The Chicago Cubs own the top Wild Card spot in the National League as September rolls on. But in recent weeks, their All-Star outfield has struggled. Pete Crow-Armstrong missed a game after fouling a ball off himself, but avoided the IL. The Cubs have placed Kyle Tucker on the injured list with a calf injury that has impacted him for weeks.
“Cubs move: Kyle Tucker to the IL with a left calf strain retroactive to September 6. Moisés Ballesteros recalled,” Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reported.
The Cubs had both Tucker and Crow-Armstrong starting in the All-Star Game in mid-July. Tucker had an .882 OPS at the break, but has a .777 since. Tucker has also missed a few games with the calf injury, with the hopes of a day off his feet ending a slump or helping the injury. Now, the pending free agent will miss a few key games.
Tucker will miss the remainder of the Cubs' current series against the Atlanta Braves, as well as their home set against the Tampa Bay Rays. If he misses the minimum amount of time, he would return against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tucker has a lot of eyes on him this season, as he will hit free agency when the World Series is over. Having a great September could get him an even bigger contract.
The Cubs will likely be in the three-game National League Wild Card series, which starts on Tuesday, September 30. While they would love to put together a stunning run at the division title, making sure both outfielders are ready for that day is important. The National League is strong, with the San Diego Padres and New York Mets joining them in the Wild Card race.
The Cubs continue a three-game series on Wednesday in Atlanta after losing the first game to the Braves. Crow-Armstrong is back in centerfield, while Willi Castro mans right field.
