Cubs' Edward Cabrera flashes 98.8 mph heat in Iowa rehab start, return on horizon
By John Damon
IOWA — Chicago Cubs right-hander Edward Cabrera took the mound for Triple-A Iowa on Friday night, throwing 43 pitches and touching 98.8 mph with his sinker in his first rehab start since a June 23 leg injury. For a Cubs team hunting rotation help before Monday's trade deadline, Cabrera's return could be the biggest addition they make.
Cabrera, acquired from the Marlins in a blockbuster offseason trade, has been sidelined with a left adductor/hamstring strain. Friday's outing against Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre marked the first step in a plan that manager Craig Counsell says will require at least three minor league rehab appearances before activation.
How did Cabrera look on the mound?
Cabrera threw 26 strikes out of 43 pitches, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out three. He was charged with three runs over 1 2/3 innings, though lefty reliever Ty Blach allowed both inherited runners to score.
The velocity was the headline. Cabrera sat at 97.7 mph with his sinker and topped out at 98.8 mph. He has thrown only six pitches faster in the majors this season. He mixed in all five of his pitches, a positive sign for a pitcher whose blister issues on his pitching hand have cropped up before.
What is the timeline for Cabrera's return?
Counsell said Cabrera will likely need three rehab outings to build up to 80-plus pitches. That schedule points to a return during the Cubs' Aug. 14-19 homestand against the Cardinals and White Sox.
The Cubs front office is actively searching for rotation help before Monday's 5 p.m. CT trade deadline, but Cabrera's comeback is a key internal solution. If he can recapture the form that made him a breakout star for Miami in 2025 — a 3.53 ERA with 150 strikeouts in 137 2/3 innings — Chicago's rotation could get a major boost without giving up prospects.
What version of Cabrera will the Cubs get?
Cabrera's first season with the Cubs has been a tale of two halves. In his first seven starts, he posted a 3.27 ERA over 41 1/3 innings. In his next seven, that number ballooned to 7.55 over 31 innings, a stretch that included a blister-related IL stint.
After returning from that blister in early June, Cabrera saw a noticeable jump in fastball velocity, averaging north of 97 mph. Then came the leg injury. The Cubs are banking on the version that dominated for Miami, not the one who struggled through injury last season.
How is the rest of the rotation performing?
While Cabrera works his way back, the Cubs rotation has been a bright spot. Shota Imanaga has a 2.09 ERA over his last nine starts. Matthew Boyd has a 1.93 ERA in seven starts since returning from knee surgery. David Peterson has a 1.56 ERA in his last three outings, Javier Assad a 2.31 ERA since May, and Colin Rea a 3.34 ERA over his last seven.
For Iowa Cubs fans, Cabrera's rehab stint is a chance to see a big-league arm up close. For the Cubs, it could be the midseason pickup that defines their stretch run.