I guess we can hope it was a minor issue that’ll get sorted out on the Injured List.
Shelby Miller, who has struggled badly with his control since the Cubs added him to the roster last week, is hitting the 10-day IL today, with lefty Kyle Ryan coming up to replace him:
Cubs placing Shelby Miller on 10-day IL with low back strain (retro to April 22). Kyle Ryan recalled from alt site.
— Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) April 23, 2021
Ryan, who was slowed at the start of Spring Training because of the COVID protocols, was never able in 2020 to look like the guy he was in 2019. Here’s hoping he’s got a couple clicks back, and can keep on getting guys out thanks to his extreme and funky angle from the left side. He was so versatile and useful in 2019.
While you wouldn’t celebrate and injury or assume it isn’t legit, the ability to IL Miller right now doesn’t really harm the Cubs. They couldn’t send him down without risking losing him on waivers, but he also clearly wasn’t right at the moment. So, and IL stint allows them to keep him around, and allows him to work through whatever issues he’s facing (physical, mechanical, etc.). Hopefully some rest and better health will help, because I’d still like to dream on that upside.