For the second time this season, Willson Contreras is headed to the Injured List with a broken bone. Last time, it was a broken forearm after getting hit by a swing (he incredibly returned after just a month and a half), and this time it’s a broken finger after getting hit by a pitch.
Contreras, who is hitting a robust .262/.380/.468/141 wRC+ this year, has had some bad luck interrupting the season. It’s not clear how much time he’ll miss. As we just recently saw with Cody Bellinger’s broken middle finger, it all depends on how soon you can grip the bat without too much discomfort. Might be a couple weeks, might be longer. As far as playing on defense goes, because the break is to his throwing middle finger – like Bellinger – it could be a month or longer. It’s possible Contreras will just be a DH the rest of the way when he returns.
You hate to see it for the former Cubs catcher, though it’s impossible not to contemplate the impact on the rival Cardinals’ attempt to win a Wild Card spot (ahead of the Cubs) down the stretch. At 64-65, the Cardinals are currently a half-game behind the Cubs.
The Cubs, by the way, do not play the Cardinals again this season. The Cardinals do, however, play the Padres this week, and then finish the season with the Giants, for what it’s worth.