Kyle Hendricks's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Chicago Cubs veteran Kyle Hendricks left his start Saturday with lower back tightness after two innings against the Los Angeles Angels. He had surrendered four hits and two earned runs before departing and being relieved by Colton Brewer. Hendricks had stepped back into the rotation due to injuries to Javier Assad and Ben Brown. He had been pitching in a long relief role through mid-June. The level of severity of the injury remains unknown. Hendricks is 1-6 with a 7.53 ERA, a 1.58 WHIP, and 47 strikeouts in 63 innings.

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that veteran right-hander Kyle Hendricks will be moved to the bullpen for now, but the hope is to get Hendricks back on track to eventually return him to the starting rotation. With a bullpen-type game coming on Wednesday against the visiting Atlanta Braves, the 34-year-old could be used in a relief role as perhaps the bulk reliever. Hendricks has already spent time on the injured list this year and just has not looked at all like the pitcher he was in 2023, when he had a 3.74 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in his 24 starts. Through seven starts in 2024, he's gone 0-4 with a rough 10.57 ERA (6.93 FIP) and 1.99 WHIP with 11 walks and 25 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings. Even if Hendricks eventually returns to a starting role, it will be hard to recommend him in standard 12-team fantasy leagues.

The Chicago Cubs activated right-hander Kyle Hendricks (back) from the 15-day injured list on Sunday and optioned pitcher Jose Cuas to Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move. Hendricks was originally expected to make one more minor-league rehab start on Sunday, but the Cubs have had a change of heart and will bring him back to close out the series against the Bucs with right-hander Jameson Taillon (back) being pushed back this weekend. The 34-year-old gave up three runs while walking three and striking out 13 in two rehab outings for Iowa in 9 1/3 innings and he will now rejoin Chicago's starting rotation. It's a good matchup against Pittsburgh, but Hendricks hasn't been a very reliable fantasy streamer. He has started the year going 0-3 with a 12.00 ERA and 2.10 WHIP in 21 innings pitched in the majors.