Hoerner (left forearm strain), Arrieta (right thumb scrape) and Winkler (right triceps tendinitis) are expected be back soon thanks to several off-days in the next week.
The Cubs made a flurry of roster moves Tuesday, putting infielder Nico Hoerner (left forearm strain), right-handers Jake Arrieta (right thumb scrape) and Dan Winkler (right triceps tendinitis) on the 10-day injured list. The team recalled lefty Kyle Ryan and right-hander Keegan Thompson, and selected infielder Ildemaro Vargas from Class AAA Iowa.
“We’re optimistic about everyone,” manager David Ross said before Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Dodgers. “I don’t think they’re very serious [injuries].”
Hoerner’s IL stint comes after his collision with outfielder Ian Happ in Sunday’s loss to the Reds. Hoerner said before the Cubs’ doubleheader that there was some soreness after Sunday’s game, but nothing too severe. But after meeting with trainers Monday, things had progressed, leading to the team’s decision to put him on the IL.
“I was pretty stressed in the outfield, just not knowing what condition he was in,” Hoerner said. “Pretty shaken up. Just seeing a friend leave the field like that doesn’t feel good at all. So when I could go back to the locker room and see him and he was in good spirits, that definitely made me feel good because it was probably the scariest baseball play I’ve been a part of.”
It appeared Happ took the worst of the collision, but has come away from the scary scene better than many expected. The 26-year-old outfielder is still undergoing tests, but has cleared the team’s concussion protocols.
“Tests seem to be all good,” Ross said. “He’s pretty sore in a lot of different areas. He ran through a ton of tests yesterday to make sure he was fine and I think all the tests I know have come back and he’s in a good place.”
Hendricks twirls seven-inning complete game in Game 1
Things didn’t go well for starter Kyle Hendricks in the month of April as he sported a 7.54 ERA over the first month of the season. But in first start in May, Hendricks looked like the ace the Cubs need him to be as he tossed a seven-inning, complete game in the Cubs’ 7-1 victory over the Dodgers in Game 1.
Hendricks went to work after the Cubs took a commanding first-inning lead and held a tough Dodgers’ lineup in check, allowing just one run one seven hits over seven innings of work. He struck out six batters and walked one.
“I did a much better job just intent-wise,” Hendricks said. “Going pitch-to-pitch. [Willson] had me locked in on that. The boys going out and putting up four runs early was huge to help me have that confidence to go attack, which I’ve been trying to do better.”
It was the first time this season a Cubs starter has pitched seven innings and just the second a starter has reached the seventh inning since Trevor Williams did it on April 5 against Milwaukee.
“I think Kyle looked a lot more like himself from the jump,” Ross said after the Game 1 victory.
Alzolay to start Game 3 vs. Dodgers
Right-hander Adbert Alzolay will start the series finale vs. the Dodgers on Wednesday, replacing Arrieta, who was scheduled to make the start before going on the IL. Alzolay had his best start of the season in his last outing, pitching six innings and striking out six against the Braves.
