The Cubs provided updates on a bunch of injured players before tonight’s game, including the state of Jason Heyward’s knee.
Frank Schwindel should be doing baseball activities soon, but Heyward might wind up hitting the Injured List if the Cubs can figure out how they want to do the roster maneuverings:
The timing on Heyward’s knee injury is mildly convenient, with Seiya Suzuki potentially returning as soon as next week (which might have otherwise been the final straw on actually limiting Heyward’s playing time, if not his roster spot). Which is not to say I think this is a phantom injury; the Cubs have made it CRYSTAL CLEAR that if Heyward is here, he’s playing against all righties. So I believe that the knee really is giving him trouble. It’s just that a long IL stint right now would probably serve a lot of purposes.
In the meantime, consider me perfectly content to see, for example, Nelson Velazquez getting the start in right field tonight.
Elsewhere on the injury front:
Marcus Stroman and Drew Smyly are still in bullpen mode, so we’re still a ways away from possible rehab assignments. A pre-All-Star-break return for either still seems plausible, though maybe not likely?