Cubs' Alec Mills exits game against Red Sox due to back injury

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Alec Mills threw only seven pitches in today’s start against the Red Sox before being forced out of the game due to lower back pain. 

More will be known once Mills undergoes testing, but it would seemingly appear as though the right-hander’s bad back could again be forcing him to the injured list.

Mills missed more than three weeks of the 2021 season with a lower back strain, and a similar injury also put him on the IL to begin the 2022 campaign. He then suffered a quad injury while rehabbing earlier this season, which delayed this season debut until June 7. This missed time has clearly had an adverse effect on Mills’ pitching, as he has struggled to a 9.68 ERA over 17 2/3 innings since coming off the IL. Today’s abbreviated outing was only the second time in seven appearances that Mills hadn’t allowed multiple earned runs.

It was also only Mills’ second start in those seven games, as Chicago had primarily been using him as a reliever until injuries forced Mills back into rotation duty. Should Mills be headed to the IL again, the Cubs will be in need of a starter in the short term, though help could be on the way soon.