The Cubs placed second baseman Nick Madrigal on the 10-day injured list due to a right groin strain, and activated Patrick Wisdom (left ring finger sprain) from the 10-day IL to fill the open roster spot. Madrigal suffered the injury in yesterday’s game, and given the lack of time remaining in the season, it isn’t out of the question that Madrigal might be shut down entirely. This is the second groin injury (the first strain was to Madrigal’s left groin) and third injury overall for the second baseman in 2022, after a back problem cost him three weeks in May.
Overall, Madrigal has played in only 59 games this season, only slightly topping the 54 games he played during a 2021 campaign that was shortened by hamstring surgery. While Madrigal is still eyed as the Cubs’ second baseman of the future, this health history is already concerning, and it’s fair to say that his injuries were certainly a factor in his .249/.305/.282 slash line in 228 PA this season. With the Cubs out of contention, their eyes are on 2023, and aren’t likely to push Madrigal back onto the field unless his current groin issue ends up being pretty minor.
Updates on other injury situations from around the National League…
- Phillies interim manager Rob Thomson updated reporters (including MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki) on several injured Philadelphia players, including two pitchers ready to return to the mound. Seranthony Dominguez will be activated prior to tomorrow’s game against the Nationals, after missing a little over three weeks due to right triceps tendinitis. Zach Eflin will be activated from the 60-day IL prior to Tuesday’s game, with Eflin possibly working as an opener as he embarks on a new role as a relief pitcher. Eflin has been out since late June due to knee problems, and with less time to ramp up for a starter’s workload, Philadelphia will instead use Eflin out of the bullpen. Zack Wheeler (forearm tendinitis) won’t be back until at least September 20, but Wheeler threw 15 pitches off a mound today, and Thomson said Wheeler will throw a proper bullpen session on Monday or Tuesday.
- Kris Bryant hasn’t played since July 31 due to plantar fasciitis, and Rockies manager Bud Black wasn’t sure if the slugger would be able to return before the season is over. “There is time but I don’t know if it’s going to happen…He hasn’t had a bat in his hand for a while, but he’s feeling much better,” Black told reporters, including The Denver Post’s Patrick Saunders. Bryant has been able to play catch and lift weights now that he is no longer in a walking boot, though it remains to be seen when (or if) he’d be able to take part in fuller baseball activities. Between the platar fasciitis and two separate IL stints due to back injuries, Bryant’s first year with the Rockies has essentially been a lost season, with only 42 games played. The one bright spot is that Bryant at least hit well when he was able to play, contributing a .306/.376/.475 slash line and five homers in 181 plate appearances.
Everyone wanted the Cubs to sign Bryant, Rizzo and Baez. How much better would they be with them this year? Not much!
Could they be any worse?
They’re ahead of the Reds and Pirates in the division. Heck, they even won the season series vs the Brewers. So yeah, they could have been a lot worse,
Yes. And they could also have big money tied up with bad players.
Not only that, they would have had to sign costly Free agents just to be fairly competitive because the only stud that was even close to the majors was Brennan Davis. Even though I was shocked what happened at the trade deadline, Hoyer made the right call.
Now we have a manageable payroll and no big salary owed past next year. I really like the state of our minor league system right now.
Yeah imagine a couple more wins with a lot more on payroll
I don’t think anyone wanted them to sign Bryant or Baez as free agents. There was some noise with Rizzo
I wanted the cubs to re-sign Rizzo in the off-season and state the same claim this off-season.
Mlb is banning the shift which means you can tack on a good 25-30 points to Rizzos batting average and on base percentage. If I’m hoyer and co, I’m looking for a guy like Rizzo, Schwarber, or any other lefty who has a history of having his number stifled because of the shift.
There were plenty of people on here talking about how they, “needed” them.
Rizzo has an OPS+ of 135, a wRC+ of 137, an .832 OPS, 30 HR, 19 2B, 71 runs and 71 RBI. Which first baseman on the Cubs compares favorably?
As good as Rizzo has been, it probably wouldn’t have changed much. Instead of being 23.5 games out of first place of the division, they may have been 20 games out.
Sure. No one guy can carry a bad team. Judge has been trying to do that for the Yankees since the All-Star break.
Rizzo’s value to the Cubs would’ve been in his veteran leadership. He’s a class act that has real value for a young team like the Cubs.
In a simpler time, I would have posted that the Phillies will be adding 3 more bu!!its to their arsenal….
However Seranthony back, maybe an Eflin/Falter start or 2 (talk about a bullpen saver) and positive news on Wheeler. I shall take it…..Just get this playoff drought over…..
No, his suckage was instrumental in his 249/.305/.282 slash line
I’m so damn glad the Mariners didn’t sign Bryant
It was decried as an affront to humanity that the White Sox would trade guaranteed Hall of Famer Madrigal.