CALEB KILIAN NEWS

Why Cubs' Caleb Kilian took the mound vs. Diamondbacks instead of Jameson Taillon Taillon threw a simulated game on Monday.

MARCH 4 • SUNTIMES.COM

Sent down to Iowa The Cubs optioned Kilian to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Impact Kilian gave up eight hits and a walk over just 3.2 innings during spring training, so the Cubs will send him down to the minors in order to get back on track. The 27-year-old righty owns a career 9.22 ERA and 2.01 WHIP across 27.1 MLB frames, however, so he would likely need to demonstrate consistent success in the minors before getting another shot in Chicago.

MARCH 1 • ROTOWIRE

Likely on outside of rotation While Kilian figures to compete for a starting job in spring training, he currently projects to be outside of the Cubs' rotation, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact Holdovers Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad all seem positioned for rotation spots. The same is true for veteran addition Matthew Boyd. That would leave Kilian, who is out of minor-league options, looking at a long relief role if he sticks with the team. Assad is the least experienced of those starters and could get pushed in camp, but he pitched decently in 2024 and figures to have the inside track at this point. Kilian won't have a ton of fantasy value if he's stuck in Chicago's bullpen.

FEBRUARY 5 • ROTOWIRE

Pitches well in season finale 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.

Impact 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. The 27-year-old righty pitched well for Triple-A Iowa this year, compiling a 3.22 ERA across 44.2 innings, and he could be in line for a depth spot with Chicago in 2025. Kilian has a career 9.22 MLB ERA, however, so his fantasy upside may be limited.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Starting season finale Kilian will start Sunday's game against the Reds, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Impact 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 unreliable streaming option.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Starting season finale Kilian will start Sunday's game against the Reds, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Impact 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.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Takes loss in 2024 debut 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.

Impact Kilian was called up earlier in the day, then tossed 5.2 innings in a bulk relief role. Kilian, making his first major league appearance of 2024 after having appeared in six contests over the previous two seasons, allowed 12 batters to reach base and six total runners to cross the plate. Kilian has now allowed 28 earned runs across 22.1 career big-league innings. At the very least, he'll be remembered in Philadelphia as the pitcher of record on the losing end when the Phillies clinched their first division pennant since 2011.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Receives promotion The Cubs recalled Kilian from Triple-A Iowa on Monday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Impact 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.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Gets activated and optioned 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.

Impact Kilian had been on the shelf all season while recovering from a teres major strain of his right shoulder but is healthy again after completing an eight-appearance rehab assignment in the minors. The last five of 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.

JULY 31, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Rehabbing as reliever Kilian (shoulder) made the fifth appearance of his rehab assignment Sunday for Triple-A Iowa, retiring the lone batter he faced on six pitches.

Impact 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 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 or 32 pitches in any of those outings.

JULY 18, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Hits two innings in third rehab start Kilian (shoulder) struck out two over two perfect innings in his rehab start Tuesday with High-A South Bend.

Impact 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.

JULY 10, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Beginning rehab assignment Kilian (shoulder) is starting a rehab assignment Tuesday at High-A South Bend, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact Kilian will start up a rehab assignment Tuesday, pitching in-game 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 reinstatement before August.

JULY 2, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Faces live hitters Kilian (shoulder) threw live batting practice Tuesday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact 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.

JUNE 25, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Cubs RHP Caleb Kilian (shoulder) to miss 3-4 months Chicago Cubs right-hander Caleb Kilian likely is to be sidelined until the All-Star break with a shoulder injury.Kilian, 26, had a 1.50 ERA...

MARCH 7, 2024 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Injury updates: Cubs get back MRI results for Nick Madrigal, Caleb Kilian Notes: Héctor Neris’ influence extends beyond the major-league team, and MLB announced "Spring Breakout" rosters

MARCH 7, 2024 • SUNTIMES.COM

Optioned back to Iowa The Cubs optioned Kilian to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact 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.

AUGUST 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Promoted Sunday Kilian was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact 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.

AUGUST 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Triple-A The Cubs optioned Kilian to Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact Kilian was ineffective in his start for the Cubs on Saturday against the Marlins while allowing seven runs on 10 hits in just 3.1 innings. The right-hander could be an option again for Chicago if necessary, but this outing didn't exactly inspire much confidence. Ryan Borucki was brought up from Iowa in a corresponding transaction.

APRIL 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Caleb Kilian looks for positives after getting roughed up in Chicago Cubs loss: 'He's not ready' Chicago Cubs right-hander Caleb Kilian is trying to hold on to the positives from his tough spot start Saturday against the Miami Marlins.

APRIL 30, 2023 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM

Caleb Kilian looks for positives after getting roughed up in Chicago Cubs loss: 'He's not ready' Chicago Cubs right-hander Caleb Kilian tried to focus on the positives from his wayward spot start. His big-league season debut quickly unra...

APRIL 30, 2023 • BOSTONHERALD.COM

Rocked in spot start 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.

Impact 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.

APRIL 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

'He's not ready': Kilian's season debut goes awry MIAMI -- The hype that surrounded Caleb Kilian's promotion to the big leagues last summer was absent this time around. The Cubs needed a sta...

APRIL 30, 2023 • MLB.COM

Recalled for start at Miami Kilian was recalled from Triple-A Iowa and will start for the Cubs on Saturday against the Marlins, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact As planned, Kilian gets the call to fill in for Jameson Taillon (groin) at loanDepot park in Miami. The 25-year-old right-hander allowed 15 runs -- 13 earned -- over his first 11.1 major-league innings last season and was showing an ugly 7.15 ERA through 11.1 innings this year at Triple-A Iowa. He is not a recommended fantasy streamer.

APRIL 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Chicago Cubs minor-league report: Caleb Kilian to make his MLB season debut and Pete Crow-Armstrong continues to wow The Chicago Cubs will call up and start right-hander Caleb Kilian Saturday against the Miami Marlins.

APRIL 29, 2023 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM

Cubs' Caleb Kilian set for season debut vs. Marlins The Miami Marlins, who are 8-0 this season in one-run games, will try for some more magic on Saturday when they play host to the Chicago Cub...

APRIL 29, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM