The Chicago Cubs are sending their third player to the injured list due to an oblique injury. The team announced that Porter Hodge is heading to the 15-day IL with a left oblique injury, making him the third Chicago Cub to be sidelined in 2025 with an oblique injury. Ian Happ and Javier Assad are already on the shelf dealing with their injuries, but this newest addition to the IL came at a cost last night. With Hodge on the roster but unavailable to close for Craig Counsell, the Cubs surrendered a walk-off hit to the Miami Marlins, leading to concerns about how the bullpen will compensate for Hodge’s absence.
Replacing Hodge in the bullpen is going to be a challenge for this Chicago Cubs bullpen that has already experienced immense fluctuation in 2025, and Counsell is well-prepared to cobble together a plan to make up for the absence of one of his better relievers. Replacing Hodge on the active roster falls on the desk of Jed Hoyer, and while nothing has been decided yet, there are some logical options to look at.
Chicago Cubs Lose Another Player To Oblique Injury
The Chicago Cubs received some bad and familiar injury news Monday night when they announced that Porter Hodge is heading to the injured list due to a left oblique injury. Hodge was active for last night’s walk-off loss in Miami against the Marlins, but unavailable according to Counsell. The Cubs were leading 8-7 heading into the ninth inning, a situation that would be ideal for Hodge, but Daniel Palencia got the nod instead. With the news that Hodge is injured, that decision makes sense. The Monday night loss stings a little more knowing that the team will be without their closer for at least two weeks.
Hodge is the third Chicago Cub to be sidelined with an oblique injury already in 2025. Javier Assad suffered his before the season started, and Ian Happ suffered his about two weeks ago. There is no timetable for Assad’s return, but Happ is ramping up to make his return to the lineup later this week. It’s unclear where Hodge’s injury stands on that spectrum. If his presence on the roster while dealing with this injury is any indication, Hodge will be closer to Happ’s timeline than Assad’s.
Regardless of the timeline for Hodge’s return, the Chicago Cubs are going to have to come up with a plan for supplementing the 24-year-old’s production. In his first full season in the majors with the Chicago Cubs, Hodge is 2-1 with a 5.12 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, two saves, and six holds in 19.1 innings across 21 appearances. Hodge was given more high-leverage situations to pitch as the season progressed. Those situations are going to fall on other members of the Chicago Cubs bullpen while Hodge recuperates from the oblique injury.
Replacing Porter Hodge
The Chicago Cubs announced that Hodge is heading to the 15-day IL, but they have not announced who will be taking his spot on the roster. The most likely candidate is Ryan Brasier. Brasier was injured earlier in 2025 and has been rehabbing his left groin strain in AAA Iowa. Brasier has pitched five innings in AAA, and sources within the organization say he should be ready to make his return to the major league team very soon. The Hodge injury could be the excuse the team needs to bring him back up to the majors.
While Brasier is the most likely replacement on the roster for Hodge, there are other pitchers to consider. Ethan Roberts, Luke Little, Nate Pearson, Gavin Hollowell, Tom Cosgrove, and Jack Neely are all players who could be brought up without messing with the 40-man roster. If they decide to go outside these options, they could look for a longer reliever like Michael Fulmer, Keegan Thompson, Caleb Kilian, or Riley Martin. Regardless of who the Cubs decide to replace Hodge with, they are hoping that he will be back sooner rather than later.
