You thought the pitching staff was in a brutal spot before, well now the Chicago Cubs announced that another pitcher is out for the rest of the 2026 season because of elbow surgery. If you still had your fingers crossed, hoping for a Porter Hodge comeback this year, forget about it now because the right-handed pitcher suffered a setback.
On Wednesday, the Cubs ruled out Hodge for the rest of the year, and like Cade Horton, the exact elbow procedure won’t be known until after it is completed. Hodge, 25, began the year on the injured list with a right flexor strain, and apparently, the recovery didn’t go well.
Hodge made his MLB debut with the Cubs back in 2024 and had a stellar rookie season. He posted a 1.88 ERA and had a 0.88 WHIP with 52 strikeouts in 43 innings of work. The right-handed reliever became a go-to option out of the bullpen in high-leverage spots as Hodge was credited with nine holds and nine saves.
However, injuries surfaced, and last year, Hodge struggled to stay in the majors. He wasn’t able to take over as the closer after veteran Ryan Pressly was booted from the role, and ended the year with a disappointing 6.27 ERA in 36 games.
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The Cubs currently have 10 pitchers from the 40-man roster on the injured list. Hodge and Horton are done for the year, while veteran Shelby Miller is most likely not going to contribute either, although he’s hopeful for a return down the stretch. Matthew Boyd is expected to return to the rotation next week after a rehab start in the minor leagues, while Justin Steele continues to progress in his rehab from elbow surgery. No specific timeline has been revealed just yet for Steele, who said in spring training that he’s targeting late May or early June.
In the past week, the Cubs have placed Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, and Ethan Roberts on the injured list.
Pitchers on the Cubs’ 40-man roster currently on the IL:
Matthew Boyd
Hunter Harvey
Porter Hodge (out for 2026)
Gavin Hollowell
Cade Horton (out for 2026)
Phil Maton
Shelby Miller
Ethan Roberts
Justin Steele
Jordan Wicks
Heading into Wednesday night’s series finale against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Cubs have one healthy pitcher left on the 40-man roster, and that’s Charlie Barnes, who pitched Monday and was then optioned right back down to Triple-A.
