Cubs Drop 8th Straight 8-5 and Put Edward Cabrera on 15-Day IL

11 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · May 24

Chicago lost 8-5 to Houston for its eighth straight defeat, its longest skid since a nine-game slide in 2022, after the Astros broke open a close game with a five-run fifth inning.
Christian Walker's 14th homer fueled that rally, while Shota Imanaga allowed seven runs in six innings and saw his ERA jump from 3.38 to 4.04.
Edward Cabrera was placed on the 15-day injured list with blisters on his throwing hand, and Jordan Wicks was recalled as the Cubs' rotation depth thinned further.
The injury lands amid broader rotation damage: Cade Horton is out for the season after Tommy John surgery, Justin Steele's return has slipped until after the All-Star break, and Matthew Boyd is sidelined after knee surgery.
At 29-24, the Cubs have gone 2-12 since May 8, trail Milwaukee by 2 1/2 games in the NL Central, and lead Arizona by just one game for the final wild-card spot.

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With key contracts expiring, is this historic slump the beginning of an unexpected Cubs rebuild?