Wicks was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Monday, per MLB's transaction log.
Wicks surrendered a pair of unearned runs over two innings Sunday against the Diamondbacks and will now look to get back on track in the minors. The Cubs have yet to announce a corresponding move.
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Cubs' Jordan Wicks: Takes loss Sunday
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Wicks (0-1) allowed two unearned runs on three hits across two innings of work to take the loss Sunday against the Diamondbacks. He struck out two.
Wicks worked the 10th and 11th innings in an eventual 3-2 defeat, and he allowed an unearned run in each inning to ultimately take his first loss of the season. The lefty was just recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Friday, and he's now allowed five runs (three earned) across two appearances. Wicks figures to work as a low-leverage arm for the Cubs until further notice.
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Cubs' Jordan Wicks: Recalled from Triple-A
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The Cubs recalled Wicks from Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Wicks' last appearance at Iowa came in relief, as he struck out five over three perfect innings. He looks to be slated for bullpen duty with the Cubs, providing some length behind Friday's starter, Colin Rea, who has yet to work more than 3.2 innings in an outing this season.
The Cubs optioned Wicks to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Ryan Herrera of JustBaseball.com reports.
Wicks was included on the Cubs' roster for their two-game set in Tokyo versus the Dodgers earlier this week, but he didn't make the cut for their domestic opener. The left-hander will be part of the rotation at Iowa as he waits for another big-league opportunity. With Wicks being sent down, Colin Rea appears to be locked into the fifth spot in the Cubs' rotation.
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Cubs' Jordan Wicks: Strikes out three in spring start
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Wicks allowed two runs on four hits across 2.2 innings in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Angels. He struck out three.
Wicks was making his second start of the spring slate, and while he allowed runs for the first time, it's encouraging to see him on the mound and looking comfortable after he dealt with an oblique strain toward the end of last season. If the lefty is fully healthy, he could push for a spot at the back of Chicago's rotation, particularly with Javier Assad (oblique) uncertain for the start of the regular season.
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Cubs' Jordan Wicks: Faces hitters Wednesday
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Wicks (oblique) threw a live batting practice session Wednesday.
Wicks finished last season on the injured list after straining his right oblique for the second time in just over three months back in September, but he looks to be back to full health in the early stages of spring training. The 25-year-old southpaw started in 10 of his 11 appearances with the Cubs in 2024, but after struggling to stay healthy and performing poorly when available (5.48 ERA, 1.63 WHIP in 46 innings), he'll have to compete for a spot in the Opening Day rotation this spring. If healthy, Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon and Matthew Boyd should all be locked in as starters, leaving Wicks to battle Javier Assad (oblique), Colin Rea, Ben Brown and Cody Poteet for the final rotation spot.
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Cubs' Jordan Wicks: Preparing for heavier workload
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Wicks said he has focused on cardio this offseason in order to be able to pitch deeper into games in 2025, as he will potentially start the year in the rotation, Matt Danielewicz of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Wicks dealt with a handful of injuries in 2024, including an oblique strain in late September that ended the lefty's season. With Kyle Hendricks now gone, the Cubs have some rotation spots to fill, and Wicks and Javier Assad are options for the back end behind Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga and Jameson Taillon. However, Chicago also added veteran Matthew Boyd in the offseason, and he will most likely snag a starting spot. That could leave Wicks to handle a long-relief role out of spring training, though he could certainly make starts at some point.
Cubs' Jordan Wicks: Back to IL with oblique strain
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The Cubs placed Wicks on the 15-day injured list Friday with a right oblique strain, Ryan Herrera of AllCHGO.com reports.
It's the same injury which sidelined Wicks for more than two months before he returned at the beginning of September. He posted a 7.50 ERA and 10:10 K:BB over four starts since his activation, so it's possible the lefty was never fully healthy. Wicks finishes the season having been limited to just 46 innings due to injury, holding a 5.48 ERA and 42:20 K:BB.
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Cubs' Jordan Wicks: Done in by long balls again
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Wicks (2-4) took the loss Tuesday, giving up four runs on seven hits -- including three home runs -- and two walks over five innings as the Cubs fell 4-3 to the A's. He struck out four.
The southpaw got taken deep by Shea Langeliers in the first and fifth innings, with a Lawrence Butler third-inning solo shot sandwiched in between. Wicks has served up a brutal seven homers over his last two starts, but with the Cubs' playoff hopes on life support, the team has little reason to remove the 25-year-old from the rotation despite his 5.48 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 42:20 K:BB through 46 innings on the season.
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Cubs' Jordan Wicks: Roughed up in no-decision
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Wicks did not factor into the decision in a loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday, allowing seven runs on eight hits and four walks over three innings while striking out two.
Wicks got off to a horrendous start, surrendering a leadoff homer to Shohei Ohtani to open the game, followed by three consecutive home runs with two outs in the frame. The lefty would only make it through three innings after allowing a season-high seven runs, but he still managed to avoid taking the loss thanks to a productive day on offense for Chicago. The four long balls allowed also marked a season high for Wicks, and he now carries a 7.62 ERA in September through three starts. Additionally, he's issued four walks in back-to-back outings.
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Cubs' Jordan Wicks: Falls to Yankees
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Wicks (2-3) took the loss Friday against the Yankees, allowing three runs on five hits and four walks over five innings. He struck out four.
All three runs against Wicks came in the third inning, when four straight batters reached safely to open the frame against the left-hander. The 25-year-old has allowed four runs over 10 innings in two starts since returning from a nearly three-month stint on the IL due to a strained oblique. Overall, Wicks' ERA sits at 4.03 on the season with a 1.42 WHIP and 36:14 K:BB across 38 innings. He's currently lined up for a tough road matchup with the Dodgers in his next outing.
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Cubs' Jordan Wicks: Picks up win in return
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Wicks (2-2) pitched five innings of one-run ball to pick up the win Sunday against Washington, allowing four hits and zero walks while striking out zero.
Making his first start since June 14, Wicks breezed through the Washington lineup, using just 69 pitches to get through five frames. Things got dicey for Wicks in the second inning when he allowed the bases to be loaded with zero out, but he induced a double play and a flyout to limit the damage to one run. The 25-year-old landed on the 60-day IL back in June with an oblique strain after pitching to a 4.18 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 32:10 K:BB in 28 innings (six starts) before the injury. After throwing a modest 69 pitches on Sunday, expect Wicks workload to ramp up moving forward, starting with next weekend's scheduled start against the Yankees.
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Cubs' Jordan Wicks: Activated to start Sunday's game
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The Cubs reinstated Wicks (oblique) from the 60-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Sunday against the Nationals in Washington.
Chicago recalled infielder Nick Madrigal (hand) from Triple-A Iowa and placed him on the 60-day IL to reopen a spot on the 40-man roster for Wicks, who is set to make his first appearance for the big club since June 14. After a lengthy shutdown while he recovered from a right oblique strain, Wicks began a rehab assignment with Iowa on Aug. 10 and struggled in his first two starts, but he returned to excellent form in his final two outings with the affiliate, covering 8.2 scoreless innings and recording eight strikeouts between those starts. He built up to 73 pitches in his final start with Iowa and shouldn't face much of a restriction with his workload Sunday as he slots back into Chicago's rotation.
Wicks (oblique) is expected to be reinstated from the 60-day injured list to start Sunday's game against the Nationals in Washington, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Wicks had been scratched from his scheduled rehab start with Triple-A Iowa on Friday in anticipation of his return to the big club, though it wasn't immediately known whether he would be activated this weekend or early next week. The Cubs have ultimately decided to bring Wicks back for Sunday, with Jameson Taillon getting bumped back a day in the schedule to start Monday against the Pirates as a result. Before he landed on the IL on June 15 with a Grade 2 right oblique strain, Wicks compiled a 4.18 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 32:10 K:BB over 28 innings. He got stretched out to 4.2 innings and 73 pitches over the course of four minor-league rehab outings.
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Cubs' Jordan Wicks: Could return vs. Nationals
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Wicks (oblique) was scratched from Friday's rehab start with Triple-A Iowa, and Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that the 24-year-old southpaw could be activated from the 60-day injured list to start this weekend against the Nationals, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Wicks has been sidelined since mid-June due to a Grade 2 right oblique strain. He began his rehab assignment in early August, and in his last outing Sunday, he tossed 4.2 scoreless innings while striking out four batters and allowing three hits and one walk. Javier Assad and Jameson Taillon are currently penciled in as the Cubs' starters for Saturday and Sunday respectively, but one of the two could be bumped back in the schedule to Monday against the Pirates if the Cubs elect to activate Wicks this weekend.
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Cubs' Jordan Wicks: Making another rehab start
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Wicks (oblique) will make another rehab start with Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Wicks struck out four over 4.2 scoreless innings Sunday with Triple-A Iowa, throwing 73 pitches. However, he will be asked to get a bit more stretched out before likely rejoining the Cubs' rotation next week, likely on Sept. 4 against the Pirates. Wicks has been sidelined since mid-June with a Grade 2 right oblique strain.
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Cubs' Jordan Wicks: Looks ready to return from IL
Rotowire
Wicks (oblique) struck out four batters over 4.2 scoreless innings in his rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Iowa. He scattered three hits and one walk.
Between his first two rehab outings at Iowa, Wicks surrendered four home runs and walked four batters while covering just 3.2 innings, but he's been much more dialed in his subsequent two starts for the Triple-A club while increasing the volume of his pitches. He built up to 73 pitches Sunday and looks like he'll be ready to return from the 60-day injured list to make his next start with the big club, providing he experiences no setbacks with his oblique coming out of his next throwing session. The Cubs have yet to confirm their plans for Wicks, but he'll presumably either be part of a six-man rotation or replace Kyle Hendricks as the club's No. 5 starter.
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