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Cubs Expand Pitching Injury List, Recall Hollowell, DFA Nunez Amid Rotation Shakeup
The Chicago Cubs expanded their injury list Tuesday, placing right‑hander Ben Brown on the 15‑day IL after a neck strain. The move followed manager Craig Counsell’s announcement that right‑hander Edward Cabrera would also go on the IL with a hamstring strain, two days after the club had already added a second arm to its injury list. Both placements were confirmed in a press release issued on June 24.
In the same announcement, the Cubs recalled right‑hander Gavin Hollowell from Triple‑A Iowa, selected the contract of veteran right‑hander Vince Velasquez, and designated right‑hander Eduardo Núñez for assignment. The club also named Tyler Ferguson as the 27th man for the doubleheader scheduled that day. The roster changes leave the Cubs with a rotation that includes Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Colin Rea and Javier Assad, while the injured list now lists Brown, Cabrera, Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, Cade Horton and Justin Steele.
Brown, 26, has been a key component of the Cubs’ pitching depth after stepping into the rotation in early May. He has completed eight starts with a 1.70 earned run average, posting a 6.3% walk rate and striking out 22.5% of batters. The Cubs have not yet indicated a return date, and the IL placement is retroactive to June 21, meaning Brown could be available after 12 days if the injury is minor. The club’s president of baseball operations, Jed Hoyer, said that while the Cubs are exploring options to add pitching depth, a trade is unlikely before the All‑Star break.
Hoyer’s comments come as the Cubs face a significant pitching shortage. With Horton out for the season and Steele unlikely to return as a starter, the organization is looking to fill gaps in both the rotation and bullpen. The DFA of Núñez, a right‑hander who has struggled in limited major‑league action, creates an opportunity for the Cubs to either place him on outright waivers or release him within the next five days.
Núñez has appeared in 19 ⅔ minor‑league innings this season, posting a 6.41 ERA and a 19.6% walk rate. His fastball averages 95.4 mph, down from a 98.8 mph peak last year. The Cubs will have to decide whether to keep him in the organization or move on, as his performance has not met the club’s expectations.
The injury list and roster moves underscore the Cubs’ ongoing struggle with pitching health. With the team’s rotation already thin, the addition of Hollowell and Velasquez provides immediate depth, but the long‑term solution may require a trade or free‑agent signing after the All‑Star break. The Cubs’ next game will feature Boyd on the mound, giving the club a rotation mix that includes the veteran starter and several younger arms.
The situation remains fluid as the Cubs monitor Brown’s recovery and evaluate options for Núñez. The organization’s next steps will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike, as the Cubs aim to stabilize their pitching staff amid a challenging season.
In the same announcement, the Cubs recalled right‑hander Gavin Hollowell from Triple‑A Iowa, selected the contract of veteran right‑hander Vince Velasquez, and designated right‑hander Eduardo Núñez for assignment. The club also named Tyler Ferguson as the 27th man for the doubleheader scheduled that day. The roster changes leave the Cubs with a rotation that includes Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Colin Rea and Javier Assad, while the injured list now lists Brown, Cabrera, Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, Cade Horton and Justin Steele.
Brown, 26, has been a key component of the Cubs’ pitching depth after stepping into the rotation in early May. He has completed eight starts with a 1.70 earned run average, posting a 6.3% walk rate and striking out 22.5% of batters. The Cubs have not yet indicated a return date, and the IL placement is retroactive to June 21, meaning Brown could be available after 12 days if the injury is minor. The club’s president of baseball operations, Jed Hoyer, said that while the Cubs are exploring options to add pitching depth, a trade is unlikely before the All‑Star break.
Hoyer’s comments come as the Cubs face a significant pitching shortage. With Horton out for the season and Steele unlikely to return as a starter, the organization is looking to fill gaps in both the rotation and bullpen. The DFA of Núñez, a right‑hander who has struggled in limited major‑league action, creates an opportunity for the Cubs to either place him on outright waivers or release him within the next five days.
Núñez has appeared in 19 ⅔ minor‑league innings this season, posting a 6.41 ERA and a 19.6% walk rate. His fastball averages 95.4 mph, down from a 98.8 mph peak last year. The Cubs will have to decide whether to keep him in the organization or move on, as his performance has not met the club’s expectations.
The injury list and roster moves underscore the Cubs’ ongoing struggle with pitching health. With the team’s rotation already thin, the addition of Hollowell and Velasquez provides immediate depth, but the long‑term solution may require a trade or free‑agent signing after the All‑Star break. The Cubs’ next game will feature Boyd on the mound, giving the club a rotation mix that includes the veteran starter and several younger arms.
The situation remains fluid as the Cubs monitor Brown’s recovery and evaluate options for Núñez. The organization’s next steps will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike, as the Cubs aim to stabilize their pitching staff amid a challenging season.
