Despite a glimmer of positive news on Kyle Schwarber prior to this weekend, the powerful lefty did not travel with the rest of the team to Arizona Sunday night.
Schwarber's back has kept him sidelined since September 5th, and with the Cubs currently slashing .215/.286/.301 with just 6 home runs over the last 14 days, the team could really use some of Schwarber's pop back in the lineup. The 25-year-old has 25 long-balls on the season and is walking in just over 15% of his at-bats, something the Cubs have struggled with in since Schwarber's absence.
And while having Schwarber available in the thick of a postseason race would help thunderously, Joe Maddon and the Cubs would prefer to see Schwarber be 100% healthy for the postseason - and later this weekend against the White Sox and their right-hand dominant pitching staff.
"(Schwarber's) staying," Joe Maddon said. "Try and avoid the plane rides. Lefty-Lefty matchups. Of course, there's a potential to play possibly in a pinch-hitting role or even on the second day, but really looking big picture we should see a lot of rightys this weekend. If he's able to DH that gives us a lot of flexibility on defense."
The good news is that it seems like Schwarber if the Cubs absolutely needed him to play, he could suit up. But, the Cubs don't and they know he'll be more effective later in the week without having to ride airplanes and can some right-handed hitting.