As you noticed in the lineup, Javy Báez is out for the second straight game, nursing that “minor” hamstring “tightness,” which hey, maybe he’ll be back tomorrow. But if not, the Cubs will will have to decide whether to make it an 10-day Injured List stint and backdate three days (the maximum backdate). Otherwise, if he has to miss more time, they’re just playing down a man unnecessarily.
David Ross was positive, but a little vague:
Cubs manager David Ross: “We want Javy to be healthy. We are still really early in the season, so pushing him too hard doesn’t make a lot of sense. But if he feels good and he bounces back and all the tests (are clear), we’ll push forward.”
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) April 27, 2021
If Báez still doesn’t feel good today, I suspect the Cubs would lean toward the IL option, given the presence of Nico Hoerner and the preferred timing right now to just let him keep playing. Like I said yesterday, that’s not WHY you would IL Javy Báez, but it is a factor in the timing, when coupled with a desire not to see this become a true hamstring injury, and suddenly a guy is out at least a month.
As for Kris Bryant, it’s kind of a rest day, but also kind of a nagging issue day:
David Ross says Kris Bryant has been dealing with a right biceps issue for about a week. Says it has been barking at him. He hopes the day off helps calm it down. #Cubs
— Russell Dorsey (@Russ_Dorsey1) April 27, 2021
Bryant is available off the bench, and the discomfort apparently pops up on throws. I guess we’ll see if he’s back in there tomorrow night – nobody wants to see his blazing hot start to the year interrupted, and we know that when Bryant plays through an injury, the results have tended not to be good.