Right-hander Edward Cabrera is reportedly set to throw again on Saturday while he recovers from a blister. The plan, however, is for him to return as a bullpen piece rather than rejoin the starting rotation immediately. This shift comes amid a rotation that has been hit hard by injuries, making the move a noteworthy development for the Cubs.
Cabrera has endured a difficult season in 15 starts, posting a 5.68 ERA across 76 innings, along with 67 strikeouts and 32 walks. That performance would represent a career-worst winning percentage above replacement (bWAR) mark. In his last seven starts, Cabrera has an 8.49 ERA, averaging just over four innings per outing. His walk rate sits at 9.7%, underscoring control issues that have plagued him.
Statistically, the struggles extend beyond traditional metrics. Baseball Savant data shows an expected ERA (xERA) of 5.07, placing him in the 12th percentile for that metric. Additionally, a regression in his previously effective curveball and changeup has contributed to poorer results this season.
Cabrera’s professional journey began with the Miami Marlins, who signed him as an international free agent in 2015. He debuted with Miami in 2021 but has faced recurring health problems throughout his career. Last season marked a high-water mark for starts and innings, with 26 starts and 137.2 innings pitched and a 3.53 ERA. This year represents a step back after his move to Chicago.
Cabrera has not pitched since August 16. In January, he was part of a trade that sent him to the Cubs in exchange for a package headed by top prospect Owen Caissie. Caissie has appeared in 97 games in the minors for Miami, posting generally average numbers for a top prospect.
As Cabrera moves to a bullpen role, the Cubs face questions about who will fill the fifth spot in the rotation. The current group with solidified rotation slots includes Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes, Matthew Boyd, and Shota Imanaga, assuming health. The fifth spot, previously contested among Cabrera, Ben Brown, Justin Steele, and Cade Horton, has been unsettled, with Jameson Taillon having been designated for assignment.
With Cabrera transitioning to a bullpen role, the Cubs must decide whether the next starter will come from the pool of internal options. David Peterson and Colin Rea are among the candidates to fill the vacancy in the rotation, should Cabrera’s bullpen duties restrict his availability as a starter. Peterson, who joined the Cubs in June, carried a 3.93 ERA in 50.1 innings with Chicago after being with the Mets, where he posted a 6.09 ERA earlier in the season. Rea has a 4.55 ERA across 124.2 innings this year as both a starter and long reliever, and he has some bullpen experience as well.
The Cubs’ rotation situation has been a concern, but the organization could be turning a corner as health improves. A return from injury in a bullpen role may provide flexibility for managing innings and matchups while remaining a part of the relief corps. The coming weeks will reveal how the rotation will be stabilized and who seizes the fifth starting slot as the team aims to regain consistency on the mound.
