The Chicago Cubs’ injuries have quickly become one of the biggest topics of concern for the team in 2026. Pitching and hitting have struggled, and pressure on the coaching staff has been growing. However, the Cubs’ injury list has overshadowed many of those issues. At this point, it seems like there is someone new is added every day, as the pitching staff has been destroyed. Now, they must find a way to overcome the injuries if they wish to stay competitive.
Behind the Chicago Cubs Injuries
Good showing by the Cubs pitchers over the weekend, but the injuries continue to stack up… 🙃
What are some names you’d like the Cubs to target at the trade deadline? pic.twitter.com/nZDASgLDQI
— Six Point Sports (@SixPointSports) June 29, 2026
The Depletion of the Starting Rotation
The most concerning part of the Chicago Cubs’ injuries is the starting rotation. Justin Steele came into the season injured, and then Cade Horton got injured early on. Those two arguably are the best pitchers on the team, and the hope was that they would be the aces on the team. Matthew Boyd has missed most of the season so far but recently returned. Boyd was set to be the next man up after a strong 2025, but then that went downhill.
The Cubs then turned to Ben Brown to serve as the top starter on the team, but he recently went down with a neck injury. There is some serious concern there as it is similar to the one he had in 2024, which caused him to miss a lot of time. Now, he may be down for a few weeks/months. This was maybe the worst injury since the beginning of the season, since he was one of the top players on the team. They will not be able to fill in his impact, so the Cubs just need to find a way to hang in until he can return.
Edward Cabrera was a major acquisition this past offseason, but he has not lived up to the hype. It was an up-and-down year before he was carted off with a lower-body injury, and now he will be down for a bit, but the timeline is unknown. While Jameson Taillon was not having a strong year, it still hurt to see him go down. He was someone you knew could eat at least five innings in every start. Just like every other starter, he is expected to be at least a few weeks. Chicago has had to make desperate moves to replace these starters, which included trading for veteran starter David Peterson.
The Bullpen Struggles
The bullpen has had a similar story to the starting rotation. Daniel Palencia has been injured for much of the year and is currently still recovering. Hoby Milner, who has been one of the more valuable arms for the Cubs, will be out for a few weeks. For much of the beginning of the season, those two had been two of the most reliable weapons out of the bullpen. Riley Martin was right up there next to them but went down and is still on the injured list.
The Chicago Cubs’ injuries continue even beyond that, as two of their top free-agent additions are hurt. Neither Phil Maton nor Hunter Harvey had been off to a strong season. In fact, they were having really bad performances. However, it still hurts to lose any pitcher. Ethan Roberts is the newest addition to the list, as after his recent struggles, he was put on the injured list on June 29th, with a right forearm strain. At this point, it is hard to rely on any of the pitchers, as most of the guys making appearances were not in the season’s plans back in the spring.
The Bats
Luckily, the offense has not been as impacted. The bats have stayed healthy for most of the season. However, the biggest note here is with Seiya Suzuki, whose injury has been limiting him to DH most games. This has not been awful, but now that Matt Shaw is injured again, it could become notable. Right Field just became a lot weaker, so unless Suzuki returns, it could limit the Cubs offense, which is looking to continue their recent growth. Shaw is really the only one to struggle with injuries, but as the team’s biggest utility player, it does mean that Chicago cannot survive much more injuries offensively.
What the Chicago Cubs Injuries Mean For 2026
The Chicago Cubs’ injuries have quickly dampened what was once a promising season. Earlier in the season, they were among the top teams in the entire league. A 10-game losing streak, injuries, and a rough May slump dropped them to near the bottom of the N.L. Central. They have been able to rebound recently, including a series win against the Brewers. Additionally, they have rejoined the top 10 rankings.
The @Phillies jump into the top 5 of the latest Team Power Rankings!
(MLB x @PolymarketSport) pic.twitter.com/9Oji3e0Z78
— MLB (@MLB) June 29, 2026
Although if they cannot stay healthy, then it is hard to see them making the playoffs. Injuries are always part of the game, but this season, it has seemed far worse for Chicago. When your pitching depth has been tested as much as it has in 2026, it becomes very difficult to win games. If they can get healthy, then their talent could carry them far in the playoffs. However, if they remain injured, then they risk either another early exit or potentially not making the playoffs at all.
Main Photo: Charles LeClaire- Imagn Images
