Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Will have Tommy John surgery
Rotowire
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Alzolay will undergo Tommy John surgery on his injured right elbow, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Prior reports had suggested that Alzolay would need some type of procedure on his pitching arm, and Counsell revealed that the right-hander would need a full UCL reconstruction. While no timetable for Alzolay's return has been established, there's a good chance he won't be ready to pitch in the majors again until 2026.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Getting examined after setback
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Alzolay (forearm) has been pulled off his rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa and sent to Chicago to be examined following a setback, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Alzolay didn't recover well from his last rehab appearance at Iowa on Saturday, prompting the move. The reliever went more than two months between game appearances due to a flexor strain and lasted just three outings before a setback, which isn't a great sign. More should be known about Alzolay's status later this week.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Cleared to begin rehab assignment
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Alzolay (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment with the Cubs' Arizona Complex League affiliate Friday, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
Alzolay has been on the shelf since mid-May with a right flexor strain but is ready for game action. The reliever will need many rehab appearances and will eventually move up to a higher affiliate, so he's likely still at least a couple weeks away from a return.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Facing hitters Friday
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Alzolay (forearm) will throw live batting practice Friday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Alzolay threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Tuesday and is set to face batters for the first time since being placed on the injured list in mid-May. The 29-year-old has been rehabbing at the Cubs' Arizona complex, and he'll likely require a handful of minor-league rehab outings before being activated.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Throws bullpen session
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Alzolay (forearm) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Alzolay appears to have responded well to what was his first time throwing off a mound since he was shelved with a flexor strain in mid-May. Before coming off the 60-day injured list, Alzolay will need to make multiple rehab appearances in the minors, and it's unclear when he might be ready to begin an assignment.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Shifts to 60-day IL
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The Cubs transferred Alzolay (forearm) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.
The right-hander has been sidelined nearly three weeks by a forearm strain and remains shut down from throwing, so the move likely won't significantly affect his return timeline. Alzolay will be eligible to be activated around the All-Star break, and there should be a better idea of when he'll return once he starts up a throwing program.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Dealing with flexor strain
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An MRI confirmed Alzolay is dealing with a right flexor strain, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Alzolay was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday and imaging has confirmed the initial diagnosis. He will be shut down for five days before being reevaluated. Most likely, the injury is going to require longer than a minimum stay on the IL. Hector Neris will continue to serve as the Cubs' primary ninth-inning option.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Goes on IL with forearm strain
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The Cubs placed Alzolay on the 15-day injured list Monday with a right forearm strain, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Alzolay netted a save in Sunday's extra-inning win over the Pirates, although he gave up two runs (one earned) in the process. The righty hasn't displayed strong form this season, collecting a 4.67 ERA and 13:6 K:BB over 17.1 innings. Hector Neris will continue to operate as the Cubs' primary closer.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Takes loss Tuesday
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Alzolay (1-3) allowed three unearned runs on two hits across one inning to take the loss Tuesday against the Mets.
Alzolay should have had a 1-2-3 sixth inning, but a Dansby Swanson throwing error gave the Mets life, and they took advantage. A single and a three-run home run by DJ Stewart quickly broke open a 1-1 tie, and New York hung on for the 4-2 win, which saddled Alzolay with his third loss of the season. While it wasn't all his fault Tuesday, it's been a struggle overall for the righty, as he blew four saves in the early going to get yanked from the closer's role. Hector Neris stepped in to replace Alzolay, and it doesn't look like things are going to change anytime soon.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Not currently closer
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Cubs manager Craig Counsell indicated Sunday that Alzolay isn't currently the club's closer, and the skipper said he'll treat the role as a "day-to-day thing," Steve Greenberg of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The right-hander blew his second straight save, and fourth of the season, during Saturday's doubleheader, so it appears he'll get a break from the ninth inning. Alzolay has a 4.50 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 9:4 K:BB across 10 innings and is now set to fill a lower-leverage role, at least temporarily. Hector Neris and Mark Leiter are now the top candidates for the ninth inning, though Counsell didn't indicate if he'll go with one reliever or utilize a committee approach.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Blows another save
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Alzolay (1-2) was charged with the loss and a blown save in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against Miami. He allowed two runs on two hits and a walk while striking out one over 1.1 innings.
The Cubs closer entered with two outs in the eighth inning and walked a batter before he stranded the bases loaded, but a single and two-run homer in the ninth put Miami ahead 3-2. It's the second straight outing with a blown save for Alzolay, who is now 3-for-7 in save chances on the season. He's given up five runs with a 9:4 K:BB across 10 innings. Hector Neris picked up the save in Game 2 and could see more chances in the ninth inning if Alzolay's struggles persist.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Blows save
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Alzolay blew the save Tuesday against Arizona, allowing one run on one hit and two walks across one inning. He didn't generate a strikeout.
Alzolay toed the rubber with a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth and surrendered the game-tying home run to Ketel Marte. Following the long ball, Alzolay dished out back-to-back walks but avoided disaster by retiring Christian Walker to end the inning. He's converted on three of his six save opportunities this season. However, he's only allowed three runs in 8.2 innings -- all solo homers -- and still has a firm grip on ninth-inning duties.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Notches save Sunday
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Alzolay worked around a hit to pitch a scoreless inning and record the save in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Mariners. He struck out two.
Alzolay allowed a run and blew a save in his first appearance of the season, but he's been pretty locked in since then, recording a 1.35 ERA and striking out nine across 6.2 innings. He's also converted three saves in that time, and the righty should stay slotted in as Chicago's closer, with Hector Neris working in a setup role.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Notches second save
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Alzolay earned a save against the Mariners on Saturday, allowing one hit and striking out one batter in a scoreless inning.
Alzolay entered in the ninth frame staked to a three-run lead. He surrendered a two-out single but nothing more to pick up his second save this season. Alzolay has also blown two save opportunities, but he's pitched pretty well overall with a 2.70 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 7:1 K:BB over 6.2 innings.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Credited with first win Wednesday
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Alzolay pitched a scoreless ninth inning and was awarded the win in Wednesday's 9-8 victory over the Rockies. He allowed one hit and struck out two.
Though Alzolay entered the contest in the top of the ninth while the Cubs held a 9-8 lead in what would normally represent a save opportunity, he ended up getting credited with the win by the official scorer due to what transpired beforehand. The Cubs held a commanding 8-2 lead after six innings, only for the Rockies to rally over the ensuing two innings to tie the score. Setup man Hector Neris recorded the final two outs of the top of the eighth inning before the Cubs scored a go-ahead run in the bottom of the frame, but he was denied the win since he had given up two earned runs on three hits to allow the Rockies to make it an 8-8 game. While Alzolay ended up missing out on notching his first save of the season after getting awarded the win instead, fantasy managers should be heartened by the fact that he might have built some job security as the team's closer by turning in a relatively drama-free inning compared to Neris, Yency Almonte (0.1 innings, three earned runs allowed) and Julian Merryweather (one inning, one earned run allowed).
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Struggles in 2024 debut
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Alzolay allowed a run on a hit and a walk to blow the save in Thursday's 4-3, 10-inning loss to the Rangers.
Alzolay entered the game in the bottom of the ninth inning staked to a 3-2 lead but promptly allowed a tying home run to pinch-hitter Travis Jankowski. He walked another hitter before escaping the frame. Alzolay only blew three saves in 25 opportunities last season and posted a strong 2.67 ERA, so he should have some leeway in the early going. However, veteran Hector Neris is now on the roster, and he could push Alzolay for closing duties at some point this year if the struggles persist.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Dealing with illness
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Alzolay did not play in Friday's spring training game against the White Sox due to an illness, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Alzolay picked up the illness Thursday and was scratched from Friday's game and noted that his schedule will be pushed back by two days. He agreed to a one-year, $2.11 million contract in January after going to arbitration with the Cubs. Alzolay posted a 2-5 record and 22 saves last season with a 2.67 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 67:13 K:BB over 64 innings.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Gets possible competition for saves
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Alzolay will likely begin the year as the Cubs' closer, though new addition Hector Neris gives manager Craig Counsell a possible alternative for the late innings, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Alzolay excelled as Chicago's closer last season, converting 22 of 25 save opportunities and posting a strong 2.67 ERA across 64 innings. However, Neris posted an even better 1.71 ERA over 68.1 innings for Houston in 2023, and he has 89 career saves in 10 MLB seasons. At the very least, the veteran should serve as a solid setup option, and he could emerge as a candidate for saves if Alzolay struggles.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Settles at $2.11 million
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The Cubs and Alzolay avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.11 million contract Thursday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
It's a nice little raise for Alzolay, who was arbitration-eligible for the first time. The 28-year-old emerged as the Cubs' closer in 2023, saving 22 games while posting a 2.67 ERA and 67:13 K:BB over 64 innings. Provided Chicago doesn't add a closer from outside the organization, Alzolay is in line to serve in that role again in 2024.
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Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Advances to long toss
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Alzolay (forearm) threw long toss Tuesday at Wrigley Field, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
On the shelf since Sept. 10 due to a right forearm strain, Alzolay resumed playing catch over the weekend and has now advanced to long-distance throwing. There is still an outside chance that the 28-year-old could return to the Cubs' bullpen before the end of the regular season, but he'll have to move on to mound workouts rather soon. He had tallied 22 saves with a 2.71 ERA and 66:12 K:BB in 63 innings prior to the IL stint.
