Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki Scratched From Sunday Lineup With Knee Discomfort and Chicago Is Holding Its Breath
The Cubs scratched Seiya Suzuki from Sunday’s lineup with right knee discomfort and the timing could not be worse.
Suzuki has been one of the best hitters in the National League this year. He is the engine of a Chicago lineup that has carried the team into first place in the NL Central. He left Saturday night’s game early after appearing to tweak his knee on a slide, and the team played it safe by holding him out Sunday.
Manager Craig Counsell told reporters the team is being conservative and that Suzuki is considered day to day. That is the kind of language that can mean anything between a one-day rest and a two-week absence. Cubs fans have been on this ride before.
Suzuki’s body of work this year has been All-Star caliber. He has hit for power, run the bases well, and played a solid right field. The Cubs have built their offense around his ability to drive in runs in clutch spots. Take him out of the lineup for any extended period and Chicago goes from one of the best offenses in the league to a middle-of-the-pack group very quickly.
The injury context matters. Suzuki has dealt with various small ailments throughout his MLB career, including oblique issues and minor leg problems. None of them have ever been season-ending, but they have added up to weeks of missed time across his stretches with the Cubs. A knee problem in mid-June, with the All-Star break still six weeks away, is a real concern.
Chicago’s depth is decent but not deep enough to absorb a long absence. Pete Crow-Armstrong has been a fixture in center. Kyle Tucker is in left and producing. The bench has some useful pieces, but the loss of Suzuki would mean asking a part-time player to take everyday at-bats in a playoff race.
The NL Central is the other variable. The Brewers are in striking distance. The Cardinals are starting to find some form. The Reds, who are still hanging around, would love to see Chicago lose its best hitter for a stretch. Every game matters in a division this tight.
Suzuki himself is reportedly not concerned. He has dealt with similar discomfort before and bounced back quickly. The Cubs are clearly being careful because they understand exactly how important he is. Pushing him through a sore knee in a 60-degree June game is not worth the risk if it costs the team a chunk of August.
The smart money is on Suzuki being back in the lineup within a few days. If it turns into a 10-day IL stint, the Cubs will need to make a depth move quickly. There are not many outfield bats available right now, but the trade deadline is six weeks away and Chicago has the prospect capital to bring in real help.
The All-Star selections are also in the air. Suzuki has been one of the obvious choices for the National League team. Missing two weeks could cost him votes, even though his production this year has been more than enough to earn the trip.
The next 48 hours will tell the Cubs whether they have a star, a problem, or both. Chicago is hoping for the first.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
