Matt Shaw (hand) won’t return prior to August

It’s a massive relief that Bregman didn’t suffer any additional serious injuries when he was hurt in a freak accident while standing in the on-deck circle during Sunday’s game against the Reds. The 32-year-old third baseman was one of the hottest hitters in the game during the second half, hitting .296 (68-for-230) with 17 home runs and 48 RBI in 59 games following the All-Star break. It’s an unfortunate development for fantasy managers heading into the home stretch in rotisserie leagues, and head-to-head formats still running, but it sounds like there’s optimism that Bregman will be able to return at some point during Chicago’s upcoming postseason run. It’ll likely be a combination of Pedro Ramírez and Matt Shaw handling the hot corner in his absence.

Matt Shaw gets another opportunity at second base with Ramírez on the bench for a third straight contest due to back spasms. The 22-year-old rookie figures to be ready to return at some point this week, otherwise the Cubs are going to have to consider putting him on the injured list.

Ramírez takes a seat for the second straight contest due to back spasms. The 22-year-old rookie infielder is presumably available off the bench, if needed. It’ll be Matt Shaw taking over at second base and hitting ninth.

Matt Shaw gets a look at the keystone for the first time since coming off the injured list. Ramírez is day-to-day for the final three games of the series. The 22-year-old rookie has been excellent for the Cubs, hitting .285/.347/.436 with four homers, 24 RBI and seven steals across 191 plate appearances. He’s emerged as a viable everyday option at second base with Nico Hoerner covering shortstop while Dansby Swanson is out.

Shaw has been out since late June with a hand strain. Now that he’s back, we have to wonder how the Cubs are going to split playing time between Shaw and Pedro Ramirez. Ramirez has been really solid so far this season, but the Cubs may look to get Shaw, their former top prospect, a few starts a week in the final month of the season. That could cannibalize both of their fantasy values.

There hasn’t really been any indication from Chicago that they’re going to rush Shaw back to the majors with Pedro Ramírez handling second base on an everyday basis. He’s been on a rehab assignment since mid-August after missing time with a hand strain that put him on the injured list back in late June.

Shaw figures to be in the mix for starts between second and third base, along with rookie Pedro Ramírez, while shortstop Dansby Swanson is on the injured list with an oblique strain for the next month. The 24-year-old former top prospect has been on the injured list with a hand strain since late June. He should make it back to Chicago at some point before the end of August.

Shaw, on the IL since June 29 with a hand strain, has been hitting of a Trajekt machine. It doesn’t seem likely that he’ll have a particularly significant role after joining the Cubs. Pedro Ramírez has been a modest upgrade as an infield backup, and the Cubs acquired Tyrone Taylor at the deadline as an additional outfield option versus lefties.

Peralta and Holmes are almost assuredly being dealt this week, and the Cubs are looking to add starting pitching. As Passan notes, the Cubs also have “plenty of bats available” that could interest the Mets, like Matt Shaw and Pedro Ramirez in the big leagues, or Owen Ayers and Jefferson Rojas in the minors. It remains to be seen if the teams can make anything work, but the pieces seem to be there.

Shaw was placed on the injured list at the end of June with a sprained left hand, and the injury will keep him out for at least another two weeks. The 24-year-old should return to utility role with the Cubs after hitting .246/.322/.415 before that injury.