The Cubs will be without Mike Tauchman for a few weeks. Chicago placed their right fielder on the 10-day injured list this evening with a strained left groin. Miles Mastrobuoni is up from Triple-A Iowa to take the active roster spot.
Manager Craig Counsell told the Chicago beat that Tuchman’s strain is of the Grade 2 variety (relayed on X by the Chicago Tribune’s Meghan Montemurro). Counsell suggested it’ll be around a month before the injury is fully healed. That could take Tuchman’s rehab close to the July 30 trade deadline.
The lefty-swinging Tauchman has emerged as a surprising contributor for Chicago. He hit .252/.363/.377 over a career-high 401 plate appearances a season ago. As MLBTR’s Nick Deeds explored last month, the lefty-hitting Tauchman has hit his way to regular playing time in the Wrigley Field outfield. Tauchman carried a .257/.375/.407 line at the time of Nick’s post. His production has tailed off a bit since then, as he ran a .263/.330/.338 slash in 88 plate appearances over the past month. That hadn’t changed his standing, as Counsell has continued to pencil him in atop the lineup.
That’ll be on hold after Tauchman came up limping beating out an infield single. Nico Hoerner jumps to the top of the order for tonight’s game. The Cubs moved Cody Bellinger from center to right field with Pete Crow-Armstrong taking over in center. Seiya Suzuki is serving as the designated hitter. Crow-Armstrong will probably see the biggest uptick in playing time with Tauchman on the shelf.
The Cubs enter tonight’s game with a 34-39 record. Chicago washed away a strong April with a 16-27 showing going back to May 1. They’ve dropped into 13th place in the National League, but everyone in the NL besides the Marlins and Rockies is still in the playoff picture. Chicago is only two games back of the Giants, who currently hold the last Wild Card spot. They’re among 8-10 teams in the Senior Circuit whose approaches to the trade deadline will be determined by how well they play over the next six weeks.
That photo….in progress?
That’s tough, man
Well at least they brought up a young guy for a spark- oh. Miles. Word.
Tauchman’s value will never be higher……… He pulled what? Cubs brought back who? Really? Seriously? C’mon
That’s who you bring up when that’s all you have. Thanks again, Jed.
They have more than Miles Mastrobuoni. Luis Vazquez would’ve been the most logical move. He night just ride the pine for 3 and a half weeks and get 1-3 ABs zero starts
Hey Counsell, dinner’s ready. What are we having? Mastrobuoni again? You know that makes me sick.
Time to let the kids play.
They are. Bote is playing now. He’s under 40.
Miles Mastrobuoni?! Here comes the pennant!
With him and Little Nicky Madrigal the future is bright.
Ikr, what’s wrong with Canario? He’s playing well in Iowa and this is his last option year. Time to give him more of a chance.
He’s out with a disclosed injury.
Cubs lose Tauchman for a month, and we get Miles Masterbuoni, good lord that’s a huge downgrade…
Here’s their chance for some Seth Brown time . He plays a decent RF and could use a change of scenery from the A’s
Cubs have 8 OF options.
How many options can miles possibly have left?
He can be optioned 3 more times this year. He has another option year in 2025.
He finally getting a chance to play and he’s injured. He’s bounced around for several years now. Hopefully, he found a home on Chicago.
This is a blessing in disguise. The Cubs play better when Nico leads off, even though Hoerner didn’t get on base last night, his dynamic a top the line up has a positive effect for the top half. Pitchers know Nico is an aggressive hitter which add pressure from the jump. He also is likely going to put the ball in play and he’s going hard out of the box which puts pressure on the defense. When he does get on base, he’s looking to steal plus he gets excellent reads on balls in play.
Hopefully, now, we can see the best version of this line up and see the Cubs actually address third base, pushing Morel to DH.
What? Tauchman has been one of their best hitters. How does this make them better?
All the reasons I just said.