Breaking: Marcus Stroman’s Rib Cartilage

Per multiple reports, Marcus Stroman suffered a right rib cartilage fracture and will remain on the IL indefinitely. The Cubs have not provided a timeline, but these injuries can take 6-12 weeks to heal in some cases. I can’t help but wonder what Stroman was doing, as cartilage fractures are typically caused by a direct injury to the chest.

All that matters now is that he gets healthy, ideally in time to help the Cubs down the stretch. In the meantime, Javier Assad will continue to pitch in the rotation. Speaking of which, Stroman might be back next year after all now that opting out seems less like a good idea for him with each passing day.