Injury Update: Cubs SS Dansby Swanson to Miss 4-6 Weeks

From the moment he stepped off the field and was lifted from the game on Sunday, it became clear that Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson would be headed for the IL.

Manager Craig Counsell confirmed as much in his postgame press conference, with Swanson clearly in pain after a swing in his first at-bat on Sunday afternoon. James Triantos came in at second base for the Cubs while Nico Hoerner shifted over to shortstop. And while the team officially announced it as "left-side discomfort," an oblique injury always felt like the more likely diagnosis, especially with Swanson expected to land on the IL.

What we didn't know was how severe the injury truly was. Counsell told the media on Sunday afternoon that the team was planning to do an MRI on Swanson on Monday to get a better idea of his potential recovery timeline.

According to ESPN's Jesse Rogers, it's a Grade 2 oblique strain for Swanson, which has a normal recovery timeline of four to six weeks.

Four weeks from today would put Swanson's return on September 14. If it's six weeks, that's September 28, which is the day after the regular season finale, right as the postseason will be getting underway.

My expectation is for the Cubs to play things safe with Swanson and make sure he's available for the playoffs, rather than trying to rush him back over the final weeks of the regular season unless a division title and a bye to the NLDS truly remain up for grabs.

It's certainly not ideal. Losing Swanson for any period of time is a significant hit to the Cubs' defense, lineup, and overall team leadership. But to lose him for the remainder of the regular season would be even more difficult to stomach.

This is far from the worst-case scenario, though. The most important thing on the mind of every Cubs fan was making sure Swanson is healthy enough for a playoff run. The Cubs have provided themselves with enough cushion that they should be a lock for the postseason. They'll just need to be playing their best baseball once October arrives.

The corresponding move for Swanson has yet to be announced, but you get the feeling the Cubs are about to shake things up ahead of a Crosstown Classic series with the Chicago White Sox.

For more updates on Cubs roster moves and Swanson's recovery process, stay tuned here at Cubs Roundtable.