PITTSBURGH — Second baseman Nico Hoerner looks like the next Cub headed to the injured list after he left Tuesday’s game against the Pirates in the sixth inning with a left hamstring strain.
Hoerner, who has been a spark plug for the Cubs in the field and at the plate since his recall from the minors a month ago, tumbled over first base trying to beat out a grounder and clutched his hamstring as he rolled.
He left the game with a trainer and was replaced by Eric Sogard at second to open the bottom of the sixth.
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The Cubs already had eight players still sidelined by IL moves in the last five weeks alone, including infielder Matt Duffy, who went on the IL before Tuesday’s game because of a back strain.
Outfielders Jason Heyward and Jake Marisnick also are on the IL because of hamstring injuries.
It was not immediately clear how serious Hoerner’s injury was, but Triple-A shortstop Sergio Alcantara was pulled from his game in Iowa soon after Hoerner left the game in Pittsburgh.
Hoerner was hitting .338 with an .837 OPS since his recall — including two more hits Tuesday before the injury.
MLB
The Cubs had a losing record when he was recalled. They looked Tuesday night to improve to 17-13 since.