An early heads up on a possible return tomorrow, as Kris Bryant (wrist, finger) hit live pitching at South Bend today, and now reporters are saying some very positive things after talking to Jed Hoyer.
Hoyer: Bryant and Souza on target to be back from IL "fairly soon." It's "not out of the picture" that one or both could be back as soon as Tuesday, but nothing official yet on that front.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) August 31, 2020
Nothing official it sounds like a good chance Kris Bryant will be back with the team tomorrow and Steven Souza could be back as well.
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) August 31, 2020
Since we know these guys took live at bats today, the fact that they’re hearing good things and Hoyer sounds optimistic – well, it suggests that the at bats just looked normal. That’s a great sign.
With Tyler Chatwood headed to the IL tomorrow, the Cubs will have at least one roster spot opening up that wasn’t accounted for today. Bryant could just come on back into that spot. As for Souza, we’ll see. The addition of Maybin helps on that front, but I don’t doubt the Cubs still want Souza back for when they really want to max out on righty bats.
Speaking of Chatwood, although he’s headed to the IL, the news is not the worst kind of elbow issue:
MRI revealed a flexor pronator strain, per Hoyer https://t.co/xRRMel1pDi
— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) August 31, 2020
Tyler Chatwood will go on the injured list, but the Cubs are optimistic that it's not a season-ending elbow injury.
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) August 31, 2020
It’s great to know that the injury is not something popping, though a strain of any kind at this stage in the season could be an ender. I’d imagine he’s going to be out for at least two weeks, and maybe not even throwing during that time.