Challenges and Potential: Edward Cabrera’s Role with the Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs had their eyes on Edward Cabrera long before they traded with the Miami Marlins to acquire him in January. Cabrera, although seen as a promising player, has not fully met the expectations the Cubs had for him this season. Entering Wednesday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Cabrera had a 4.06 ERA and 94 ERA+. However, during this game, he exited abruptly due to a blister on his right middle finger after throwing just one pitch in the fourth inning.

This incident was only one of the troubling events in a rough 5-0 loss to the Brewers. This game marked the Cubs’ first sweep of the season. Manager Craig Counsell conveyed a clear message, stating, “We’re in a funk right now, and it’s up to us to change it.” Cabrera’s recurring blister issue has affected his performance. He was previously sidelined for the first two weeks of his 2025 season with the Marlins for a similar issue.

Despite the concerns, Cabrera remains optimistic. “Once the blister’s there, everything’s difficult. The control is difficult, velocity is difficult,” he admitted through an interpreter but added, “I’m not worried. My mentality is in five days I’m going to go out there and pitch again.” Counsell is less certain, noting that Cabrera’s next start is uncertain after pulling him from his previous one.

The Cubs, with a 29-21 record, have been struggling, with errors surpassing their hits in this game. A notable mistake was Pete Crow-Armstrong’s missed fielding of a single from David Hamilton, resulting in three runs. This capped off a difficult period for Crow-Armstrong, which began with a tense interaction with a fan.

Crow-Armstrong reflected on these moments, stating, “One thing I can fall back on is that it’s never really a lack of focus, but trying too hard and trying to make up for the lack of production that I’ve given this team and this city, not acting how I should.” He emphasized the mental aspect of the game and his resolve to turn things around.

With several key players on the injured list, the Cubs need Cabrera to overcome his blister issue soon. After a strong start this season, Cabrera’s performance has dipped, with his ERA rising to 5.26 over the last seven games. There’s concern over his delivery, as noted by pitching coach Tommy Hottovy. Cabrera’s release point has decreased, impacting his velocity, which has also dropped when compared to last year’s measurements.

Hottovy expressed confidence in Cabrera’s potential, stating, “My take with Edward is he’s a guy who has had injury flare-ups in the past… as he’s building that confidence into the season, I do think you’ll see that kind of trend up.” Hottovy explained that Cabrera is not intentionally reducing his speed, but is managing his performance to last the entire season.

Cabrera’s changeup remains a crucial weapon, but work continues to refine his fastball. Improvements have been noted with a significant decrease in hard contact and an increase in swings and misses. Hottovy remains focused on how Cabrera’s pitches can complement each other, which is vital for effective pitching strategies against seasoned hitters.

The Cubs are hopeful that Cabrera’s progression and in-season adjustments will see him become one of their top starters. But adjustments are needed as the team works through the current challenges. Counsell remains confident, stating, “I thought there’s a lot of quality for four innings, and then it kind of fell off… it’s really just about getting those outs and making pitches every single pitch and moving on to the next pitch and keep executing.”