NEWSLETTER
Well isn’t that just wonderful news. As the Cubs took the field before today’s game for warmups, some positive news dripped out. Jordan Wicks was playing long toss (amazing, love to hear that), Justin Steele was throwing a bullpen (a great sign for making his next start at the big league level), while Cody Bellinger and Seiya Suzuki were hitting and doing defensive drills.
I wasn’t entirely floored to see that Bellinger was out there doing drills, as the hope was that he could return sometime this week (optimistic, apparently, but possible). But Suzuki was supposed to be “a couple weeks” at least behind Bellinger. And then the big story dropped via Craig Counsell and it’s VERY good news.
According to Counsell, “it’s possible we see both Cody Bellinger and Seiya Suzuki back with the Cubs” as soon as NEXT WEEK.
That is insane.
Today was only the first day Bellinger was even eligible to return, and it has not been long since we found out that he had not one, but two fractured ribs. So even though we knew a swift return was possible, he’s still on a lightning schedule to return. But Suzuki? Like I said, he wasn’t supposed to make it back this quickly.
There was some hope that because he was proactive with this oblique injury and because he had already ramped up and started the season, that the comeback wouldn’t take quite as long. But the last we heard, a rehab assignment was still on the table. But from the sound of this, we may be getting not one, but two of the Cubs most important hitters back very soon. That’s just incredible news.
And that’s especially true, because the Cubs offense has been struggling, even against pitchers they should absolutely be able to handle. Coinciding slumps for Ian Happ, Dansby Swanson, Michael Busch, and Christopher Morel (though he is emerging from that nicely) saw to that. And the second chance for Matt Mervis was a giant thud.
If it wasn’t for Nico Hoerner, Mike Tauchman, and to a lesser extent, PCA, this Cubs offense would’ve been completely silent while those two guys were out. And even with them, it’s been tough.
As for what happens to the everyday lineup when they come back, that’s a tougher question. Obviously, both Bellinger and Suzuki will be everyday players, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Counsell wants to ease them in with days off and opportunities at DH.
That said, with Mike Tauchman playing so well (and, again, PCA kinda showing that he belongs), it’s tough to say what the starting lineup will look like once they’re back to 100%. My guess is that Ian Happ and Michael Busch will get some days off until they get themselves right. Because I don’t think you can just park Tauchman back on the bench right now. He’s been playing way too well.
Maybe it’s as simple as PCA going back down – which was the plan. But yeah, I rather not see that, frankly. I guess we don’t have to get ahead of ourselves, though. Let’s just enjoy the news that soon enough, the Cubs might be getting Justin Steele, Cody Bellinger, and Seiya Suzuki back. Those are three HUGE bumps (and that’s not even counting Jordan Wicks and Julian Merryweather, for whom things are apparently going well enough). I am very happy about all of that.
But even still … let’s maybe try to beat the Brewers today and tomorrow.
