Merryweather finally returns from injured list
The two biggest stars of the Cubs bullpen in 2023 were Julian Merryweather and Adbert Alzolay. Both have been missing for the majority of this season, but Merryweather finally returned to the active roster Monday before the Cubs faced Milwaukee.
Merryweather has been out since April 6 with a rib stress fracture, so he's appeared in just four games this season.
“It's great to get him back,” manager Craig Counsell said. “It's been a long time for sure.”
Asked how much he'll be able to use Merryweather considering the time he's missed, Counsell pointed to the Cubs having several days off in the coming weeks, along with the right-hander getting a longer stretch of rehab appearances in the minors.
“He's not really coming off an arm injury,” Counsell said. “He's coming off a unique injury, but it wasn't an elbow or shoulder.”
The Cubs bullpen piled up 18 blown saves this season, tied for third-worst in MLB. Most of those happened early in the season, though. Since June 27, Cubs relievers have posted an impressive 1.09 ERA, best in MLB.
“We've done a good job down there,” Counsell said. “Tyson Miller and Porter Hodge are two guys we added who have pitched really well. The starters doing a good job helps too.”
Merryweather posted a 3.38 ERA last season in 69 appearances, which tied Mark Leiter Jr. for team-best. As corresponding moves, the Cubs sent reliever Hunter Bigge to Iowa and shifted Luke Little to the 60-day injured list.
Bellinger batting
Cody Bellinger has made good progress since suffering a broken left middle finger on July 10 in Baltimore. According to manager Craig Counsell, Bellinger hit in the cage three days in a row without any issues.
“The plan is, as long as today goes well in the cage again, he will hit on the field (Tuesday),” Counsell said. “The hitting is going pretty well. The throwing is going a little bit slower, in terms of what he's feeling from each activity.
“We haven't done the velocity and changing speeds, so there's hurdles, but what he's done this weekend was more than we expected.”
One other injury update involved pitcher Ben Brown (neck strain). He threw a light bullpen in Arizona over the weekend, but there's no timetable yet for a return to game action.
Goodbye to Brewers
This three-game series at Wrigley Field will be the last time the Cubs face the Brewers in the regular season. The Cubs will play St. Louis for the last time on Aug. 4.
For many years, it was tradition to face most every division foe late in the season, but now MLB has shifted to an everyone-plays-everyone format.
“I think it's a good idea to play all of your division opponents in September,” manager Craig Counsell said. “I think that makes sense. (But) everybody's playing the same schedule, just at different times.”
The Cubs will play just two division opponents in September, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, both at home.