Kyle Hendricks injury update |
The Professor is not in session.
Chicago Cubs veteran pitcher Kyle Hendricks left Saturday's game after the second inning against the Angels with lower back tightness. In the two innings, Hendricks gave up four hits, two walks, and hit a batter while giving up two runs. The two innings of work were tied for the shortest start of his long career. “I just wasn't effective,” Hendricks said. “I was just trying to go out there and give as much quality as I could. I just couldn't get extension, couldn't finish anything. And my misses were just bad. They weren't me. It just stood out and it was smart to just not push any further.” Cubs President of Operations Jed Hoyer confirmed the injury news. “I think he felt it a little bit before the game and it just didn’t loosen up in the game, so he came out,” Hoyer said on the game broadcast. “He wasn’t as sharp as usual, he battled. Usually with Kyle when you see a lot of soft line drives falling in there, that means he’s not as down in the zone as he usually is. When he’s right those balls go to infielders. "I feel that’s what we saw today. He wasn’t at his best. He battled, but obviously, I think it was bothering him.” Cubs manager Craig Counsell talked about Hendricks' injury. "As the morning was progressing, he was getting better and feeling better," Counsell said. "We thought he was good enough to go and, just as the game went on, he was having trouble finishing some pitches, so we made the decision to pull him." For the season, Hendricks has a 1-6 record, a 7.53 ERA, 46 strikeouts, 20 walks and a 1.53 WHIP. Hopefully, this is not the end of Hendricks's time with the Cubs, as everyone wants him to end on a high note and not be injured. Kyle Hendricks has the second highest single-season ERA among Cubs pitchers with 10+ starts since 1910. I’ll always remember what he did in 2016 and 2017, but I think it’s time to move on. #YouHaveToSeeIt pic.twitter.com/zdn0g1xcpL
