The Chicago Cubs were dealt a pair of blows in the bullpen as the team prepares for Opening Day on Thursday, March 26, against the Washington Nationals.
Manager Craig Counsell told reporters, including Elise Menaker of Marquee Sports Network, that right-hander Porter Hodge and left-hander Jordan Wicks will both begin the season on the injured list. The pitchers are each dealing with arm injuries. Hodge has a flexor strain in his throwing arm, while Wicks is working through a nerve problem.
The injuries will impact the Cubs’ bullpen in multiple areas. Hodge was slated to be in the late-inning mix with Daniel Palencia, Phil Maton, and Hunter Harvey. Wicks was set to factor in as a long reliever and depth option in the starting rotation. His absence leaves Chicago thin on left-handed choices in the bullpen, with Caleb Thielbar as the only southpaw who’s a lock for the roster.
Chicago Cubs Roster Missing a Pair of Relievers After Injury Updates
The 25-year-old Hodge emerged as a key member of the Cubs’ bullpen when he debuted in 2024. The righty delivered a 1.88 ERA across 43 innings. He notched nine saves and picked up three wins. Hodge capped off the first no-hitter at Wrigley Field in more than 50 years with a perfect 9th inning on September 4, 2024, against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Hodge was far less effective this past season. He scuffled to a 6.27 ERA across 36 appearances with the big-league club. Hodge had multiple stints on the IL in 2025, first with an oblique strain in late May, then with a shoulder issue in early July. He bounced up and down between Triple-A and the majors after coming back from the second injury.
Wicks was a first-round draft pick back in 2021. He reached the majors in 2023, making seven starts with the Cubs. Wicks recorded a 4.41 ERA over 34.2 innings in his first taste of the majors. The lefty made a career-high 10 starts in 2024, though his ERA ballooned over 5.00. He pushed his strikeout rate up near 20%, but struggled to keep the ball in the yard and limit hard contact.
The 2025 campaign saw Wicks function strictly as a reliever. He made eight appearances for the Cubs out of the bullpen. Notably, his fastball velocity jumped from 92.5 mph in 2024 to 94.4 mph this past season. The increased velocity didn’t lead to more strikeouts, but it suggested Wicks’ stuff could play up in a different role.
Who Fills Out The Cubs’ Bullpen?
The Chicago bullpen will look a bit different heading into the 2026 season. Ryan Pressly, Brad Keller, and Andrew Kittredge were all part of the late-inning mix in 2025. Keller signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, Kittredge was traded to the Baltimore Orioles, and Pressly retired.
Palencia will resume closer duties after a breakout season. The young flamethrower piled up 22 saves in his first extended look as a big leaguer. The Cubs went out and grabbed Maton on a two-year, $14.5 million deal. He split the 2025 season between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers. Harvey joined the squad on a one-year, $6 million pact. Injuries limited him to just 12 games with the Kansas City Royals last year.
Cubs’ Bullpen Takes Hit After Troubling Injury Updates