Cubs Rookie Left-Hander Riley Martin's Elbow Blows Up, and Chicago's Pitching Staff Is Running on Fumes

The Chicago Cubs are getting absolutely hammered by injuries. Rookie left-hander Riley Martin was placed on the 15-day injured list due to left elbow inflammation on Sunday, becoming the seventh position player or pitcher to hit the shelf since the regular season began. That's not a typo. Seven guys. And that's just counting the regular season. Since spring training kicked off, the Cubs have dealt with 11 pitcher injuries total.

Martin Was Actually Playing Well

Here's what makes this sting: Riley Martin was doing his job. The 28-year-old rookie, Chicago's No. 28 prospect per MLB Pipeline and a sixth-round pick from the 2021 draft, had posted scoreless relief innings in seven of his last eight appearances. He racked up 10 strikeouts across 8 1/3 innings with a 2.16 ERA and just two walks. This wasn't some lottery ticket flop. This was a guy who'd earned his spot and was delivering.

Now he's gone, retroactive to Friday.

The Replacement Doesn't Inspire Confidence

To plug the hole, the Cubs recalled lefty Charlie Barnes from Triple-A Iowa. Barnes is 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA, three walks, and one strikeout in three innings pitched this season. His only appearance came on April 13 in a 13-7 loss at Philadelphia. Yeah, that's the guy stepping in.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell tried to put a positive spin on it. "The next guy's got to do his job," he said. "We've had a number of guys get opportunities. We've got guys coming back soon, so that's a good thing. But again, the injuries ... they have an effect eventually." Translation: we're running out of bodies and running out of luck.

On the same day as Martin's move, Chicago selected Yacksel Rios from Iowa and designated right-hander Vince Velasquez for assignment.

The Stakes Keep Rising

The Cubs just lost two straight to Los Angeles after a 10-game win streak. Now they head into a three-game series at San Diego without one of their productive young arms. With this many injuries piling up this fast, the margin for error is gone.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.