Chicago Cubs star Kyle Schwarber was scratched from the team's lineup Wednesday with sore ribs.
The injury occurred during a check swing in the batting cage, according to Bruce Levine of CBS Chicago.
Continue for updates.
Return Date Unclear as Schwarber Deals with Rib Soreness
Friday, Sept. 4
Schwarber will be re-evaluated in the next three to five days after being diagnosed with sore right ribs but will remain out of the lineup until then, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago.
Chris Coghlan will fill in for Schwarber in left field.
If Schwarber is forced to miss extensive time, it will be a difficult blow for the Cubs—who currently occupy the second wild card—as they chase a playoff spot down the stretch.
He fully joined the team after the All-Star break and immediately made Chicago a much more formidable offense. Schwarber hits for average, but he also provides another power threat alongside Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo.
What’s more, his ability to play catcher or corner outfielder allows manager Joe Maddon to mix and match the lineups based on the opposing pitcher.
Levine described how his value goes beyond his production because he takes pressure off the other youngsters as well:
While fellow rookies Kris Bryant, Jorge Soler and Addison Russell have encountered ups and downs through the long season, Schwarber has been impressing all along with his power bat. He’s now receiving a great deal of the attention. ... Schwarber hasn’t batted an eye when it comes to dealing with pressure or looking like a kid in his first few months in the big leagues.
The Cubs must now find a way to make up for Schwarber’s lost production if he is out for a significant amount of time. Fortunately for their fans, they remained in the thick of the playoff race before he joined the major league team and can theoretically do so again moving forward.
Coghlan’s versatility has been invaluable for Chicago all season, and it will once again prove critical with this injury. He will likely play the outfield along with Chris Denorfia, and Starlin Castro and Javier Baez can slide in at second base, where Coghlan played on a consistent basis when Schwarber played the outfield.
At catcher, the Cubs will likely continue to use a platoon between Miguel Montero and David Ross. Both bring a veteran presence and the ability to frame pitches behind the plate, and Montero has a solid bat.
Schwarber’s raw power and upside may be impossible to replicate while he is injured, but the Cubs have enough pieces to remain in the playoff race until he returns.
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