God’s Wrath Watch: Contreras “Fine,” Strop Running, Descalso Swinging Soon
I don’t think you can say it’s been a “brutal” Spring Training on the injury front when you haven’t suffered any (1) serious injuries to any (2) critical players.
But whatever is a couple clicks below “brutal,” that’s what it’s been for the Cubs, who’ve seen literally every single free agent addition deal with some kind of injury/health issue. Then you’ve also got Pedro Strop with a mild hamstring strain, Brandon Morrow still expected to miss all of April, and now Willson Contreras with a banged up finger, and, yeah, it’s been a moderately – but not brutally – unkind Spring on the whole.
Some updates today on that front …
- First, some really good news on Contreras:
Willson @WContreras40 (right ring finger) scratched from lineup, Taylor Davis starts in his place. Contreras expected to return Tuesday.
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) March 16, 2019
Willson Contreras (right hand) went through workout this morning. Did some throwing. “I’m fine, ready to go,” he said.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 16, 2019
- A few days to rest up the finger, and then a return to action. Fingers crossed. Er, well, let’s go with legs crossed.
- As for Strop, all sounds positive, though there remains the potential that he won’t be ready on Opening Day:
Pedro Strop just ran by looking pretty not injured after throwing in the pen.
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) March 16, 2019
Maddon says Strop (hamstring) is doing well. They hope to get him into one more game before the end of spring training. The only players out for opening day at this moment are RHP Tony Barnette and LHP Xavier Cedeno (and Brandon Morrow)
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) March 16, 2019
- Daniel Descalso (shoulder) is still not doing baseball activity, but hitting might come soon-ish:
Cubs doing infield drills now. Descalso watching from side. Usual suspects around diamond (Rizzo 1B, Happ/Bote 2B, Baez/Russell SS, Bryant 3B). NRI bench candidate Cristhian Adames also getting reps at third base.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 16, 2019
Maddon said he had a very encouraging chat during today's workout with Daniel Descalso (left shoulder). Expected to resume swinging soon — early next week most likely. Also not ruled out for Opening Day, but Cristhian Adames looks like fallback for final bench spot.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 16, 2019
