Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks could return to the mound as soon as this weekend.
Manager David Ross said Friday Hendricks is “feeling better” after missing Tuesday’s start in Milwaukee due to feeling unwell. If his health continues improving, he’ll be scheduled to start against Atlanta on Sunday, Ross said.
If that’s the case, the Cubs may have dodged a significant COVID-19 scare.
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Hendricks was a last-minute scratch on Tuesday following four Cubs players landing on the COVID-19 related injured list (Jason Adam, Dan Winkler, Brandon Workman and Matt Duffy) and two coaches testing positive for the virus (Craig Driver and Chris Young).
Ross said Tuesday none of the four players had tested positive, but that the club was erring on the side of caution with anyone exhibiting potential COVID-19 symptoms.
On Friday, the Cubs manager said Hendricks and the other players have continued to test negative. Adam (Wednesday) and Duffy (Friday) have each been activated off the COVID-19 related IL.
Ross said the hope is for Workman and Winkler to rejoin the club on Sunday as well. Both are throwing “intense bullpens” Friday and the club doesn’t want to rush them back and risk injury after not pitching for several days.
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“We're able to take what is kind of deemed a rehab couple of days and get them up to speed and hopefully have him back by Sunday,” Ross said.