The Chicago Cubs moved left-hander Jordan Wicks (oblique) to the 60-day injured list on Friday to make room on the 40-man roster for pitcher Jesus Tinoco, whose contract was selected from the minors. Wicks will not be eligible to come off the IL until the middle of August, but he might need more time than that after suffering a Grade 2 right-oblique strain in the middle of June. The 24-year-old southpaw went 1-2 with a 4.18 ERA (3.09 FIP) and 1.46 WHIP with 32 strikeouts and 10 walks in 28 innings over his seven appearances (six starts) for the Cubbies earlier this year before getting hurt. When healthy, Hicks can be a matchup-based streamer in deeper fantasy leagues, but there's no guarantee he'll return in a starting role later this season.
Jordan Wicks Still Not Cleared For Rehab Assignment
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jordan Wicks (forearm) is scheduled to throw two more bullpen sessions before embarking on his rehab assignment, as per manager Craig Counsell. Wicks is making significant progress after only being placed on the 15-day injured list on April 28. The southpaw has already faced live hitters but the Cubs are leaning on the side of caution with their young starting pitcher. The 24-year-old made his major league debut late last season and posted a modest 4.41 ERA and 1.27 WHIP through 34 innings. This season, he has thrown only 23 innings with a 4.70 ERA and 1.52 WHIP. When Wicks is cleared to return, he should expected to operate as the fifth man in the Cubs rotation, making him only worth rostering in deeper fantasy leagues.
Drew Smyly, Jordan Wicks Throwing Bullpens Tuesday
Chicago Cubs left-handers Drew Smyly (hip) and Jordan Wicks (forearm) were both scheduled to throw bullpen sessions on Tuesday. Wicks went on the injured list over a week ago with a strained left forearm but is already good to throw off a mound, so it sounds as though his injury isn't very serious. However, the 24-year-old southpaw could need a minor-league rehab assignment before the Cubs feel comfortable returning him to their starting rotation. Smyly, 34, is recovering from a right-hip impingement and has already missed several weeks. Because Smyly is a reliever, he may not need as lengthy of a rehab assignment before rejoining Chicago's bullpen. In a starting role, Wicks is more attractive in fantasy in deeper leagues. He had a 4.70 ERA with a 1.52 WHIP and 28 K's in five starts before his injury.
Chicago Cubs left-handers Jordan Wicks (forearm) and Drew Smyly (hip) have been cleared to resume playing catch. Wicks just landed on the 15-day injured list this past Sunday with a left-forearm strain, while Smyly has been out for two weeks due to a right-hip impingement. Wicks' injury is obviously a bit less serious, but it's good news for the Cubs pitching staff that both southpaws are ramping back up. It's unclear when either hurler will be able to return to the big-league roster, but when Wicks is ready, he should return to the rotation. The 24-year-old went 1-2 with a 4.70 ERA and 1.52 WHIP with 28 K's in 23 innings in his first five starts. Smyly has plenty of starting experience, but he figures to return to the Cubs' bullpen when he's activated.
Jordan Wicks Won't Start Sunday Due To Forearm Tightness
Chicago Cubs left-hander Jordan Wicks (forearm) will not start in Sunday's game against the Boston Red Sox due to left forearm tightness. Wicks picked up the injury after his last start between Saturday and his previous start on Tuesday. The 24-year-old is considered day-to-day and will miss at least one start. Hayden Wesneski will replace Wicks on Sunday. Wesneski owns a 0.16 WHIP and a 3:0 K: BB across 6 1/3 innings in 2024. The Red Sox offense just put up 17 runs on the Cubs and is firing on all cylinders heading into the series finale, making Wesneski a risky fantasy streamer or DFS play on Sunday.
Javier Assad, Jordan Wicks The Favorites For Final Rotation Spot?
The Chicago Cubs have Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon, Kyle Hendricks, and Shota Imanaga locked into the top four spots in their starting rotation to begin the 2024 season, with Javier Assad, Drew Smyly, Hayden Wesneski and Jordan Wicks battling for the final spot in spring training. Right now, Assad and Wicks might have the edge for the fifth spot, but it's a coin flip, according to MLB's Jordan Bastian. Manager Craig Counsell wants to maintain flexibility with the last rotation spot, meaning there could be a shuttle between Triple-A Iowa and Chicago to build in extra rest for the starters. If Smyly doesn't win the job, he should fit in the bullpen. Assad, 26, had a strong 3.05 ERA and 1.23 WHIP over 109 1/3 innings in 2023. Wicks, 24, a former first-rounder, had a 4.41 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in just 34 2/3 innings in his rookie season.
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jordan Wicks is a candidate to open the year at Triple-A Iowa, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian. Wicks is presumably competing with Javier Assad, Drew Smyly, and Hayden Wesneski for the No. 5 role in the rotation, and Bastian notes that Wicks could be "better served" establishing a starter's routine in Triple-A until needed at the big-league level. The 24-year-old showed flashes of promise during his rookie season last year, going 4-1 with a 4.47 ERA, 6.23 K/9, 2.86 BB/9, and .269 BABIP.
Chicago Cubs left-hander Jordan Wicks will make his second career start on Friday when he faces Graham Ashcraft and the Cincinnati Reds. In his first start, the club's No. 10 prospect struck out nine over five innings of work while allowing just one run against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Wicks has good stuff and could be a solid big-league arm over his career, but he's not a must-add yet, especially in standard 12-team formats. However, fantasy managers in deeper leagues can take a chance on the 24-year-old and hope he recaptures what he did in his last start.
The Chicago Cubs are calling up their 2021 first-round pick, left-hander Jordan Wicks, from the minors on Saturday. Wicks, who turns 24 next week, was 7-0 with a 3.55 ERA between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa this year, also adding a 1.17 WHIP, 32 walks and 99 strikeouts in 91 1/3 total innings over 20 starts. He has a good changeup to go along with a fastball/slider combination. MLB Pipeline currently has him ranked as Chicago's No. 10 prospect. Wicks will immediately enter the Cubs' starting rotation to take the place of lefty Drew Smyly, who is being moved to the bullpen. Wicks will likely make his major-league debut on Sunday in a strong matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates, so he might be worth picking up and streaming right away in deeper fantasy leagues.
