Chicago faces a high-stakes postseason push as multiple facial fractures sideline their star slugger. The North Siders now race against time to ready their lineup for October.
The Chicago Cubs are slowly preparing for the postseason.
The Cubs’ magic number to clinch a postseason spot is at one. A win on Tuesday against the Miami Marlins, or a Diamondbacks’ loss against the Colorado Rockies, will officially put Chicago in the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
Although the Cubs could clinch a postseason spot as soon as Tuesday, they will continue to fight for that top Wild Card spot until the final few days of the regular season. The North Siders are currently tied with the San Diego Padres for the top Wild Card spot and are one game above the Philadelphia Phillies in the standings.
Once the Cubs officially clinch a postseason spot, they’ll have their eyes on the postseason. Manager Craig Counsell could get creative with the team’s pitching in the final few days since the Wild Card Round begins on Tuesday, September 29.
Chicago wouldn’t throw someone like Shota Imanaga or Clay Holmes on the mound on the final day of the regular season with the Wild Card Round beginning a few days later. The Cubs will have to be strategic with their pitching plans as the postseason approaches.
The start of the postseason is just eight days away. The Cubs have the talent to make a deep postseason run. However, Alex Bregman's health depends on whether this team can make a run in October.
Bregman left Sunday’s game against the Reds early after being hit in the face with a foul ball. The Cubs third baseman immediately went to a local hospital and is now back in Chicago recovering from that injury.
Bregman shared an update on his face early Monday morning. His face is obviously still swollen, and it doesn’t appear that he can see much out of his left eye.
The good news is that Bregman does not need surgery to repair anything. However, Jeff Passan reported on Monday afternoon that the Cubs veteran suffered multiple facial fractures after being struck in the face by that foul ball.
This incident obviously comes at an inopportune time. The Cubs are still hoping Bregman will be good to go for the postseason. His fractures won't magically heal in eight days, but the team could get creative and have him wear some sort of mask to prevent further damage.
Either way, the Cubs need to do all they can to get Bregman back into the lineup by next Tuesday. He has been a key part of this offense in the second half, slashing .318/.396/.657 with 16 home runs, 17 doubles, and 45 RBI since July 27.
