Cubs activate pitcher Edward Cabrera from IL, plan to use him out of bullpen for remainder of season

Tied for the National League’s top wild-card playoff spot, the Chicago Cubs are getting a pitcher back in hopes of helping their bullpen.

Edward Cabrera will be activated from the injured list and is expected to pitch out of the bullpen for the rest of the season, Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed on Saturday.

The right-hander has had three stints on the IL this season, the first due to a left hamstring strain. Cabrera then struggled with a blister on his right middle finger that resulted in two additional trips to the IL.

Injuries have limited Cabrera, 28, to 15 starts this season, during which he’s compiled a 5.68 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 78 innings. As mentioned, however, the Cubs will pitch Cabrera out of the bullpen for the remainder of the regular season and during the postseason.

The team has been eyeing this role for Cabrera during his most recent stay on the IL, hoping that throwing fewer innings could help him avoid the blister issues, according to MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian.

With his experience starting, Cabrera could pitch multiple innings in relief, if needed. And though his 2026 numbers don’t necessarily show it, he’s thrown strikeout stuff throughout his MLB career with a rate of 9.7 Ks per 9 innings.

In his final rehab appearance with Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, he averaged 98 mph with a top velocity of 100.7 mph during his two innings, via MLB.com.

To clear a spot for Cabrera on the roster, reliever Trent Thornton (3.35 ERA) was placed on the IL with left ankle soreness.

The Cubs acquired Cabrera from the Miami Marlins during the offseason in exchange for three prospects, including outfielder Owen Caissie. He put up career-best numbers last season with a 3.53 ERA in 26 starts and 150 strikeouts in 137 2/3 innings.

At 82-66, the Cubs go into Saturday’s play tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for the NL’s No. 1 wild-card playoff berth. Both teams are 2.5 games ahead of the San Diego Padres, while the Arizona Diamondbacks are just a half-game behind that third spot. So competition is fierce for those three postseason spots with 14 games remaining on the regular-season schedule.