Alzolay (lat) has been throwing bullpen sessions at the extended spring training facility in Arizona, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Alzolay has been on the injured list since late March due to a right lat strain that he sustained during spring training. While it's encouraging that the right-hander has resumed mound work, he doesn't yet have a timetable to return to game action. Alzolay will presumably require several rehab appearances before he's cleared to rejoin the Cubs.

Alzolay (lat) will resume playing light catch Friday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Alzolay has been on the 60-day injured list since March after he sustained a lat strain during spring training, and he apparently hasn't been able to throw over the first two months of the regular season. While the right-hander is presumably at least several weeks away from returning to game action, it's encouraging that he's now able to play light catch.

Alzolay (lat) landed on the 60-day injured list Friday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Alzolay was diagnosed with a right lat strain earlier in the week that is expected to keep him out for at least two months. That lines up nicely with the 60-day injured list, allowing the Cubs to open up an extra 40-man roster spot until he heals. He's ineligible to return until early June.

Alzolay's shoulder injury has been diagnosed as a lat strain and will keep him out for at least two months, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Alzolay's injury was previously referred to as merely tightness, but it's now clear that it's a significant issue and will keep him out for an extended period. The righty dealt with the same injury back in 2018. Assuming he'll be able to reclaim a starting role once healthy, he could be a productive pitcher for the final four months of the season, as his mediocre 4.58 ERA last season came with a promising set of peripherals. His 24.7 percent strikeout rate, 6.6 percent walk rate and 45.3 percent groundball rate were all better than league average. In leagues without an injured list, however, he's unlikely to move the needle enough to be worth blocking a bench spot for the first two months of the year.

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Monday that Alzolay is dealing with shoulder tightness and is expected to begin the season on the injured list, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

A clearer timeline for Alzolay to make his season debut could begin more clear later in spring training, but the fact that Hoyer is already dismissing the possibility of the right-hander breaking camp with the club suggests he'll likely spend more than the minimum amount of time on the IL. Had he reported to camp at full health, Alzolay would have been in good shape to win a back-end rotation spot, but his absence to begin the season improves the chances of Alec Mills, Keegan Thompson and Justin Steele winning starting roles.

Alzolay pitched two scoreless innings in Friday's loss to the Cardinals. He allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two.

EDGE Analysis

Alzolay now has a modest streak of three straight scoreless appearances out of the bullpen, a span that covers 6.2 innings. The righty has lowered his ERA to 4.58 in the process and has looked like someone who could be a valuable option in long relief. However, there's still a decent chance Alzolay works back into the rotation next season, as the Cubs have some question marks behind staff ace Kyle Hendricks.

Alzolay pitched 3.2 scoreless innings of relief in Sunday's loss to the Cardinals. He allowed two hits and a walk while striking out three.

EDGE Analysis

Keegan Thompson got the start but was limited to just three innings of work in his second game back from the injured list. That opened the middle innings up for Alzolay, and the righty looked good against a red-hot St. Louis lineup, notching his second straight scoreless appearance. Alzolay should continue to work in relief for the Cubs to close out the season, though he's an option for the rotation next year depending on what moves the organization makes in the offseason.

Alzolay (5-13) allowed just one hit and struck out two over 1.2 scoreless innings as he earned the win over the Pirates on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Alzolay entered in the sixth with two men on and one out. He started out a little rocky after allowing both runners to be in scoring position on a passed ball before allowing Brian Reynolds to score on an infield single to give the Pirates an 8-7 advantage. The 26-year-old would settle in thereafter to retire the next five guys he faced. The Cubs would take the lead for good in the bottom of the seventh off a Frank Schwindel grand slam to give Alozolay his first win since June 2. Alzolay has now picked up a save and a win over 5.2 innings in two appearances out of the bullpen since being reinstated from the injured list Sept. 1. He now sits at a 4.90 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 114:32 K:BB over 112 innings.

Alzolay pitched four scoreless innings of relief and earned the save in Wednesday's win over the Twins. He allowed one hit and struck out five.

EDGE Analysis

Alzolay followed Justin Steele, who pitched five innings, and the two combined to limit the Twins to just two hits and no runs. This was the first career MLB save for Alzolay, and the 26-year-old could potentially see more save opportunities, as he's slated to pitch out of the bullpen the rest of the season to manage his workload. However, he's more likely to simply soak up innings in a middle relief role, so his fantasy value may be sporadic.

Alzolay (hamstring) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Wednesday, Russell Dorsey of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Alzolay has pitched exclusively as a starter to begin the year, but he'll move to a bullpen role in an attempt to manage his workload during the final month of the season. The 26-year-old missed just over two weeks due to a left hamstring strain but made a relief appearance at Triple-A Iowa on Aug. 25 and allowed four runs on three hits and a walk while striking out three in two innings.