CHICAGO (670 The Score) – Just when the Cubs thought they were getting a key member of their rotation back, they revealed Tuesday afternoon that right-hander Marcus Stroman has a new injury that he's dealing with.
Stroman reported right rib discomfort Tuesday after recently throwing a side session. That derailed the hopes of him returning to the rotation Wednesday, which was the Cubs' original plan. Stroman originally landed on the injury list due to a hip ailment, and he hasn't pitched for the Cubs since July 31.
"We will be having Javier Assad pitch tomorrow and wait to see what the doctors' tests are all about," manager David Ross said Tuesday.
Stroman struggled in his last three starts before hitting the injury list, failing to get out of the fourth inning in any of them. He got a cortisone shot in his right hip, but his rib issue throws a wrench in the Cubs' plan to get him back in the rotation for their playoff push. With 44 games remaining entering action Tuesday evening, the Cubs sat 3.5 games behind the NL Central-leading Brewers and one game out of the final wild-card spot.
"He started to feel it later in the day after his bullpen session on Sunday," Ross said. "The one positive out of this is Javier has thrown the ball really well. We just have to keep pitching well if Marcus is out longer. I don't know if he will be pushed back a couple of days – we will just have to wait and see. We will try not to get too worked up about it."
Asked on the Parkins & Spiegel Show on Tuesday afternoon if Stroman will pitch again this season, Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins tried to strike an optimistic tone but couldn't be certain.
"That's the plan, that's certainly the plan," he said.
Stroman is 10-8 with a 3.85 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 23 starts this season.
"Hopefully he is back soon," Cubs left-hander Drew Smyly said. "We are going to need him for the stretch run. We really have to maintain right now and in September be ready to make our final push."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
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