NEWSLETTER
Some pre-game injury updates on two of the Cubs’ important pitchers, and a very important shortstop. Craig Kimbrel is on the IL with elbow inflammation, Yu Darvish had his last start skipped due to ongoing forearm tightness, and Javy Baez has missed the last several games with a jammed thumb.
Will start with Baez, because the update on his situation is the most concerning: he’s getting an MRI on his jammed thumb.
Maddon on Baez pic.twitter.com/Im2cLnuquJ
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) September 6, 2019
Since he did not get an MRI originally, and since he was going to be in the lineup yesterday until feeling too much discomfort to go and was a late scratch, that means the injury may have been worse than originally believed, and has not gotten better at a pace that was expected. That’s all … bad. It doesn’t mean he’s got a serious injury in there, but it does mean, at a minimum, he’s still hurting.
That means, he’s going to miss more time no matter what:
Baez to have an MRI on his thumb tomorrow just to be sure it’s not something serious. Won’t play Saturday either way
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) September 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat/status/1170099387843973120
Gulp. I guess we’ll see what we see.
The latest on Darvish, who apparently initially felt his forearm tightness much longer ago than we first thought:
https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/1170096848188661761
Darvish said he first felt discomfort on two-seam pitch to Colin Moran on July 3. He’s been pulled early from starts to protect against severe injury. Remains on schedule for Saturday
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) September 6, 2019
That explains why he was so consistently getting pulled from games “early” when it seemed like he was cruising. Also, that pitch was a 99 mph two-seamer(!), and the at bat ultimately finished in a strikeout. Darvish got a few more outs in that one, too.
Here’s how he looked as he spoke:, if you want to watch at ESPN. Looks undisturbed.
As for Kimbrel, he offered a little more information on his elbow injury, and stuck with the hopeful/encouraged/we’ll see type language:
Kimbrel: Elbow wasn't an issue for him before Sunday. He's not concerned and remains hopeful he will return when first eligible next Thursday.
He/Cubs have a plan for when he will pick up a ball and throw again, but "I think we'll keep that to us for now."
— Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) September 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/mlbastian/status/1170096118119710720?s=21
