Although it’s great to get Steve Clevenger back from his oblique strain/rib cartilage break, the Chicago Cubs still have troubles behind the plate thanks to a myriad of injuries.
Specifically, the Cubs are still waiting on starter Geovany Soto, and other back-up Welington Castillo to get healthy. Soto, who underwent a knee scope on May 18, says he’s “close” to returning, and described his injury as a two-or-three-week thing, rather than a multiple month thing. That’s awfully optimistic of him, but no one is expecting him back for another week at the very least. The Cubs are undoubtedly hoping Soto returns fully healthy and productive, which could give them a chance to trade him at the deadline. Even if Soto comes back next week, he’ll have only about seven weeks of game action to prove that he’s healthy and swinging the bat well. It might not be enough time.
As for Castillo, his strained MCL (knee) was originally described as a four or five day injury back on May 19, but then he was quietly put on the 15-day disabled list. From there, we haven’t heard much, until Dale Sveum revealed that Castillo is still having trouble squatting, and isn’t expected back for a couple weeks yet. Ouch. It’s a real bummer for Castillo, who looked like he was just starting to break out with the bat, and was primed to get plenty of playing time with both Soto and Clevenger out at the time.