Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Julian Merryweather (shoulder) has been activated off the 60-day injured list on Monday. The right-hander has missed 3 1/2 months of action due to a shoulder strain. When healthy, Merryweather has been a viable option for Chicago. Last season, Merryweather posted a 3.38 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and nearly 100 strikeouts over 69 games. Given the Cubs struggles at closer right now, Merryweather could be a late game option for them. Fantasy managers should keep him on their watch list for now. In a corresponding move, right-hander Hunter Bigge has been optioned to Triple-A Iowa.

Chicago Cubs right-hander Adbert Alzolay (forearm) has been cleared to start a minor-league rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Friday. Meanwhile, right-hander Julian Merryweather (rib) is planning to make his fourth minor-league rehab appearance on Friday for Triple-A Iowa. If all goes well, manager Craig Counsell said that Merryweather will be activated from the injured list by next weekend "at the latest." Alzolay obviously won't be back as soon as Merryweather, but he's making progress after suffering a right flexor strain in mid-May. Both relievers should return to high-leverage, late-inning bullpen roles in Chicago when they are activated, with Alzolay potentially taking over closing duties from Hector Neris.

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Julian Merryweather (shoulder) is scheduled to make another rehab appearance at Triple-A Iowa on Friday. The right-hander has been sidelined for most of the season due to a lingering shoulder issue. The organization is hopeful that Merryweather can rejoin the bullpen after the All-Star break. Merryweather was a viable option out of the pen for the Cubs last season. He could be in the mix for saves with the closer situation a mess in Chicago right now.

Chicago Cubs right-handed reliever Adbert Alzolay (forearm) threw 30 pitches in his bullpen session on Tuesday and checked out well. Meanwhile, reliever Julian Merryweather (ribs) threw 11 pitches in an inning of work in a minor-league rehab outing with Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday night. Both pitchers are making progress but aren't going to be an option to return to Chicago's bullpen until after next week's All-Star break. Alzolay had a career-high 22 saves in 2023 but went 1-4 with a 4.67 ERA, four saves and a 1.44 WHIP in 17 1/3 innings before landing on the injured list with a flexor strain in mid-May. Merryweather made just four appearances for the Cubs before suffering a rib stress fracture. When they return, they could both be options for saves in Chicago, along with veteran Hector Neris.

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell announced that relievers Julian Merryweather (ribs) and Mark Leiter Jr. (forearm) would be activated next week and rejoin the club. Counsell said that both Merryweather and Leiter threw live batting practice sessions on Saturday, which went well. Merryweather is scheduled to report to Single-A South Bend on Sunday to begin a minor-league rehab assignment. It is believed he will be there for the coming week to work his way back into the mix and could rejoin the team next weekend. The team expects Leiter to return this week when the Cubs head out on the road for a series with the Baltimore Orioles and St. Louis Cardinals.

Chicago Cubs right-hander Julian Merryweather (ribs) threw live batting practice on Tuesday at Wrigley Field before the contest against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies. It was the first time that Merryweather has faced live hitters after previously throwing two bullpen sessions as he recovers from a rib fracture. The 32-year-old right-handed reliever has already been ruled out to return before the All-Star break in mid-July, but he should return to a high-leverage role in the back of Chicago's bullpen early in the second half, barring a setback during his rehab. Merryweather went on the injured list way back on April 7. In just 4 2/3 innings before suffering his rib fracture, he gave up an earned run on four hits while walking two and fanning six.

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that right-handed reliever Julian Merryweather (ribs, shoulder) will start throwing in Arizona on Monday. Merryweather still has a long ways to go to get up to speed, but it's a good sign that he's ready to resume throwing. The 32-year-old veteran was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his ribs in early April and is currently on the 60-day injured list, meaning he's not eligible to return until early June. Given the severity of his injury and the fact that he's starting his throwing program next week, Merryweather is unlikely to be ready to come off the IL when he's eligible. The former fifth-round pick by Cleveland in 2014 out of Oklahoma Baptist has a 3.29 ERA, a 1.30 WHIP, two saves and 104 K's in 76 2/3 relief innings for the Cubs the last two years and will be a useful high-leverage arm out of their bullpen when he's ready to come back.

The Chicago Cubs moved right-hander Julian Merryweather (back, ribs) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on Wednesday to open up a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander Colton Brewer, who was recalled from Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs also recalled right-hander Hayden Wesneski from Iowa and optioned left-hander Luke Little and right-hander Daniel Palencia to Iowa. The 32-year-old Merryweather was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his ribs and in his back last week and he won't be eligible to return to the club until early June. He won't resume throwing for three weeks and may not be able to return to the Cubs' bullpen until closer to the All-Star break. Injuries continue to bother Merryweather in his MLB career.

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Julian Merryweather picked up his second save of the season on Sunday in a 4-3 win over the Colorado Rockies. Merryweather struck out one and walked a pair but escaped unscathed. After Adbert Alzolay went on the IL, it appeared as though Merryweather was in line for some save opportunities. Unfortunately, the Cubs haven't won many close games recently and Merryweather only has a couple saves in his absence. With Alzolay likely coming off the IL Tuesday, it will be tough to decipher which Cubs reliever will be relied upon in save situations in the final week of the season.

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Julian Merryweather notched his first save of the season Sunday, securing a 5-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Merryweather allowed just a walk and struck out a pair in his inning of work. It should be noted that usual closer Adbert Alzolay was unavailable due to pitching back-to-back days prior to Sunday. Still, Merryweather has been very impressive in his time with the Cubs, and should Alzolay falter he is likely next up for save chances. Merryweather doesn't need to be rostered in many leagues, but an eye should be kept on the situation in Chicago down the stretch.

The Chicago Cubs claimed right-hander Julian Merryweather off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday. Merryweather was designated for assignment by the Jays recently so that they could make room on the active roster for first baseman Brandon Belt, but the 31-year-old reliever didn't make it through waivers. In his third MLB season in 2022, Merryweather tossed a career-high 26 2/3 innings (26 appearances, one start) and had a career-worst 6.75 ERA (4.35 FIP), 1.42 WHIP, 23 strikeouts and seven walks for Toronto. An oblique strain may have been to blame for his poor performance last year, but the Cubs will be hoping he can bounce back with better health as bullpen depth.

The Toronto Blue Jays have designated right-handed reliever Julian Merryweather for assignment, per a tweet from the American League East team's official Twitter account on Tuesday afternoon. Toronto made the move in order to clear space on the club's 40-man roster for new signing Brandon Belt. Merryweather has appeared in parts of three seasons with the Blue Jays, logging 52.2 innings in the Majors since the start of the 2020 campaign. He pitched to a 6.75 ERA and a 4.35 FIP in 26 appearances spanning 26.2 innings for Toronto this past season. In those 26.2 innings, the reliever logged 23 strikeouts compared to seven walks allowed while also registering a hold.

The Toronto Blue Jays activated relief pitcher Julian Merryweather (oblique) from the 60-day injured list on Monday and optioned Casey Lawrence to the minors in a corresponding move. The Blue Jays also designated catcher Zack Collins for assignment. Merryweather has been away from the team since June 13 with a left oblique strain and had been on a lengthy minor league rehab assignment, but he'll now be available out of the bullpen for the stretch run in September. In 10 2/3 innings on his rehab assignment, the 30-year-old right-hander allowed no earned runs on three hits while walking five and striking out 15. Merryweather will work in middle relief in his return to the team and won't be on the fantasy radar.

Toronto Blue Jays reliever Julian Merryweather (oblique) is with the club in New York and is expected to return from the injured list, according to Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic. Merryweather hasn't pitched since April 13 after straining his oblique and landing on the IL. Before being sidelined, he pitched well in 4.1 innings, allowing no runs with seven strikeouts and two saves. Reliever Jordan Romano has all but locked up the closer role for the Jays, so Merryweather will probably be in a setup role the rest of the way.

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Julian Merryweather (oblique) suffered a setback in his recovery after his outing in the Florida Complex League on August 18. He was dealing with what was described as general soreness after the outing. Fortunately, he has progressed forward from the setback. He continued his rehab assignment on Tuesday, pitching a scoreless inning and striking out one batter. Merryweather has been sidelined for about four months due to a left oblique strain. Assuming no major setbacks, he should be able to rejoin the Blue Jays bullpen at some point in September.

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Julian Merryweather (oblique) suffered a setback during his rehab assignment and will have his next appearance pushed back, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. Merryweather tossed 4 1/3 innings back in April and looked to be a potential closer candidate for Toronto before landing on the IL with a left oblique strain that has kept him out of action ever since. Matheson reports that Merryweather had thrown one inning on Wednesday with Dunedin, but left the game with soreness and will have his next scheduled appearance pushed back. At this point it's unlikely that Merryweather will have any value in 2021, but if he's healthy he could be an interesting guy to keep an eye on in Toronto's bullpen in 2022.

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Julian Merryweather (oblique) has resumed throwing bullpen sessions, but remains without a timetable. He has been sidelined mid-April with an oblique injury and continues to suffer setbacks. It sounds like he'll be ramping up his activities and will face live hitters. Merryweather has the potential and upside to be a legitimate weapon in the Blue Jays bullpen at some point. However, they might not be until next season, so fantasy managers who were stashing him can likely give up now. It doesn't sound like Merryweather is close to returning and probably won't make much of an impact this season.

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Julian Merryweather (oblique) may not return to the bullpen this year, according to manager Charlie Montoyo. Reporters asked Montoyo on Wednesday if the team could expect Merryweather back this season and he replied with "that would be good, but we don't know ... right now it's not close." That doesn't sound very encouraging. Merryweather looked great in limited action (4 1/3 innings) back in April but suffered an oblique injury that sent him to the injured list. He then had a setback three weeks ago and has been shut down from baseball activities ever since. The Jays should remain cautious with the 29-year-old moving forward. He looked like a solid IL stash in fantasy leagues earlier this season but he can be dropped in redraft leagues.