Chicago Cubs

Just like that, the Chicago Cubs have gone from being the darlings of Major League Baseball back to being a team that must prove it's not eternally cursed.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Schwarber will miss the remainder of the 2016 season after suffering a torn ACL and LCL on Thursday, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com. Rogers reported Schwarber also suffered a severe ankle sprain.

When Kyle Schwarber was carted off the field Thursday after a scary outfield collision with teammate Dexter Fowler, Chicago Cubs fans everywhere held their breath. 

Why wouldn't they? We're talking about a former first-round pick with game-changing power who's fresh off a breakout rookie campaign that saw him crack 16 home runs in 69 games.

Chicago Cubs star Kyle Schwarber left Thursday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on a cart, per Sports Illustrated. He sprained his ankle during a collision in the outfield, per the team. It's unclear when he will return.

One year ago this spring, Kris Bryant, Addison Russell and Co. had no idea where the keys to the batting cage were.

OK, so that's an old joke. But it's a good one: Veteran tells rookie, "Go get me the keys to the batting cage." So the wide-eyed rookie dutifully bounds off to find them.

There are no keys to the batting cage.

Get it?

Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein confirmed he's in discussions with the organization on a contract extension and expects a deal "sometime soon."

Continue for updates.

This is a weird thing to say about a pitcher who dominated like a fiend en route to winning the National League Cy Young in 2015, but here goes:

Jake Arrieta appears to be just fine, thank you very much.

A young Chicago Cubs fan knocked his promposal out of the park thanks to Kris Bryant.

The fan, Vince Santoria, tracked down the third baseman before the first pitch of Chicago's spring training game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday to recruit his help. 

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta is dealing with a blister on his right throwing hand leading up to Opening Day, per Carrie Muskat of MLB.com.

Continue for updates.

One alarming concern for the Chicago Cubs is a bone chip in Jon Lester's throwing elbow.

On Friday, Lester said it's been a "non-issue," according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times: