A couple injury-type updates before tonight’s game, with Jason Heyward returning to the lineup and Kris Bryant sitting out from it.
Although he was able to continue playing last night after the elbow-padless HBP right on the left elbow, Bryant was feeling the effects after the game, according to David Ross.
Ross says Bryant "pretty sore" after getting hit on elbow last night. "Swelled up pretty good after the game. …
"Felt it made a lot of sense to give him a day. He'll be available (off the bench) I believe."— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) September 9, 2020
You may not recall, given the wrist/finger issue, that Bryant actually dealt briefly with a left elbow issue early in the season. So it would make sense that the Cubs would be extra cautious there, but at the same time, it really sucks that’s where he happened to get hit. Hopefully he gets tonight, and is back tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Jason Heyward is back in the lineup tonight after exiting Sunday’s game and then missing a couple days not feeling well. No one wants to speculate when it comes to illness, but in the era of COVID-19, there are absolutely other considerations – some of them dictated by the protocols – for a player when he doesn’t feel right.
Turns out, Heyward was indeed thinking of his teammates when he started to feel ill:
Heyward said he knew something wasn’t right, started to panic and knew he needed to get away from everyone after second AB
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) September 9, 2020
Jason Heyward says he was worried he had Covid but he passed that test and everyone other one. Had shortness of breath and left a game but doing better and starting tonight.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) September 9, 2020
Heyward said he is feeling a lot better now and has peace of mind from tests (including echo test on treadmill, EKG, etc.) all coming back OK.
Has had 3 COVID tests in last 2 days and they've all come back negative.
— Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) September 9, 2020
Good news all around, and hopefully Heyward is feeling physically well-rested in addition to having the peace of mind.