Kilian tossed five scoreless innings but did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Reds. He allowed three hits and two walks while striking out four.
Kilian just made his season debut for the Cubs on Monday, allowing six runs (five earned) over 5.2 innings, but he looked much sharper Sunday in the last game of the year. The 27-year-old righty pitched well for Triple-A Iowa earlier this season, compiling a 3.22 ERA across 44.2 innings, and he could compete for a rotation spot with Chicago next spring. Kilian has a career 9.22 ERA at the MLB level, however, so his fantasy upside may be limited.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Starting season finale
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Kilian will start Sunday's game against the Reds, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Kilian allowed six runs (five earned) over 5.2 innings during his season debut Monday, but the Cubs will give him the ball to start their final game of the 2024 season. The 27-year-old righty has been solid in Triple-A to the tune of a 3.22 ERA, but his 11.28 career ERA in the big leagues makes him an unappealing streaming option.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Takes loss in 2024 debut
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Kilian (0-1) took the loss Monday, allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits and four walks over 5.2 innings against the Phillies. He struck out three.
Kilian was called up earlier in the day and then tossed 5.2 innings in a bulk-relief role. It was his first major-league appearance of 2024 after having appeared in six big-league contests over the previous two seasons. Kilian has now allowed 28 earned runs across 22.1 career big-league innings.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Receives promotion
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The Cubs recalled Kilian from Triple-A Iowa on Monday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Right-hander Nate Pearson is serving as the Cubs' opening pitcher for Monday's game in Philadelphia, but he's likely to cover only an inning or two before turning the contest over to the bullpen. Kilian will be available out of the bullpen and may end up taking on a bulk-relief role for the Cubs, as his final start with Iowa came six days earlier. Kilian made three appearances (one start) for the Cubs in 2023 but has pitched exclusively in the minors in 2024, turning in a 3.22 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 38:14 K:BB over 44.2 innings with Iowa.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Activated, optioned to Triple-A
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The Cubs reinstated Kilian (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Kilian had been on the shelf all season while recovering from a teres major strain of his right shoulder, but he's healthy again after completing an eight-appearance rehab assignment in the minors. The last five of those outings came at Iowa, with whom Kilian gave up seven runs (six earned) on eight hits and five walks while striking out three over eight innings. Though his results were generally poor, Kilian tossed three no-hit innings in his most recent appearance Sunday. Kilian had been working in relief during his rehab assignment, but since the Cubs didn't have a spot in the bullpen available for him upon his activation, he could get stretched back out for starting duty with Iowa.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Rehabbing as reliever
Rotowire
Kilian (shoulder) made the fifth appearance of his rehab assignment Sunday for Triple-A Iowa, retiring the lone batter he faced on six pitches.
Prior to this season, Kilian had made all but three of his professional appearances as a starter, but the Cubs look to be preparing him for a relief role as he makes his way back from a teres major strain on his right shoulder, which has kept him on the shelf since spring training. He's worked out of the bullpen in all five of his rehab appearances to date, tossing no more than two innings and 32 pitches in any of those outings.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Hits two innings in third rehab start
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Kilian (shoulder) struck out two over two perfect innings in his rehab start Tuesday with High-A South Bend.
Kilian tossed 21 pitches in the outing while the Cubs continue to ease the right-hander along slowly as he makes his way back from a teres major strain in his right shoulder, an injury that has sidelined him since early March. The 27-year-old will likely require at least three more rehab starts to get fully stretched out for a traditional starter's workload, so he may not be activated until late July or early August. Once Kilian is reinstated, the Cubs could elect to option him to Triple-A Iowa, if the big club doesn't have an opening in its rotation.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Beginning rehab assignment
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Kilian (shoulder) is starting a rehab assignment Tuesday at High-A South Bend, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Kilian will start up a rehab assignment Tuesday, pitching in game conditions for the first time since straining his shoulder in spring training. The 27-year-old has been progressing well, getting up to 32 pitches in a bullpen session in mid-June before facing live hitters June 25. He could be cleared for activation before August.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Faces live hitters
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Kilian (shoulder) threw live batting practice Tuesday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Kilian began throwing bullpen sessions earlier this month and has now progressed to facing live hitters for the first time since landing on the injured list before Opening Day. He will likely require a lengthy rehab assignment before being reinstated from the IL, at which point it's more likely that he reports to Triple-A Iowa rather than the big-league club.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Throws off mound
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Kilian (shoulder) threw a 32-pitch bullpen session Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
It would appear to be the first time he's thrown off a mound since being diagnosed in early March with a teres major strain in his right shoulder. Kilian, who is on the 60-day injured list, figures to need a lengthy rehab assignment once he's deemed ready. Further, it isn't a given that he will be added to the big-league roster once he's off the IL.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Lands on 60-day IL
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The Cubs placed Kilian (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.
Kilian was diagnosed in early March with a teres major strain in his right shoulder. The team noted at the time that it's an injury that can have a wide range of timelines, but the righty is likely to be out at least until around the All-Star break.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Diagnosed with teres major strain
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Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that Kilian will be sidelined until around the All-Star break after an MRI revealed a teres major strain in his right shoulder, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Counsell noted that it's the type of injury which can have varying timelines, but Kilian isn't expected to be pitching anytime soon. The loss of Kilian is a hit to the team's starting pitching depth, as he was likely slated to open the season in the Triple-A Iowa rotation.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Undergoes MRI on shoulder
Rotowire
Killian underwent an MRI after exiting a Cactus League appearance Tuesday with right shoulder discomfort, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.
The results of the MRI aren't yet in, but it's certainly a discouraging development for the young right-hander. If healthy, Killian is likely slated for a spot in the Triple-A Iowa rotation, though he could also be an option for the big-league club as a reliever.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Looks sharp in spring opener
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Kilian logged two scoreless innings with two strikeouts in Friday's Cactus League game against the White Sox.
Kilian was the third pitcher to appear in the contest for the Cubs and he looked sharp. The righty has appeared in six games (four starts) for Chicago over the past two years and could be in the running for a bullpen role this spring if he pitches well. Kilian doesn't seem like a realistic option for a rotation spot at this point, though he could be on the radar for spot starts when needed.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Optioned back to Iowa
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The Cubs optioned Kilian to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Kilian has surrendered 10 earned runs in just 5.1 innings of work this season at the major-league level. Michael Rucker will join Chicago's bullpen Tuesday in a corresponding roster move.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Promoted Sunday
Rotowire
Kilian was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
The 26-year-old made a spot start for the Cubs in late April but was sent back to Triple-A after he surrendered seven runs across 3.1 innings. Kilian has continued to work as a starter at Iowa and has a 3.97 ERA over 88.1 innings, but he'll likely work out of the bullpen for Chicago.
The Cubs optioned Kilian to Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Kilian was ineffective in his first start of the season with the Cubs on Saturday against the Marlins, allowing seven runs on 10 hits in just 3.1 innings. The right-hander could be a starting option again for Chicago if necessary, but Saturday's outing didn't exactly inspire much confidence. Ryan Borucki was brought up from Iowa in a corresponding transaction.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Rocked in spot start
Rotowire
Kilian (0-1) took the loss Saturday, allowing seven runs on 10 hits and two walks over 3.1 innings against Miami. He struck out four.
Kilian was called up from Triple-A to start in place of Jameson Taillon (groin) on Saturday and got yanked after just 3.1 innings. Despite not allowing a home run, Kilian was tagged for seven earned runs and 10 hits, each of which were career-highs. Going back to last season, Kilian has given up at least five earned runs in each of his last three starts and has yet to pick up a win in the big leagues after going 0-2 in 2022. Considering his massive struggles against a Marlins roster that has averaged the third-fewest runs per game (3.39) this season, it's unclear if Kilian will toe the rubber any time soon. Regardless, he remains an unsavory fantasy option.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Officially starting Saturday
Rotowire
Cubs manager David Ross confirmed Friday that Kilian will start Saturday against the Marlins, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Kilian will get the start in the place of Jameson Taillon, after the latter was placed on the 15-day injured list with a groin injury. Kilian has registered a 7.15 ERA for Triple-A Iowa, but eight of the nine runs he's allowed over 11.1 innings came in his first start. The 25-year-old right-hander may not be a future ace, but he throws four pitches for strikes to keep hitters off-balance, and he could be a solid -- if unspectacular -- option while he's a member of the Chicago rotation.
