Pedro

Ramirez

It sounds like there’s a strong possibility Swanson will return for Friday’s series opener against the Reds. The 32-year-old veteran shortstop has been out with an oblique strain since mid-August. His impending return likely pushes rookie Pedro Ramírez back into a part-time role with Nico Hoerner shifting back to second base.

Michael Busch and Ramírez homered off Paul Skenes in the first two innings. Those were the Cubs’ only runs until the eighth, when Gregory Soto lost the strike zone and forced in tying run with a bases-loaded walk and then the go-ahead run with a HBP. Ramírez opened that inning with a double and scored the first run. He’s batting .266/.323/.433 through 224 plate appearances. However, he could begin losing playing time in the second half of next week if Dansby Swanson is activated.

He’ll go on a short rehab assignment to Triple-A Iowa and then return to close out the series and be ready for the playoffs. The Cubs have mostly played Pedro Ramírez while Swanson has been sidelined, but $100 million shortstops will be lineup fixtures and Ramírez will likely see his role reduced after hitting .192/.259/.342 with three homers and zero stolen bases over his last 20 games.

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.

Ramírez reduced the Cubs’ deficit from five runs to two with his 390-foot homer off Tejay Antone in the eighth. The Cubs couldn’t complete the comeback, but Ramírez added to his case for continuing to play regularly with Matt Shaw back. The 22-year-old is hitting .285/.343/.442 through 182 plate appearances.

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.