Chicago Cubs

Gavin Hollowell

RP

Hollowell has been sidelined since late July with right shoulder inflammation, but he's ready to test things out in a game atmosphere. The right-handed reliever has allowed five runs (four earned) with a 13:8 K:BB over 14.1 innings during his time with the Cubs in 2026.

Edward Cabrera

SP

Cabrera will be making his second rehab appearance since landing on the injured list in mid-August due to right middle finger blister. In his first outing in the minors on Tuesday with Iowa, Cabrera struck out two batters and allowed one earned run on one hit. The Cubs plan to bring Cabrera back as a reliever, but it's unclear how many more rehab outings beyond Friday he'll require prior to being activated from the IL.

Ben Brown

RP

Brown has been out since June with a stress reaction in his neck, and he had been cleared to face live hitters before suffering a setback last week. Now set to remain out for the rest of the season, he'll close the book on what seemed to be a promising 2026 campaign in which he posted a 1.85 ERA and 0.94 WHIP with a 65:19 K:BB over 68 innings.

Justin Steele

SP

Steele has managed to successfully toss several bullpen sessions, proving that he's ready to progress to facing live hitters. He'll presumably need to make at least a few appearances in the minors before being activated from the 60-day injured list, at which point he would likely provide support for the Cubs out of the bullpen considering he won't have enough time to build back up to a starter's workload.

Dansby Swanson

SS

He will have to get through a brief rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa next week first, but as long as Swanson doesn't encounter any setbacks he will be available for the Cubs' final nine games of the regular season. Swanson has been sidelined mid-August with a Grade 2 left oblique strain.