Right in the thick of a playoff hunt, the Chicago Cubs got some bad news on one of their most important players.
Shortstop Dansby Swanson was removed from Sunday’s game against the rival St. Louis Cardinals after an awkward swing on his first at-bat resulted in “left side discomfort.”
Following the contest, it was announced that he would be placed on the injured list with an oblique injury. The 32-year-old went in for an MRI on Monday to determine the full extent of the injury, which revealed a Grade 2 oblique strain according to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers.
As Rogers points out, a normal recovery timeline would put Swanson on track to return for postseason play with six weeks remaining on the regular season schedule. With the Cubs fixed firmly atop the National League Wild Card picture, five games up on the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres but still trailing the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers by the same amount, Swanson’s long-term health is the priority. Getting the two-time All-Star back at full strength in October will be far more important than his impact over the next few weeks.
Still, it’s a major loss for the club as they play host for a three-game set against their cross-town rival Chicago White Sox. The Cubs will lean on two-time Gold Glove second baseman Nico Hoerner to pick up the shortstop duties in Swanson’s stead, with rookie Pedro Ramírez set to get more playing time at second base.
Swanson has been an important piece for the Cubs over the past four seasons but is having a down-year at the plate statistically, batting just .216 with a .704 OPS through 119 games. Losing an everyday shortstop is never easy, but being able to slide over a more than capable glove in Hoerner makes it much easier to stomach. It will also be a great opportunity for the 22-year-old Ramírez, who has impressed through his first 49 big league games with a .299/.353/.441 slash line.
As Hoerner pointed out on Sunday, there is “no replacing Dansby,” but the depth within Chicago’s infield should allow for them to tread water for the next month and some change until he is able to return.
