The Chicago Cubs are dealing with several significant developments on the injury front, with Dansby Swanson’s oblique injury emerging as the biggest immediate concern. Edward Cabrera is also dealing with another blister issue, while Matt Shaw’s expected return suddenly carries much greater importance for a Cubs roster that has lost one of its most important infielders.
Swanson was removed from Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals after experiencing discomfort on his left side. Following the game, manager Craig Counsell confirmed that the veteran shortstop would be placed on the injured list before Chicago’s Monday matchup with the Chicago White Sox.
The Cubs believe Swanson is dealing with an oblique injury, but the severity remained unclear pending an MRI scheduled for Monday. The results are expected to provide a much better indication of how long Chicago could be without its starting shortstop.
For Swanson, the injury is particularly concerning because he has never previously dealt with a soft-tissue injury during his major-league career. He acknowledged that the situation was unfamiliar and frustrating but expressed hope that the imaging would deliver encouraging news.
The timing could hardly be worse for Chicago. With the regular season entering its final stretch, even a relatively mild oblique strain could cost Swanson several weeks. In the best-case scenario, he could potentially return around the end of the regular season and be available for the postseason. A more serious injury, however, could put his playoff availability in jeopardy.
Swanson’s absence also creates an immediate defensive and lineup problem for the Cubs. He has been their primary shortstop, meaning Chicago must now find a reliable way to cover one of the most important positions on the diamond while maintaining its postseason push.
One likely solution is to move Nico Hoerner from second base to shortstop. That would open second base for Pedro Ramirez, the versatile young player who has impressed the Cubs with his ability to handle multiple positions. Ramirez’s emergence could prove extremely valuable as Chicago tries to absorb the loss of Swanson.
The Cubs are also monitoring the situation involving Edward Cabrera, whose return to the rotation Sunday did not go according to plan.
Cabrera struggled badly in his first start back, failing to complete four innings while surrendering seven runs on six hits and three walks. The outing was already disappointing, but the Cubs later learned that Cabrera had developed a blister on his pitching hand during the game.
More concerning for the organization was the communication issue surrounding the injury. Cabrera reportedly felt the blister developing during his outing but did not tell Counsell or the coaching staff until after he had been removed from the game in the fourth inning.
That revelation adds another layer of frustration to what has already been a difficult season for Cabrera.
The right-hander’s first season with Chicago has been disrupted by recurring blister problems, mechanical struggles and inconsistent performance. Instead of establishing himself as a dependable rotation option, Cabrera has struggled to stay healthy and find consistency.
His latest setback could also have consequences for his role during the remainder of the season. Rather than immediately returning to a starting role, Cabrera is increasingly expected to work out of the bullpen.
That could allow the Cubs to manage his workload while giving him an opportunity to address the blister issue and mechanical problems without the pressure of preparing for a full starter’s workload.
The organization will likely need to address the larger communication problem during the offseason as well. Injuries such as blisters can affect a pitcher’s grip, command and effectiveness, making it particularly important for the coaching and medical staffs to know about them as soon as possible.
While Cabrera’s situation is frustrating, the injury to Swanson has also changed the outlook surrounding Matt Shaw.
Before Swanson went down, there were questions about exactly how Shaw would fit into Chicago’s plans once he recovered from his own wrist injury. The Cubs had several infield options, and Shaw’s versatility made his eventual role somewhat uncertain.
That uncertainty has largely disappeared.
With Swanson now heading to the injured list, Shaw could have a much clearer path back into the major-league lineup. He is expected to begin a minor-league rehabilitation assignment this week, giving the Cubs an opportunity to evaluate his progress before determining when he is ready to return.
Chicago had previously been able to take a cautious approach with Shaw because the roster had enough infield depth to cover his absence. Swanson’s injury changes that equation considerably.
Once Shaw is ready, the Cubs could use him in several different ways depending on how long Swanson is unavailable. His ability to play multiple positions gives Counsell additional flexibility and could allow the club to adjust its infield without making a major external move.
The emerging situation could ultimately create an intriguing combination of Shaw, Hoerner and Ramirez. Hoerner could shift to shortstop, Ramirez could handle second base, and Shaw could provide another versatile option capable of moving around the infield.
For now, however, everything depends on the results of Swanson’s MRI.
If the injury is relatively minor, Chicago could potentially weather the absence and bring its starting shortstop back in time for the postseason. If the MRI reveals a more significant oblique problem, the Cubs will have to rely much more heavily on their young and versatile infielders.
The Cubs are therefore facing several interconnected roster decisions at once. Swanson’s injury creates an immediate hole at shortstop, Cabrera’s blister raises questions about his pitching role, and Shaw’s recovery has suddenly become much more important to the team’s postseason plans.
What initially looked like a crowded infield situation could quickly become a test of Chicago’s depth. The next few days should provide a clearer picture of how serious Swanson’s injury is and how aggressively the Cubs will accelerate Shaw’s return.
For a team trying to make a deep postseason run, the health of Swanson and the availability of Shaw could become two of the most important storylines to monitor over the final weeks of the regular season.
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