Cubs RHP Cabrera optimistic after leaving game vs. Brewers with blister on middle finger

“I mean you take a guy out of a start, the next start's in question,” Counsell said.

Cabrera walked off the mound with a trainer after throwing one pitch in the fourth inning, a 92.5 mph fastball to Joey Ortiz. He was charged with four runs, one earned, and four hits in Chicago's 5-0 loss.

“I felt fine. It was good and then once we got to the fourth inning is when I felt it the most,” Cabrera said through a translator.

The Cubs have been hit hard by injuries this year, especially in their rotation. Matthew Boyd is working his way back after he had surgery on his left knee. Cade Horton is out for the season because of elbow surgery, and Justin Steele has an uncertain timeline after he had a setback in his recovery from an elbow injury.

Counsell said Cabrera has been managing the issue for a while.

“It just got worse tonight, to the point where it was clearly affecting his command as much as anything,” he said. “Tried to do something after the third inning and it just didn't work, so you could tell, just the first pitch could have told you that he wasn't going to be able to continue.”

Cabrera is 3-2 with a 4.00 ERA in 10 starts in his first year with Chicago. He was acquired in a January trade with Miami.

He had repeated issues with blisters on his right middle finger during his time with the Marlins. He said it's the same as before, appearing in the same spot, but he felt he would be able to take his next turn in the rotation.

“I'm not worried,” Cabrera said. “My mentality is in five days I'm going to go out there and pitch again.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb