Shelby Miller will not see action for the Chicago Cubs for the entire 2026 MLB season, after all.

There was hope that the veteran pitcher would take the mound at some point this campaign after going under the knife last October to repair an elbow injury. He started rehab in August, leading some to expect he would pitch for the Cubs before the season ended, but that is no longer the case.

On Tuesday, Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Miller has been shut down for the remainder of the season, according to Chicago Tribune reporter Meghan Montemurro.

“At this point the risk outweighs what reward there would be of keeping him going & pushing him to pitch in this environment,” the Cubs skipper said.

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Miller, who will turn 36 years old in October, last pitched in the big leagues in 2025 for the Milwaukee Brewers. He saw action for two teams that season, including the Arizona Diamondbacks, who traded him to the Brewers along with Jordan Montgomery for future considerations. He later signed a two-year, $2.5 million contract with the Cubs in February. Chicago then placed him on the 60-day injured list in March.

In 48 mound appearances in 2025 for the Diamondbacks and the Brewers, Miller, an All-Star in 2015 with the Atlanta Braves, put up a 2.74 ERA through 46.0 innings of relief pitching. He posted a 3.44 FIP and a 156 ERA+.

As for the Cubs, they are still trying to lock up a ticket to the 2026 MLB playoffs. They entered Tuesdsay 9.5 games behind the top spot of the National League Central, but are atop the wild-card race in the league.