Cubs Boss Reveals Bizarre Reason Ethan Roberts Placed on IL

Counsell then goes on to speak about the pair of players, Luke Little and Ryan Rolison, who were recalled from Triple-A Iowa.

"At this point, we are just getting reinforcements. It is happening at a rate that is not good, and it is also happening to all right-handed pitchers, so that is why there are a lot of lefties out there right now."

He sadly chuckled and then finished with, "That is why we are in such a heavy bullpen strategy right now, as we are without so many able bodies."

With the pen being a key piece to Chicago's game plan, the loss of Roberts is just an extra nail in the coffin, as he has been almost perfect in '26 with a measly hit in three games and no earned runs.

Current IL for the Cubs

The first name that immediately comes to mind is Cade Horton, who wasn't just one of the best rookies in baseball last season, but emerged as a top arm in the NL as he posted 28.1 scoreless innings in the second half.

Alas, the Cubs lost him for the entirety of 2026, the largest blow to their starting rotation.

• RHP Ethan Roberts- Right middle finger laceration
• LHP Matthew Boyd- Left bicep strain
• LHP Jordan Wicks- Left forearm radial nerve irritation
• RHP Phil Maton- Right knee tendinitis
• RHP Hunter Harvey- Right tricep inflammation
• RHP Cade Horton- right UCL in the elbow
• RHP Porter Hodge- right flexor strain
• LHP Justin Steele- surgery recovery from UCL surgery in 2025
• RHP Shelby Miller- right UCL (likely not to pitch this year)

On paper, this could have easily been the roster to dismantle the reigning world champs. Now, they are just trying to figure out a way to get above .500.

If this continues on for much longer, the Cubs won't just lose the division, they won't make the playoffs.