Cubs get unfortunate injury update on 2.16 ERA rookie amid Padres series originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Chicago Cubs will be without one of their bullpen arms for longer than they had originally thought.
After an original diagnosis showed elbow inflammation, rookie Riley Martin is expected to miss about eight weeks due to a flexor strain, reports Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network.
Martin had already been placed on the injured list, but will require more time on the shelf. The lefty posted a 2.16 ERA and struck out 10 of the 31 batters he faced in 8.1 innings.
"It’s a tough development for both Martin and the Cubs," Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors wrote Tuesday. "The 2021 sixth-rounder was added to the 40-man roster back in November in order to shield him from the Rule 5 Draft after he’d posted a 2.69 ERA and 30.7% strikeout rate in 63 2/3 Triple-A frames last year."
More: Shohei Ohtani deemed more valuable than Aaron Judge in recent ESPN discussion piece
The Cubs have already faced a plethora of injuries to their pitching staff in 2026.
Right-hander Porter Hodge is out for the year after undergoing UCL surgery, and Daniel Palencia is out due to a lat strain. Phil Maton was out for a few weeks with tendinitis in his right knee.
Chicago will need better injury luck moving forward to remain competitive. It's not sustainable to lose that many pitchers and continue to find ways to play above .500 baseball.
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