Hendricks (illness) is expected to start Sunday against Atlanta, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hendricks was scratched from his start Tuesday in Milwaukee due to an illness, though he's continued to test negative for COVID-19 and hasn't been placed on any injured list. As long as that remains true until Sunday, he'll take the mound for his third start of the year. He's allowed three runs on eight hits in nine innings over his first two starts, striking out 10 while walking four.

President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Hendricks (illness) is feeling better after being scratched ahead of his scheduled start Tuesday against the Brewers, but the Cubs have yet to determine when he'll be ready to rejoin the rotation, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hendricks was experiencing symptoms of congestion and was scratched out of an abundance of caution, and since leaving Milwaukee to return to Chicago, he's tested negative for COVID-19. Assuming Hendricks continues to test negative over the next couple of days and his condition keeps improving, he may have a chance to rejoin the rotation during this weekend's series with Atlanta. Alec Mills made a spot start for Hendricks on Tuesday and would line up for another turn Sunday if Hendricks can't go.

Hendricks won't start Tuesday at Milwaukee "out of an abundance of caution" since he isn't feeling well.

EDGE Analysis

The decision was announced less than a half hour before first pitch, pushing Alec Mills into an emergency spot start for the Cubs. It's unclear if Hendricks is expected to skip his turn through the rotation, or if he'll be able to take the mound later in the week.

Hendricks allowed four hits and a walk while striking out six over six scoreless innings in Wednesday's 4-2 extra-inning loss to the Brewers. He did not factor in the decision.

EDGE Analysis

Hendricks and Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff engaged in a pitchers' duel Wednesday. This was an improvement over Hendricks' season debut, in which he allowed three runs on four hits and three walks in three innings to the Pirates. The right-hander has a 3.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 10 strikeouts across nine innings in 2021. His next start is expected to be a rematch with the Brewers on Tuesday.

Hendricks (0-1) allowed three earned runs on four hits and three walks across three innings to take the loss Thursday against the Pirates. He struck out four.

EDGE Analysis

Hendricks didn't come close to matching his 2020 Opening Day start, in which he recorded a complete-game shutout of the Brewers. The righty got off to a rough start, allowing a two-run home run to No. 2 hitter Ke'Bryan Hayes, and he was eventually pulled after 63 pitches. There will be better days ahead for Hendricks, and he'll look to turn things around when he takes the hill again Wednesday against Milwaukee.

Manager David Ross announced Monday that Hendricks will start the Cubs' April 1 season opener versus the Pirates, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

He'll get the ball for the second Opening Day in a row, hoping to deliver another gem of a performance after he struck out nine in a complete-game shutout of the Brewers in the Cubs' 2020 season opener. Though Hendricks achieved his highest game score of last season in that outing against Milwaukee, he was in stellar form most every time he toed the rubber. He finished the abbreviated 60-game campaign with a 2.88 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 64:8 K:BB in 81.1 innings across his 12 starts, once again overcoming his lack of a power arsenal with elite command and control. With Yu Darvish getting dealt to San Diego over the offseason, Hendricks is now the unquestioned staff ace for Chicago.

Hendricks allowed four runs on seven hits across three innings in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Rockies. He struck out five.

EDGE Analysis

Hendricks, who skipped his last potential spring start and threw a bullpen session instead, tossed 53 pitches in his outing. "It felt good to just get the pitch count up, honestly," Hendricks said, according to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. "I felt really strong at the end there, had plenty left." He's still in line to start for the Cubs on Opening Day, though the team has yet to formally name a starter for the April 1 tilt against the Pirates.

Hendricks threw a bullpen session Saturday instead of making a Cactus League start against the Brewers, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hendricks and the Cubs will see plenty of the Brewers this season, so the team decided to let the righty log a bullpen rather than face the division rivals. By throwing Saturday, Hendricks is still on schedule to start the regular season opener on April 1, though manager David Ross has not formally named an Opening Day starter.

Hendricks tossed two scoreless innings in Monday's Cactus League game against the Padres. He allowed a hit and a walk, while striking out two.

EDGE Analysis

Hendricks wasn't allowed to work very deep in his Cactus League debut, but the righty was sharp while he was in there. Hendricks is coming off of a strong 2020 campaign in which he posted a 2.88 ERA and 1.00 WHIP across 12 starts, and he should serve as the Cubs' ace in 2021.

Hendricks will start the Cubs' Cactus League opener against the Padres Monday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

More importantly, this puts Hendricks in line to start the team's regular season opener against the Pirates on April 1. With Yu Darvish now in San Diego, Hendricks is unquestionably the ace in Chicago. He posted a stellar 2.88 ERA and 1.00 WHIP across 12 starts during the shortened 2020 season.