The Cubs scratched Kyle Schwarber from Wednesday’s lineup with right rib soreness and can only hope this isn’t a serious injury for their hard-charging rookie.
The Cubs sent Schwarber to get an MRI as a precaution after he felt discomfort in the batting cage while warming up before a 7-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs won’t have a better feel for Schwarber’s timetable until they get the MRI results back. The hope is that the break leading into Thursday’s off-day will help get their outfielder/catcher ready for this weekend’s series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“From what I understand, just in the batting tunnel this morning he felt something in his side,” manager Joe Maddon said during his postgame news conference. “So immediately we just shut it down, let him out of there. He’s undergoing some tests right now. I don’t have anything to report yet.”
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Schwarber has been a huge part of this postseason push, generating 13 homers and 38 RBIs in 48 games during what’s still his first full season of professional baseball after getting drafted No. 4 overall out of Indiana University last year.
The Cubs (75-57) took off when Schwarber joined the team after the All-Star break. Since that point, he began the day second in the National League in home runs (12), tied for second in runs scored (35) and tied for third in RBIs (32). It might be impossible to replace that kind of production at a time when every game almost feels like the playoffs already.
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“I have no idea,” Maddon said. “My concern would be that he’s the third catcher. That was my first thought. In September, you like to have that flexibility with the third catcher.
“We’ll just wait and see how it plays out.”