Cubs hurler Stroman diagnosed with rib cartilage fracture, no timeline for return
The Cubs started game day with more bad news about pitcher Marcus Stroman.
After an MRI exam, he was diagnosed with a right rib cage cartilage fracture, the team announced Wednesday. A day earlier, the news was Stroman would not be making his scheduled return from the injured list due to discomfort in the rib area that needed to be checked out.
Both manager David Ross and president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said they have no idea when Stroman might be ready to return.
"Disappointed, obviously," Ross said. "Just got to wait and see how long and how much pain he's actually in. Getting him back, we're going to have to rely on him being symptom-free. So how long that takes, nobody really knows. It's kind of just up in the air.
"Somebody will step up and pitch well, we'll keep this train rolling. I know he'll work his way back and try to help us out."
Stroman last pitched on July 31 against Cincinnati, then went on the injured list with right hip inflammation. He received a cortisone shot and appeared to be on track to return Wednesday against the White Sox. But after throwing a bullpen session in Toronto on Sunday, he began feeling pain in his ribs and no one is quite sure what caused this new injury.
"All the bullpens had been going well," Hoyer said. "We found out on Sunday he was having some issues. We didn't know if it was muscular, we didn't know if was skeletal, we didn't know if it was indigestion. We didn't know what it was, we just had no idea at that point.
"I think this time of year, you don't stop and wallow too much. It's too bad. We'd love to have him pitching for us, but he's not and we'll keep playing well."
Javier Assad took over as Wednesday's starting pitcher, and the Cubs will use Jameson Taillon, Justin Steele and Kyle Hendricks this weekend against Kansas City.
Ross said he's leaning heavily toward going with left-hander Drew Smyly to fill the open spot in the rotation, but Hayden Wesneski is another option. Smyly has been used just once in relief since his last start on Aug. 7. The Cubs are hoping the rest will do him some good, since he has a 9.00 ERA in his last eight starts.
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