The Cubs scored seven runs in the top of the first inning, but by the bottom of the second it was a two-run one-run ballgame with the starter, Jake Arrieta, coming out and the first baseman, Patrick Wisdom, being removed from the game after a collision at first base.
Just the worst possible turn of events all around.
Wisdom headed off the field under his own power, but clearly shaken up by the collision. Gushue — called up to be the backup catcher — taking over at first base.
Remember, Bryant (side) and Rizzo (back) are out.
Ross also using this moment to pull Arrieta. Thompson in.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) June 30, 2021
Hopefully, Wisdom was just shaken up, but it was a pretty rough collision and he stayed down for a while. Unfortunately, with Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant both still hurt, the Cubs were forced to use back-up, back-up, back-up, back-up, back-up catcher Tyler Gushue at first base in his MLB debut. If Wisdom has to miss any more than one day (tomorrow’s off-day), the Cubs could be in a serious roster crunch that might force them to lose ANOTHER player they’d rather not off their 40-man roster. But we’ll get there when we get there.
In the meantime, Gushue is at first and Keegan Thompson has come in for Arrieta.
And before I clicked publish, it’s a one-run game with runners at first and second. What an awful turn of events.
UPDATE: The official word for now on Wisdom:
Right neck tightness and a bruised left eye for Patrick Wisdom. #Cubs
— Russell Dorsey (@Russ_Dorsey1) June 30, 2021
I expect we’ll learn more tomorrow or Friday, but hey, not like the Cubs can make a roster move, right!?