right handed porter hodge and left handed jordan weeks Cubs manager Craig Counsell said both players are dealing with arm issues and will probably start the season on the 15-day injured list, per MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian. Hodge is suffering from a right flexor strain, while Wicks is dealing with radial nerve irritation in his left forearm.
Hodge hasn’t pitched since Feb. 27 and hasn’t fared well this spring, posting a whopping 31.50 ERA over two innings in three Cactus League appearances. Counsell said Hodge’s flexor strain does not appear to be serious enough to cause him to be sidelined for an extended period of time, but the right-hander will be out for the next two weeks to recover.
Wicks’ forearm problem was initially described only as irritation, and an MRI showed no structural problems. Nerve issues tend to linger, but the good news is Wicks can play catch, and Counsell expects the left-hander to start throwing on the mound by mid-March.
There was no guarantee that either pitcher would make the Cubs’ Opening Day roster, but today’s news means both the rotation and bullpen depth charts have taken a hit. Wicks (21st overall pick in the 2021 draft) served as a reliever during eight MLB appearances in 2025, but was mostly a starter for the remainder of his time in the majors and minors.
Despite his draft pedigree in the minors and interest as a top-100 prospect, Wicks has yet to establish himself as a big leaguer, posting a 5.21 ERA, 18.5% strikeout rate and 7.5% walk rate in 95 career innings with the Cubs. Past injuries didn’t help (Wicks missed a large portion of 2024 due to a forearm sprain and oblique strain), and Wicks spent 2025 bouncing between Chicago and Triple-A Iowa with only sporadic use in the major leagues.
Hodge exploded in his rookie season in 2024, posting a 1.88 ERA and 31.7% strikeout rate over 43 innings, but had a BABIP of .189. Things didn’t go smoothly for Hodge last year, as he spent nearly two months on the IL with oblique and shoulder issues and posted a 6.27 ERA in 33 innings. By SIERA metrics, Hodge’s two big league seasons haven’t been all that different (3.22 in 2024, 3.80 in 2025), and he remains an intriguing reliever if he can stay healthy and figure out his control issues.
