Pedro Ramírez hits three-run homer versus Reds

The 22-year-old infielder missed the previous three games due to back spasms. He’s back in there at second base and batting seventh against Brewers’ righty Logan Henderson on Thursday evening in Milwaukee.

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.

After back-to-back walk-off losses, the Cubs decided to take that out of play and win by 17 runs. Ramírez was responsible for several of those plate-crossings, as he also scored three runs in the game. The 22-year-old infielder has his third homer of the year, and he’s hit a very solid .285/.343/.424 since being promoted. He may never be a star, but Ramírez has enough upside to someday be a fantasy regular.

Arias makes a ton of sense for Chicago as a short-term stopgap solution to help fill their infield while Dansby Swanson (oblique) is on the injured list for the next couple weeks. The 26-year-old provides the Cubs with an experienced and versatile infield option behind Nico Hoerner and Pedro Ramírez. He can be safely ignored in all fantasy formats, but still represents a quality depth addition at this stage of his career.

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.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters that Swanson has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 oblique strain and they’re hoping that he’s able to return in roughly four weeks. The 32-year-old veteran has graded out as a top-10 fantasy option this season, hitting .216/.300/.404 with 78 runs scored, 18 homers, 66 RBI and 17 stolen bases in 458 plate appearances. It sounds like there’s a decent chance that he’s ready for the start of the postseason, if the Cubs make it that far. It’ll be Nico Hoerner taking over at shortstop with rookie Pedro Ramírez seeing the bulk of the playing time at second base.

Swanson left Sunday’s game with an oblique injury. Pedro Ramírez will likely become the Cubs’ primary second baseman while Swanson is out, with Nico Hoerner moving to shortstop. Kevin Alcántara could rejoin the team as a bench player until Matt Shaw is ready to come off the IL.