The Cubs’ tough stretch continued with Friday’s 3-2 loss to the Reds, which dropped Chicago right into a tie with Cincinnati for second place within the NL Central. After spending an excellent chunk of the season’s first six weeks battling for the division lead, the Cubs are 7-16 over their final 23 video games, thanks largely to a scarcity of hitting. Since Might 13, the Wrigleyville membership has a collective 79 wRC+, rating twenty ninth of 30 groups in that span.
Extra unhealthy information may’ve come for the lineup on Friday, when Seiya Suzuki left the sport attributable to discomfort in his left facet. Suzuki was hit within the facet by the ball whereas stealing second base within the first inning and advised MLB.com and different media after the sport that his facet “tightened up” earlier than he finally left within the sixth inning. The transfer was described as precautionary, partially as a result of Suzuki has already spent 4 weeks on the injured checklist this season attributable to a left indirect pressure.
That absence halted a powerful begin to Suzuki’s 2024 marketing campaign, and the outfielder hasn’t regarded the identical since his return. Suzuki had an .893 OPS over his first 68 plate appearances, however has hit .234/.298/.415 in 104 PA since being activated from the IL. It could possibly be that a few days off may assist Suzuki each heal his contusion and act as a refresher for his season, even when Chicago wants all the assistance it might get on the plate in the meanwhile. The Cubs don’t play on Monday, so if Suzuki doesn’t present enchancment Saturday, it’s potential he may sit each video games this weekend to see if he could be totally prepared for Tuesday and the beginning of the Cubs’ sequence with the Rays.
If Suzuki’s harm appears comparatively minor for now, Nico Hoerner’s situation together with his proper hand could possibly be a bigger concern, because the second baseman already missed Friday’s recreation attributable to swelling and soreness. Hoerner was hit by a Hunter Greene fastball on Thursday, describing the scenario to reporters, together with Maddie Lee of the Chicago Solar-Occasions, as “at all times scary. Plenty of small bones in that space, and sadly, it occurs a good quantity. Nevertheless it looks like I acquired fairly fortunate … Hopefully it’s simply bruising and one thing that cleans up when you get irritation out of there.”
Hoerner’s standing continues to be unknown, as he can be getting extra assessments completed since his first set of x-rays have been “considerably inconclusive,” within the phrases of supervisor Craig Counsell. It could possibly be that Hoerner’s hand continues to be too swollen for a completely correct examination, as a smaller fracture may exist even when he has escaped with none apparent breaks. As Hoerner advised Lee and firm, he broke a small bone in his proper wrist after an analogous HBP incident in 2019.
It has been one thing of a typical season for Hoerner, who’s batting .252/.344/.352 with two homers over his first 241 journeys to the plate. His 105 wRC+ nearly matches the 104 wRC+ he averaged from 2021-23, and he’s persevering with his penchant for making a whole lot of contact however little or no of it stable. One plus is a significantly elevated stroll fee, and Hoerner’s 10% stroll fee is now forward of his elite 9.5% strikeout fee. On the defensive facet, Hoerner’s metrics spherical out to about common, which is a giant dropoff for a fielder (and reigning Gold Glove winner) who’s normally among the many league’s greatest at second base.
David Bote began at second base Friday in Hoerner’s stead and could possibly be in line for fairly a bit of standard motion if Hoerner is pressured to the IL. The Cubs could also be dealing with a depth situation within the infield since Nick Madrigal suffered a fractured hand (additionally after being hit by a pitch) in a Triple-A recreation earlier this week. Miles Mastrobuoni and Luis Vazquez are each on the 40-man roster, so a kind of infielders would virtually definitely be the recall if Hoerner wanted to overlook time.
The Cubs did get some reinforcements again Friday when left-hander Jordan Wicks and right-hander Keegan Thompson have been every activated from the 15-day injured checklist. Thompson was optioned to Triple-A after being sidelined for the reason that center of Might with a viral an infection.
Wicks stays on the Main League roster, and Counsell indicated the southpaw will work out of the Cubs’ bullpen for now in a protracted aid function. Wicks began his 5 earlier MLB appearances this season whereas filling in for another injured Cubs pitchers, however since Chicago is having fun with some uncommon rotation well being in the meanwhile, Wicks will be part of the aid corps and can possible be the primary man up ought to one other harm come up. Wicks hasn’t pitched since April 23 attributable to a forearm pressure that fortunately ended up being comparatively minor in nature, moderately than a precursor to a longer-term situation.
