Kyle Hendricks, Chicago Cubs. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Getty Images)
The Cardinals can’t hide behind excuses, Braves’ top prospects have people buzzing already, and the Cubs have a big return coming.
While we’re almost a full month into the 2023 MLB season, the fact of the matter is that there are still more than 130 games left for every team in the league. It’s as clichéd as it gets, but there’s a lot of baseball left to be played still.
Having said that, based on what we’ve seen already this year, there are plenty of things we can start to buy in on. The Cubs look like a potential playoff team and have reinforcements coming. Meanwhile, the Cardinals, favorites to win the NL Central coming into the season, are already five games below .500. Then there’s the Braves, looking like the National League’s best but with their future looking as bright as ever.
So we’re looking at some of the MLB rumors and buzz around these big NL storylines early in the season and breaking them down, starting in the Windy City and a player who could be back soon to help the Cubbies build off a nice start.
MLB rumors: Cubs nearing Kyle Hendricks return after latest update
Thanks to incredibly hot starts from the Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers, the Chicago Cubs are three games out of first place in the NL Central. However, the 12-9 start after a busy offseason highlighted by the additions of Dansby Swanson and Cody Bellinger, among others, has people feeling good about this team.
And why wouldn’t they, despite being three games out of first, they lead the division and are tied for the NL lead in runs scored (121) and runs allowed (82). Even better for the Cubs, though, is the fact that the roster, the starting rotation specifically, has help coming on the way.
On Tuesday, it was reported that veteran Kyle Hendricks, who hasn’t pitched since July 2022 after the right-hander suffered a capsular tear, will make a Triple-A rehab start on Thursday for the Iowa Cubs.
While Hendricks has posted an ERA above 4.70 over the last two seasons and 48 starts, his career-worst ERA in his seven prior MLB seasons was 3.95 and no other years above 3.50. He’s a strong veteran presence for the rotation, one that needes reinforcements with recent injuries to Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad.
Assuming that the rehab start goes well, though, Hendricks is getting closer to his return and should give Chicago a big boost after an optimism-raising start to 2023.