Injuries to starting pitchers are putting the Chicago Cubs in a difficult spot, but manager Craig Counsell is optimistic his team can withstand it through the All-Star break.
The New York Mets hope Francisco Lindor’s impending return from a strained calf can generate slightly more optimism as a miserable season approaches the halfway point.
The Cubs will put right-hander Edward Cabrera on the 15-day injured list with an ailing left hamstring and then hope starting pitchers Javier Assad and Shota Imanaga can get them through Wednesday’s day-night doubleheader with the host Mets.
Cabrera was carted off the field when he was injured covering first base in the fifth inning of the Cubs’ 9-6 win on Tuesday.
Chicago also is without Jameson Taillon (hamstring) and Matthew Boyd (knee), though the latter’s next appearance on the mound might be in Thursday’s series finale in New York.
“We’re in a rough spot,” Counsell said after the Cubs won for the seventh time in 10 games. “I think we can get through it through the All-Star break, but it’s going to be a little bit of a puzzle until then.”
While figuring out the pitching may be tricky, Chicago hopes for more big contributions from Pete Crow-Armstrong and Dansby Swanson after the duo combined for seven RBIs on Tuesday.
Crow-Armstrong is batting .467 during an 11-game hitting streak after capping a five-run second inning with a three-run homer on Tuesday. His hitting streak is one shy of his career high, and Crow-Armstrong also is batting .410 during a career-high 24-game on-base streak.
Swanson is batting .189 overall after hitting a two-run homer, an RBI double and a sacrifice fly. He homered for the first time since May 18 and is batting .429 over his past four games.
The Mets have been outscored 30-11 during a three-game losing streak that dropped them 10 games under .500. They also may be without Juan Soto, who is day-to-day after his back locked up on Tuesday.
Lindor might return after appearing in a rehab game Tuesday at Triple-A Syracuse, and the Mets are 26-28 since the shortstop injured his calf running the bases April 22.
“We’ve got to start playing better baseball, win more games consistently. Francisco is a big part of that,” Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said Tuesday. “We think he can help us.”
Assad (5-1, 3.89 ERA) is expected to start the first game Wednesday for the Cubs. The right-hander is 3-1 with a 3.95 ERA as a starter this season and has allowed two runs in 11 2/3 innings in his past two starts. Assad is 1-1 with a 2.95 ERA in five career appearances against New York.
Imanaga (4-6, 4.26) originally was slated to start Monday before the game was rained out and is 0-4 with a 6.64 ERA in his past seven starts, though he has allowed one run in 10 2/3 innings during his past two outings.
The left-hander is 1-2 with a 10.34 ERA in three career starts vs. the Mets.
New York will start right-hander Nolan McLean (4-4, 3.67) and left-hander Sean Manaea (1-2, 4.64) in Wednesday’s games.
McLean pitched in last Wednesday’s 9-1 win at Cincinnati when he allowed an unearned run in seven innings. His lone appearance against the Cubs occurred in Chicago on Sept. 25, when he allowed five runs and struck out 11 in 5 1/3 innings.
Manaea most recently pitched Thursday in Philadelphia when he allowed three runs (two earned) in 5 1/3 innings of his team’s 6-4 victory. He has allowed two earned runs or less in his past nine outings.
Manaea is 0-1 with a 5.60 ERA in seven career appearances against Chicago.
–Field Level Media
