The Short Porch is thinking about blisters

May 21, 2026 - 21:48

The Chicago Cubs pitching staff just cannot catch a break. The latest concern to pop up involves blisters, a recurring nuisance that has already disrupted the rhythm of more than one arm this spring. While the team has not issued a formal statement confirming a specific player is sidelined, sources close to the club indicate that the issue is being monitored closely. For a rotation already dealing with its share of setbacks, the prospect of blisters adds another layer of frustration.

Blisters on a pitcher's fingers are not new to baseball, but they have a way of derailing a season when they keep coming back. The Cubs have seen this before. A small tear in the skin can alter a pitcher's grip, change the spin on a breaking ball, or force a trip to the injured list. The team's medical staff is reportedly trying new preventive measures, including different tape applications and adjustments to throwing programs. But there is no quick fix for skin that has not yet hardened to the demands of a long season.

For now, the Cubs are hoping this is just a minor irritation rather than a full-blown crisis. With the season still young, they cannot afford to lose another arm to something as stubborn as a blister. The next few days will tell whether this is a passing ache or the start of another frustrating chapter for the pitching staff.