The Chicago Cubs are hopeful that shortstop Dansby Swanson will be back in the lineup before the regular season ends.
Swanson went on the 10-day injured list Monday after an MRI showed a left oblique strain that forced him to exit Sunday’s game.
Additionally, the Cubs put right-hander Edward Cabrera on the 15-day IL due to a right middle finger blister and recalled right-hander Javier Assad. They also recalled outfielder Kevin Alcántara, optioned infielder James Triantos and called up infielder Owen Miller.
Right-hander Daniel Palencia was transferred to the 60-day IL to open a 40-man roster spot for Miller, though that doesn’t change Palencia’s timeline to return since he’s been on the IL dating back to June 16.
The Cubs estimate Swanson will be out for one month with the injury, putting the 32-year-old on track to return with about two weeks left on the schedule. This is Swanson’s first time on the IL since May 2024 when he missed 10 days due to a right knee sprain.
“Dansby’s already ready to attack the injury and do whatever he can to make this go as quick as possible,” manager Craig Counsell said Monday. “I don’t know if there’s any silver lining to this, but we’ll get Dansby back this year.”
While Swanson is sidelined, expect to see a regular middle infield of Nico Hoerner shifting to shortstop and Pedro Ramírez at second base. Matt Shaw will eventually be in the mix, too, as he’s on track to return from his left hand/wrist sprain before Swanson is ready. If Shaw’s pregame work goes well Monday, he will start a rehab assignment Wednesday at Triple-A Iowa.
Miller gives the Cubs a true backup shortstop and also has some experience playing first base. Ultimately, that versatility led to the decision to bring up Miller and swap out Triantos.
Ramírez now has his first extended playing time opportunity. He’s already made a strong impression in 49 games for the Cubs in which he owns a .299 average, .353 on-base percentage and 120 OPS+.
“Pedro’s a good player, bottom line,” Counsell said. “I told you out of spring training, if Pedro has to come and play every day in April, I’m good with it. So, this is after 130 major-league at-bats where he’s really performed. He’s more than ready for this.”
Cabrera’s first season with the Cubs certainly hasn’t played out like they envisioned when they traded with the Miami Marlins for the 28-year-old in the offseason. Long coveted by the organization, Cabrera goes on the IL for the third time this season and the second instance of a blister problem, something he’s dealt with throughout his career.
Counsell doesn’t believe the issue is serious but also isn’t sure when Cabrera will pitch next. But when he does return, the working plan right now is that Cabrera will be used in relief. The hope is that will mitigate the blister from recurring since it hasn’t been an issue when throwing in shorter stretches during between-start bullpens.
Cabrera informed Counsell and pitching coach Tommy Hottovy of the blister’s emergence after exiting Sunday’s start during the fourth inning, though Counsell said Monday it initially popped up after his final rehab start Aug. 11 at Double A.
“We’ve got to come up with some better answers on the blisters thing,” Counsell said. “The nail, the blister, we keep having some issues there. Frankly, one thing we’re going to talk about, is it happening the longer your outings are, and is that causing this? And that may be something we consider for the rest of the year.
“We’re hoping we can have the blister behind us. … When the volume is lower, maybe we can make some progress there and that can be a fix at least for the last six weeks here.”
Through 15 starts, Cabrera has a 5.68 ERA and 72 ERA+ in 76 innings with the lowest strikeout rate (20.4%) of his six-year career. The beginning of Cabrera’s Cubs career isn’t on the trajectory the team believed it would take.
“It hasn’t clicked,” Counsell said. “You spend a lot of time figuring those out. I wish every story was a success story and this one right now is not and we’re going to keep working on trying to find answers and trying to find solutions. It’s something very important, but I wish I could tell you every story is a success story, but we haven’t done it here.”
Cabrera said Monday he is “100%” on board with being used out of the bullpen, saying, “the important thing is being here and helping the team in whatever way I can.” The blister didn’t affect him until the fourth when he was charged with four runs as the St. Louis Cardinals turned a one-run lead into a 9-2 advantage.
“In all honesty, it’s frustrating,” Cabrera said. “As a human being, that’s normal for us. But when I get home, I always thank God and ask him to help overcome these situations. I know they are tough, but they have a purpose.”
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