Cubs' Edward Cabrera Makes First Rehab Start

Cabrera, 28, has not pitched since suffering a left hamstring strain in his June 23 start against the New York Mets. The right-hander needed to be carted off the field after injuring his left hamstring while covering first base on a groundout.

Cabrera was placed on the 15-day injured list the following day for the second time in 2026. He previously landed on the injured list because of a right middle-finger blister in late May.

Those injuries have played a major role in Cabrera's disappointing first season in Chicago. Yet even when healthy, he has not pitched like the starter the Cubs envisioned when they acquired him from the Miami Marlins for a package headlined by their top prospect at the time, Owen Caissie.

In 14 starts this season, Cabrera is 5-4 with a 5.10 ERA and 1.40 WHIP over 72.1 innings. He has recorded 65 strikeouts to 29 walks while opponents are hitting a career-high .262 against him.

Despite his struggles, Cabrera remains a key piece in Chicago's rotation. However, the group's depth has been tested by injuries.

Cabrera and Ben Brown (stress reaction in his neck) are both on the 15-day injured list, while Justin Steele (left elbow UCL revision repair surgery) and Cade Horton (Tommy John surgery) remain out indefinitely. Horton is expected to be sidelined until at least late 2027, while Steele hopes to return later this season in a relief role.

The Cubs also designated Jameson Taillon for assignment on Monday.

Chicago's starting rotation currently consists of Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Javier Assad, David Peterson, and Colin Rea. The Cubs also have starter Aaron Civale, whom they recently acquired in a trade with the Athletics after he was designated for assignment. However, he has been used exclusively as a reliever in three appearances with Chicago so far.

That thin group has made trading for starting pitching a priority ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline. Even if sidelined starters, including Cabrera, return before the postseason, quality starting pitching depth is crucial.

The Cubs have already been linked to top starters on the market, including Tarik Skubal, Freddy Peralta, and Clay Holmes.

So while Chicago is likely to acquire starting pitching help, Cabrera is also expected to rejoin the rotation once he is reinstated. The Cubs hope he can become an X-Factor in their postseason push.

Entering Saturday, the Cubs (62-48) sit 6.5 games behind the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers but have a firm hold on the top Wild Card spot, four games ahead of the second Wild Card Arizona Diamondbacks.