Chicago Cubs right-hander Edward Cabrera delivered a dominant performance in his third minor league rehabilitation start Tuesday night, tossing five hitless innings for the Double-A Knoxville Smokies.
Cabrera, recovering from a left hamstring and adductor strain, allowed no hits and no earned runs while walking one and striking out seven. He threw 64 pitches, 43 of them for strikes, before exiting the game.
The outing came against the Rocket City Trash Pandas at Covenant Health Park. After issuing a two-out walk in the first inning, Cabrera retired 13 consecutive batters.
Smokies manager Lance Rymel praised the performance.
“That’s kind of how you draw it up. Really, really electric stuff.”
Outfielder Kane Kepley, who made his home debut with Knoxville, echoed the sentiment.
“You feel a lot better when you got Edward Cabrera on the mound, so that was really cool to watch.”
The Smokies ultimately fell 6-1 after Cabrera departed, as the Trash Pandas scored six unanswered runs against the bullpen. Knoxville’s lone run came on an RBI double by Ariel Armas in the second inning.
Cabrera has been on the 15-day injured list since June 24. He suffered the injury covering first base during a start against the New York Mets, going into a split to secure the out and later being carted off the field.
This marked his third rehab appearance. In his first outing with Triple-A Iowa on July 31, he worked 1 2/3 innings and 43 pitches. In his second start with Iowa on Aug. 5, he threw four innings and 55 pitches, allowing one hit and one unearned run while striking out eight without issuing a walk.
Over his last two rehab starts combined, Cabrera has allowed one hit across nine innings with 15 strikeouts and one walk.In previous efforts, Cabrera sat around 97-98 mph with his fastball and touched 99 mph.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell had indicated Cabrera would make at least three minor league starts. With that threshold now met, the team will evaluate whether he needs a fourth or can rejoin the major league club.
“That’s the mode we’re in with everybody,” Counsell said before Tuesday’s game against the Washington Nationals. “There’s no set numbers for any of this stuff. I think we’re going to look at it like that. And we’ve got a lot of healthy guys right now. That’s a good thing.”
Cabrera posted a 5-4 record with a 5.10 ERA in 14 starts for the Cubs this season before the injury, totaling 72 1/3 innings with 65 strikeouts and 29 walks. His first seven starts produced a 3.27 ERA over 41 1/3 innings, while the next seven saw a 7.55 ERA in 31 innings.
The 28-year-old Dominican was acquired from the Miami Marlins in January in exchange for outfield prospect Owen Caissie and two other minor leaguers. In 2025 with Miami, he recorded a 3.53 ERA with 150 strikeouts in 137 2/3 innings.
The Cubs, who improved to 70-50 with an 8-6 victory over the Nationals on Tuesday, sit second in the NL Central, four games behind the Milwaukee Brewers. They bolstered their rotation at the trade deadline with the additions of Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes.
Cabrera has expressed willingness to fill any role upon his return.
“I’m here to follow orders,” he said. “Whatever the boss says, whatever they need me to do, I’m going to follow the orders and do anything for the team. Whatever’s necessary.”
Regarding the new arrivals, Cabrera noted through translator Fredy Quevedo Jr., “I know they’re all really good, really good players. I know they’re going to help us.”
If activated soon, possible starts include Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals or Monday versus the Chicago White Sox at Wrigley Field. A fourth rehab outing could push his return later in the month during a road trip to Seattle.
The strong pitch count and command in Knoxville position Cabrera well as the Cubs navigate a crowded but healthy pitching staff in the stretch run.
