The Chicago Cubs have received some concerning news regarding shortstop Dansby Swanson after he was forced to leave Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Swanson initially exited with what was described as left-side discomfort, but manager Craig Counsell later provided more information. Swanson is dealing with an oblique injury and will be placed on the 10-day injured list before Monday’s game against the Chicago White Sox. He is also scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of the injury.
Swanson Suffers Injury on Swing
The injury occurred during the third inning of Sunday’s 11-4 loss to the Cardinals. Swanson took a big swing at a Hunter Dobbins fastball and immediately appeared to be in discomfort following the swing-and-miss.
James Triantos had to finish Swanson’s at-bat, and the Cubs then made an infield adjustment in the fourth inning. Nico Hoerner moved from second base over to shortstop, while Triantos shifted to second.
The Cubs now have to wait for the MRI results before knowing exactly how long Swanson could be unavailable.
Cubs Have Options in the Infield
Chicago does have some depth that should allow the team to survive Swanson’s absence, at least in the short term.
Hoerner figures to handle most, if not all, of the shortstop duties while Swanson is sidelined. Meanwhile, rookie Pedro Ramirez has been playing well and earning additional opportunities, making him a candidate to take over the majority of the work at second base. Triantos also remains an option.
The Cubs could have another player enter the mix soon as well. Matt Shaw may begin a minor league rehab assignment in the coming days, and if he is ready to return before Swanson, he could provide Chicago with another option around the infield.
Oblique Injury Creates Bigger Concern
While the Cubs can probably withstand a 10-day absence from Swanson on paper, oblique injuries can be unpredictable, making the situation worth monitoring closely.
Even a moderate oblique strain could keep Swanson out for at least a month, and the Cubs will have to hope Monday’s MRI provides a more encouraging diagnosis. Until those results are known, there is legitimate concern that this could become much more than a minimum 10-day injured list stint.
The timing is particularly unfortunate for a Chicago team that has put itself in a strong position in the National League Wild Card race. The Cubs have enough of a cushion that a short absence from Swanson may not dramatically alter their postseason outlook.
Still, losing one of the team’s premier defensive shortstops is far from ideal, especially with the postseason approaching.
For now, the Cubs’ focus will be on getting a clear diagnosis from the MRI. The initial 10-day IL placement provides some optimism, but the results of Monday’s testing should offer a much better indication of whether Swanson will be back relatively soon or facing a significantly longer absence.
