know," Ross added about players returning from coronavirus-related absences. "The expectations are one thing but actually getting clearance from everyone is ... We hope for the best, but it doesn't always work out."

The 15-20 Cubs began Wednesday evening third in the National League Central standings, 7.5 games back of the first-place Brewers.