The Cubs are placing shortstop Dansby Swanson on the 10-day injured list due to a right knee sprain, with outfielder Seiya Suzuki reinstated from the IL in a corresponding move. The move is retroactive to May 8, per Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Swanson has been bothered by his knee since playing the Astros a few weeks ago, tweaking it during a slide, per Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic on X. That timeline corresponds with a downturn in Swanson’s production, as he was hitting .236/.310/.393 after the Houston series but just .150/.227/.225 since.
The fact that he’s been able to play through the issue perhaps suggests it isn’t major and he’ll be able to make a quick return, though further updates will undoubtedly be forthcoming in the next few weeks.
Nico Hoerner should cover shortstop for however long Swanson is out, which could lead to Nick Madrigal or Miles Mastrobuoni covering the keystone. Neither of them are having a good year at the plate, with Madrigal at .217/.265/.283 for the year and Mastrobuoni at a dismal .000/.067/.000.
Swapping one of those two in for Swanson will hurt the Cubs’ lineup, but that will be at least partially offset by the return of Suzuki. He was hitting a scorching hot .305/.368/.525 through 15 games before a right oblique strain sent him to the IL.
Cody Bellinger has been acting as the club’s designated hitter for the past three games since he was reinstated from his own IL stint, but one of the two will have to be in the field if the Cubs want both bats in the lineup on a regular basis. Those two figure to be sharing the DH spot and outfield playing time with Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ and Mike Tauchman.
Busch at 2nd and Belli at first?
Busch is never going to play second. It would be more likely for Morel to play second, Busch at third but even that isn’t going to happen.
I don’t think Counsell will play this card but Wisdom at third, Morel at second could be a way to maximize offense.
Hoerner will play short. Miles Masturbation will probably play 2b.
Madrigal will probably get second against lefties and Miles against righties.
Miles who? Haha
I think he’s crap personally. Even with Madrigal’s low offense, it’s still better than Mastercrappy. Counsel won’t move Morel off third. And he shouldn’t. The constant 3rd base play has improved him.
I’m just glad that Swanson’s odd start could be caused by an injury rather than him being bad. Mastrobuoni should be switched out with Vasquez right now. He deserves a shot and he’s raking right now.
Also, I don’t think Suzuki is going to need to DH. Granted, it was only a game but he played right in Iowa, he may get pulled for defensive replacement later in the game and/or eased in with a couple days off.
If Bellinger can play the field, he will be in center. Maybe spell Busch against lefties or for a day off.
Nico was play shortstop, the rest to be determined. Shaw will not be called up yet.
This is the chance to bring up Vasquez and let him start at SS. Get him some MLB AB’s. I wouldn’t bring him up to be a sub. He’s raking at Iowa. He needs a shot but he needs to play. Send Mastro down. All LH hitting Of basically and an all RH hitting IF for 10 days. Suzuki Happ and Busch being the exceptions.
Uncle, my first take on your comment was sort of rolling my eyes . . . but ‘upon further review’, that really isn’t a bad idea to give Vasquez a ‘Cliff Notes’ intro to MLB.
He wouldn’t even have to play everyday. Get him exposure. And if he happened to come out of the gate with an impressive 10 – 14 days, the Cubs could have a valuable chip.
Disclaimer: I don’t know what the Cubs scouts see but the raw numbers suggest Vazquez should get a look. He may be a guy like Velazquez who just isn’t very good but can exploit AAA pitching but he’s been crushing it for two years now and plays excellent defense.
I was a fan of acquiring Mastrobuoni before the 2023 season, but he’s turned out much more Vidal Brujan than Jake Crone worth. With Suzuki back, they don’t need a 5th OF/MI any more as Wisdom can play RF in an emergency. Time for Miles to go back to Iowa once they are sure that Suzuki and Bellinger are good to go in the outfield.
This is what I want to see. Stop messing around with Mastrobuoni and bring up Luis Vazquez. It would give me an excuse to get a custom jersey with Morelquez on the back. I would hope that he would get number 44 or 6. So I can put either 54 or 56 on the back.
I don’t see why Mastrobuoni is in the line up today unless he has seen Skenes in Iowa and had success against him.
Shaw? Shaw is struggling mightily at AA. he’s off to a horrible start and hitting less than .200. Get serious.
Seems like he really has to fight hard for that 22/80 year. Five more years plus this one. Ouch.
Huh?
He’s coming off a 5 WAR season you clown
What is it good for ? Absolutely nothing
I read this as Jackie Chan says it in Rush Hour.
Swanson always starts slow, his career slugging the first month of the season is below .350 and then he turns it on.
He’s having a pretty un-Dansby like year this year with the glove but is still better than league average.
Let’s just get to tomorrow already. I wanna see Skenes pitch. I don’t care what Cubs lineup you want to juggle
Swanson just didn’t want to face Skenes.
The Cubs tend to do very badly against pitchers they’ve never seen.
The cubs have also gone into team slumps and they play down to the competition. As seen vs. Padres, red Sox, dbacks and for most of the game yesterday the pirates.
Serious question–how does Mastrobuoni still have a job in the bigs? Dude is awful. When the Rays dumped him, I was simply happy to move him on so he would not waste a 40-man spot. But the Cubs keep holding on…why? Is there seriously no one better in the minors??? His ops is .067? That is LOL material.
Cubs will miss Dansby. Hoping it is only a quick stint, but knees…eek
Seriously. He survived the roster until the end of last year, sure. But bringing him back for 2024 with so options and guys knocking down the door at AAA? It makes no sense.
I’m not a Mastrobuoni fan but the guy hit very well in the second half.
They’re not gonna miss Swanson’s start to this season. A break will probably be good for him.
Swanson starts every season the same.
Orlando Arcia of the Braves is much cheaper and not all that much worse. Dansby can carry a team when he is on but when he is off, he can be a black hole in the lineup.
Swanson has been quite a disappointment.
Nobody asked me but:
1. Not really sure what’s up with the Cubs Minor league hitters from AA on down but hardly anybody is hitting. It’s like a whole organization slump
2. Horton has struggled his first 2 starts. Nerves? Baseball? Just adjusting to moving up? Lots of guys struggle at first but I wouldn’t look for a quick call up.
3. Sam McWilliams intrigues me. I don’t know what his deal was or why he quit baseball but I’m glad he’s back and by the way nice find F.O. He’s 28, 6 foot 7, Throws mid 90’s with a nice easy motion and has good stuff. He could be this years Merryweather.
4. Pannone has been great also. But he’s a starter and the Cubs have no need for one right now. Not sure if they’d use him as a LH reliever, Or if MAYBE he has some value as a trade chip for something. Peralta opted out of his deal today but no loss. Not sure if Pannone has an opt out but they shouldn’t lose him for nothing.
5. I still don’t know why they need Brennen Davis. I made a mistake in giving up on Amaya a tad too soon but he really missed over 2 years so I don’t feel so bad about him. Davis just looks awful almost every time I see him play. They might need that 40 man spot soon if Morel is hurt now and Taillon’s back is barking. Mastrobuoni can go to as Vasquez is better no matter what side they hit from. There has to be some LH hitting IF available someplace that can hit better than Mastrobuoni at this point.
That’s the way I see it anyway. Thoughts?
If there was ever a time to start Madrigal, it’s today and yet Mastrobuoni gets the call. FML. Did Counsell not get the memo that Skenes throws 100mph regularly and the two guys who should absolutely be there being pesky is Nico and Madrigal?
At this point I’m just glad Morel didn’t hurt his hand and that Bellinger and Suzuki are playing again. Against Skenes does it matter who plays 2nd? If Swanson wasn’t hurt neither of those 2 would be playing. You’re probably right that Madrigal has a better chance of actually HITTING the ball, As for where it would go…….Who knows? It all depends on just how nervous the kid is anyway, And how fast they can get him out of the game via pitch count or knocking him around. I’m assuming the Pirates have him on a pitch count but would they be stupid enough to let him throw 100 pitches? IDK
Pitch count is why I believe Nico is hitting down in the order and/or giving him some RBI opportunities.
Why does it matter who is playing second? Because Madrigal has elite contact skills and Skenes is high octane. I would think it would be obvious that you want guys who could put bat to ball against velocity in the line up vs a guy who’s currently batting 0. Is also take Nicky on defense over Miles.
I’m not a fan of Tauchman batting leadoff vs Nico. I’d rather have Nico ambush him during the first at bat but that is just me.
I think pitch count is exactly why Tauchman is hitting leadoff. he works counts and maybe can get Skenes off his game right away. I like that move anyway.
Rats Almonte to the IL now. Cuas back. Not a move I’m fond of though.
We cannot catch a break on the injury front.
So do we go ahead and dfa Thompson? Dude has no confidence on the mound. Hard to believe this is the same guy two years ago the was strutting around wearing a custom made Cubs suit jacket.
In fantasy I would’ve dropped Swanson by now but there ain’t any good shortstops available
If you drafted Swanson for a Fantasy SS you’re not real smart. That’s not what he’s good at. You probably drafted Alzolay for your closer too.
Gunnar is my ss now when he is there I have to have kebryan Hayes which sucks I agree I misfired on Swanson
I drafted Dylan cease late and ozuna and will Contreras which makes me #1 in my league