CINCINNATI — It looks as if Nico Hoerner has completed his rehab assignment and is on the verge of rejoining the team. Hoerner, 24, was with the team Saturday and took batting practice before the game. The second baseman had a scheduled day off after playing back-to-back nights.
Hoerner, who has been out since May 26 with a left-hamstring strain is expected to be activated before the game Sunday. He has a .338/.405/.432 slash line in 21 games.
“Just getting back and checking in with the trainers to see how he feels,” manager David Ross said. “He played back-to-back [games]. Talked to him a little bit and [he] thinks everything went well. He scored from first on a double the other day, which is nice [that he] tested that out. Said it feels pretty good. He’ll run through some drills today and run through the trainer’s and hopefully be ready tomorrow, Monday at the latest.”
Like Hoerner, right-hander Trevor Williams is working his way back to Chicago, He underwent an appendectomy early last month. Williams made his second rehab start on Friday, going five innings and allowing one run on three hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
“The numbers were good,” Ross said. “I watched most of it this morning. Looked like a little bit of traffic at times. Some good sliders in there, some good breaking pitches and the changeup looked OK. Some arm-side run misses. [Didn’t quite have] the fastball command early on. Pretty good -outing, I thought.
“It’s a lot of options. I’d like to continue to give him another start and really get him stretched out. I didn’t think I would say he was locked in [during] his last start. But that being said, a pitcher of his caliber is always welcomed.”
He said it
First baseman Anthony Rizzo on the Cubs’ recent stretch: “We’re on a skid and it’s not fun. Losing sucks. We just have to come in tomorrow and be ready to play. From now until the trade deadline. You guys are going to ask questions every single day and rightfully so, because there are going to be rumors flying and stories written. But it’s on all of us in the clubhouse to just stay connected, stay together and take it day-by-day. Every cliche in baseball for these next 30 days, or whatever it is.”
