Unfortunately, one of the biggest storylines early in the 2024 season has been the rash of pitchers suffering significant elbow injuries. The Guardians’ Shane Bieber and the Marlins’ Eury Perez are undergoing Tommy John surgery, and there’s concern over the Braves’ Spencer Strider.
Before Sunday’s game with the Dodgers, Cubs manager Craig Counsell was asked about the outbreak, and stressed the importance of being careful with pitchers at this stage of the year.
“My take has always been: the early part of the season’s a dangerous time for pitchers, period.