The Chicago Cubs are really going through it right now and the injuries continue to pile up in September as they have now lost another starting position player to injury. Ahead of Tuesday’s series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Cubs placed third baseman Nick Madrigal on the injured list because of a right hamstring strain.
Madrigal, who has played in 90 games this season, including 72 at third base, last played on Saturday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Cubs have already been playing short-handed, as Jeimer Candelario has been sidelined since last week with a back issue.
This IL stay is retroactive to Sept. 17, for Madrigal.
Unfortunately, this continues a troubling trend for Madrigal, who also missed three weeks back in July with a hamstring strain as well. It’s the same right hamstring that needed season-ending surgery in 2021, when the infielder was still with the White Sox.
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The Cubs will activate left-handed hitter Jared Young to the 28-man roster. This will be Young’s second stint in the majors this season. The 27-year-old has been the best hitter for the Iowa Cubs at Triple-A in 2023, posting a great slash line of .310/.417/.577, with 21 home runs.
Young was called up at the end of June and he appeared in 13 games. His first few games were great, as Young went 4-for-9, a home run and two triples, but then he looked overmatched in July, going 2-for-26 before the Cubs optioned him back to Iowa.
You probably won’t see too much of Young starting, as Cody Bellinger will take up most of the playing time at first base against right-handed pitching and Patrick Wisdom will keep getting starts against lefties. Young has played some time at third, making 15 starts at the hot corner down at Triple-A this season.
Although Madrigal wasn’t doing much at the plate, he was playing great defense at third base. So, his loss may not be the biggest blow for the Cubs, but the infield defense is going to take a hit because the guys who will be stepping in, Christopher Morel and Patrick Wisdom, have been bad on defense at third base.
