Edward Cabrera's Status For His Next Start is TBD - Bleacher Nation

Edward Cabrera left his start after throwing a wild pitch with diminished velocity, prompting the manager and athletic trainer to come out. The concern was that the injury could be serious, but it was later identified as a blister on his middle finger. Blisters can still cost time and affect pitching performance for extended stretches. Craig Counsell indicated the blister had been present before the start, which may help explain recent issues with command, spin, and pitch movement. Cabrera said he felt fine initially and noticed the problem most by the fourth inning. He expressed confidence about making his next start, while the team remained cautious about repeating the same outcome.

"When a pitcher throws a wild one with diminished velocity, bringing out the manager and the athletic trainer, and then departs without so much as a discussion, you are going to fear the worst. So when we learned after that whole scenario that Edward Cabrera was merely dealing with a blister on his middle finger, I do think it's fair to breathe a sigh of relief."

"That said, blister issues can still cost a guy some time AND/OR impact his performance on the mound for long stretches of the season. Just because it's small and isn't structural doesn't mean a blister can't really muck up a season. So how was Cabrera feeling after the start? Was this something he'd already been dealing with? Will he make his next start?"

"Firstly, I think it's important to note that Craig Counsell suggested after the game that this was indeed something that Edward Cabrera had already been dealing with before last night's start, though he didn't elaborate on the precise timeline. Maybe that explains some of his recent struggles with command, with spin, and with the movement on his pitches, eh? Not that any of that is a good thing, mind you, but sometimes explanations feel heartening."

""I just went out there with a competitive mindset," Cabrera said via team translator, Fredy Quevedo Jr., per Cubs.com. "I went out there and I said, 'I'm fine.' I felt fine. It was good. And once we got to the fourth inning, that's when I felt it the most." Cabrera added that he wasn't worried about making his next start, and that his mentality is he'll be out there the next time through."

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