Cubs' Jason Hammel Expected To Make Next Start
By Chris Emma
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Cubs arrived to Wrigley Field on Friday morning to some good news, as starter Jason Hammel is fine after hamstring soreness forced him to leave Wednesday's start against the Cardinals after just one inning.
Hammel's MRI revealed nothing serious, and he's expected to make his next scheduled start.
"It shouldn't be too awful," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Friday. "Hopefully he's going to be the fifth starter after the break. That's what it looks like right now. We'll see how it all plays out."
Baseball's All-Star break -- which which spans next Monday through Thursday -- effectively works as a recovery time for Hammel. As Maddon indicated, the Cubs will work Hammel into the fifth game after the break, scheduled for July 21 against Cincinnati.
Hammel has been solid for Chicago all season, going 5-4 with a 2.86 ERA and 0.95 WHIP.
Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer described Hammel's injury as a "scare" and addressed the importance of rotation depth for such situations.
"It makes you realize that every team, every pitcher can go down at any time, and you have to have the depth to handle it," Hoyer said.
The Cubs host the crosstown rival White Sox for three games at Wrigley Field before departing for the All-Star break. Kyle Hendricks takes the mound on Friday, followed by Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta.
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