Cubs injury update: Alec Mills slowed, Adbert Alzolay not yet throwing

ATLANTA — Cubs right-hander Alec Mills will not make a rehab start this week in Triple-A Iowa as originally planned.

Mills experienced right quad tightness while working out, according to the team, so the Cubs are taking a cautious approach on his recovery and shutting him down for a few days. After that, they will determine his next steps.

Mills won’t necessarily jump right back into a rehab start and might need a bullpen session before returning to game action.

With Mills, who began the season on the injured list with a low back strain, and left-hander Wade Miley (left elbow inflammation) working back from injury, Mark Leiter Jr. has filled a hole in the Cubs’ rotation.

Miley threw a simulated game on Wednesday. He logged 46 pitches, including three up-downs, taking steps toward a rehab assignment.

Leiter (0-1, 8.68 ERA) made his third start of the season and threw two scoreless innings, allowing two hits, walking one batter and hitting one, before reliever Keegan Thompson replaced him in the third inning.

“I think he’s started off really good, the first inning or two, and then just hits that second time through the lineup and has to work a little harder,” manager David Ross said before the game. “So, efficiency is going to be the key for him and trying to continue to extend his outings and execute pitches and get out of some jams.”

Ross pulled Leiter after his first time through the lineup. In all three of his starts, Leiter has held opponents scoreless through the first two innings.

Alzolay still isn’t throwing

Right-hander Adbert Alzolay (right shoulder strain) has yet to resume throwing after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection in early March. He has had the injury since the start of spring training and began the season on the 60-day injured list.

Alzolay remains in the fitness phase of his recovery and isn’t eligible to return from the IL until early June.

The Cubs could also bring him back as a multi-inning reliever, as they did late last season, which would require a shorter ramp-up than that of a starter.

Rodriguez receives PRP shot

Hard-throwing reliever Manuel Rodriguez received a PRP injection with the hope of avoiding surgery. The Iowa Cubs put him on the minor-league IL two weeks ago with a right elbow strain.

Rodriguez is expected to start a throwing program in the next couple weeks.

But wait, there’s more ...

Left-handed reliever Brad Wieck (left elbow strain) and infielder David Bote (left shoulder) are eligible to come off the 60-day IL in early June, but Wieck’s return will likely be in the second half of the season. Bote, on the other hand, is on track for a rehab stint in mid-to-late May.

Lefty Steven Brault, who was signed to a minor-league deal after his physical revealed a triceps injury, remains more than a couple months away from returning.