Chicago Cubs Face Injuries with Optimism and Strategy

The Chicago Cubs remain hopeful for shortstop Dansby Swanson’s return to the lineup as the regular season concludes. Swanson was placed on the 10-day injured list due to a left oblique strain revealed by an MRI, ejecting him from Sunday’s game. In parallel, the Cubs dispatched right-hander Edward Cabrera on the 15-day injured list because of a right middle finger blister, recalling right-hander Javier Assad.

The team also expanded its roster by recalling outfielder Kevin Alcántara, and bringing up infielder Owen Miller. Infielder James Triantos was optioned. Right-hander Daniel Palencia transitioned to the 60-day IL to free up a 40-man roster spot for Miller, keeping Palencia’s original return timeline as he’s been sidelined since June 16.

“Dansby’s already ready to attack the injury and do whatever he can to make this go as quick as possible,” said manager Craig Counsell.

With Swanson estimated to be out for around a month, he could potentially rejoin the squad with roughly two weeks left in the season. This marks his first stint on the IL since May 2024, when he was recovering from a right knee sprain. While Swanson is recuperating, fans can expect Nico Hoerner at shortstop and Pedro Ramírez at second base. Soon, Matt Shaw is anticipated to join after bouncing back from a left hand/wrist sprain, and a promising rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa is upcoming.

Miller’s inclusion as a strategic backup shortstop, coupled with his ability to play first base, influenced the decision to shift Triantos out. Ramírez, set for extended playtime, has impressed the Cubs with a .299 average, .353 on-base percentage, and 120 OPS+ across 49 games.

“Pedro’s a good player, bottom line,” said Counsell. “I told you out of spring training, if Pedro has to come and play every day in April, I’m good with it.”

Meanwhile, Edward Cabrera’s debut season with the Cubs has not met expectations due to recurring injuries. Long pursued after his trade from the Miami Marlins, Cabrera enters the IL for the third time this year due to blister issues experienced throughout his career.

Counsell remains unsure when Cabrera will next pitch but indicated a plan to use him in relief, aiming to stave off future blister problems. Cabrera unveiled the blister situation after Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals, but it first appeared post his final rehab game on Aug. 11 at Double-A level.

“We’ve got to come up with some better answers on the blisters thing,” Counsell remarked. “Frankly, one thing we’re going to talk about, is it happening the longer your outings are, and is that causing this?”

The consensus is low-volume workloads might alleviate blister occurrences. Cabrera expressed willingness to adapt, stressing team support as a priority. During Sunday’s game, a blister impacted his performance leading to four runs by the Cardinals.

Cabrera’s output includes a 5.68 ERA and 72 ERA+ over 15 starts, indicating a trajectory not initially foreseen by the Cubs. Counsell acknowledged the challenge while reflecting on improvement opportunities.

“It hasn’t clicked,” Counsell said. “You spend a lot of time figuring those out. I wish every story was a success story and this one right now is not.”

Cabrera maintains resilience, advocating teamwork despite setbacks. Post-game reflections focus on overcoming difficulties with gratitude and resolve, underscoring a purposeful outlook.