Cubs reliever Brandon Morrow experiences setback, timeline to return unknown
Cubs reliever Brandon Morrow this week experienced another setback in his recovery from offseason elbow surgery.
After showing positive progression in his rehab from offseason elbow surgery, Cubs reliever Brandon Morrow experienced a setback this week, making his timeline to return unclear.
Morrow, who missed the second half of last season with bicep inflammation, told the Cubs he felt discomfort after throwing in a side session earlier this week. As a result, manager Joe Maddon said Saturday the team is temporarily shutting him down.
“The bounce back after the last time out wasn’t as good,” Maddon said. “So we have to back off him once again. And just slow things down, it’s just where he’s at. It’s not unlike what’s been going on earlier, so it was all trending very well and this last time, just not as good.”
Morrow, who is signed through 2019 with a club option in 2020, underwent elbow surgery in November and has been recovering in Arizona since.
Morrow has been plagued with injuries throughout his entire career has been staying healthy. He has been on the disabled list at least once in eight of the last nine seasons for various injuries including forearm tightness, strained oblique, entrapped radial nerve, shoulder inflammation, finger injury, bicep inflammation and back tightness.
At 34, Morrow, who made his debut in 2007, has still never managed to make it through a full major-league season. He came close twice. In 2010, he made 26 starts, but was shutdown in September because he reached his inning limit. And in 2017 — the last time he remained uninjured for a year — Morrow started the season in the minors after he was a non-roster invitee to the Dodgers’ spring training.
Morrow’s unknown timeline is bad news for the Cubs, who are relying on Morrow to be their closer this season.
Though the Cubs’ bullpen got off to a rough start this season, allowing 31 runs through 29⅓ innings in the first eight games, they’ve put together better outings lately. Before Saturday’s game, the relievers combined for a 1.16 ERA in the last 10 games.
Against the Diamondbacks on Saturday
After struggling early on, the relievers have put together better outings In the last 11 games, they’ve combined for a 1.80 ERA.
The bullpen has been anchored by right-handers Steve Cishek, Pedro Strop and Brandon Kintzler. Cishek has pitched five consecutive scoreless outings, and Pedro Strop has allowed three hits and two runs over 5⅔ innings this season. Meanwhile, Kintzler has only allowed one hit in his last four appearances.
Scare at home
Maddon said catcher Willson Contreras is “fine” after Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker took out his left leg while trying to slide into home in the sixth inning.
Contreras, who went 1-for-3 with a double and walk, received a fielding error on the play in which the Diamondbacks increased their lead to four runs.
Though Contreras remained in the game after the injury scare, Maddon replaced him in the eighth with Taylor Davis.
Contreras, who has reached base in eight-straight games, went 1-for-3 with a double and walk. He’s expected to start Sunday in the Cubs’ series finale against the Diamondbacks.