The pain in Javier Baez’s thumb wouldn’t go away, and now the Chicago Cubs have a giant pain as they chase a National League playoff spot. An MRI revealed Saturday that Baez has a hairline fracture in his left thumb, leaving him unable to swing a bat.
Further testing Monday will determine how long Baez will be out, but the Cubs certainly will not have their wizard middle infielder for at least a couple of weeks.
JUST IN: Cubs star Javy Baez could miss the rest of the season after an MRI revealed a hairline fracture in his thumb. https://t.co/24YdJHkOUh
— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) September 7, 2019
A not-so-innocent slide
Baez hurt the thumb last Sunday stealing second base during a game against the Milwaukee Brewers.
He stayed in the game for a few innings and even walked in his next plate appearance, but soon the pain forced the Cubs to pull him from the game.
Baez missed two games, then attempted to return Thursday. But the Cubs had to scratch him from the lineup after he experienced more pain in batting practice.
They then scheduled the MRI.
Without Javier Báez – and with issues in every phase of the game – the Cubs are dangerously close to reaching the season’s breaking point: https://t.co/9UXlOoiQdV
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) September 8, 2019
A tough spot
The Cubs trail the St. Louis Cardinals by 3.5 games in the NL Central entering Sunday’s action. The Cubs are in the second NL wild-card spot, 2 games behind the Washington Nationals and 1.5 games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
It’s a tight race, and they’ll have to contest it without Baez, possibly for the rest of the regular season.
“It’s a big blow,” pitcher Jon Lester said, according to ESPN.com. “Middle-of-the-order guy and our shortstop. It’s tough.”
Addison Russell will fill in for Baez. He hit a home run Friday but made a key error at shortstop Saturday in the Cubs’ 3-2 loss to the Brewers.
“Addy is fine,” Lester said. “He’s a strong kid. We have the utmost confidence he can play shortstop for us. He did it for us before. We won a World Series with him at shortstop. It’s not like we’re calling up a kid that can’t handle the situation.”
After everything that’s gone on, the Cubs have to turn to Addison Russell to help save the season. My story, after last nights ugly finish — for him and the team: https://t.co/TptY8azZzE
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) September 8, 2019
