The Chicago Cubs are being cautious with catcher Willson Contreras.
After a day off Monday, Contreras was not in Tuesday’s lineup against the White Sox at Wrigley Field. He is banged up but it’s “nothing serious,” according to manager David Ross. Contreras is considered day to day and was available to hit off the bench.
Ross declined to provide specifics on what is ailing Contreras. Asked whether it’s a lower- or upper-body injury, Ross replied, “Mid.” Contreras started at designated hitter Saturday in Milwaukee and did not play Sunday.
“He’s got a little something going on and trying to just keep it under wraps for competitive advantage stuff,” Ross said Tuesday.
Left-hander Drew Smyly was scratched from Tuesday’s start and placed on the bereavement list. Players must spend at least three days and up to seven on the list.
The Cubs opted for a bullpen game to begin the City Series with reliever Scott Effross getting the start. The bullpen entered Tuesday leading the majors with 115 strikeouts and 11.33 strikeouts per nine innings.
Ethan Roberts unable to pitch through shoulder inflammation
Rookie reliever Ethan Roberts knew Friday that trying to pitch through shoulder inflammation no longer would work.
He had to tell the Cubs what he had been dealing with for two weeks. Roberts realized when he couldn’t execute his fastball glove side to Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich — and when the pitch’s velocity was below average — that fighting through the issue every pitch wasn’t a viable approach.
Roberts’ cutter sat near 94 mph at the beginning of the season, dipping down and back up over the two-week stretch before hitting its low point Friday with a 91.5 mph average.
Roberts didn’t bounce back well in his first back-to-back outings Thursday in Atlanta and Friday in Milwaukee.
“You want to be out there all the time, you want to try and help your team,” Roberts told the Tribune. “I‘ve got to do something about it. As much as I didn’t want to, I kind of had to.”
Roberts won’t blame his inconsistency in his last few appearances on the shoulder issue. While it may have affected his ability to finish a pitch where he needed it, he also believes he could have made a lot better pitches regardless.
“I could definitely tell that in my last one I was backing up sliders bad, I was pulling sliders bad,” Roberts said. “I couldn’t throw a fastball — trying to go glove side inside on Yelich and they were two feet outside, so that was the stinker for me. But everything leading up to that, like, I chose to do that and I take the results for it.”
This is the first time in his professional career that Roberts, 24, is on the injured list. He officially was put on the 10-day IL on Sunday.
Roberts described the problem as a mix of tightness and shoulder fatigue. The treatment plan involves no throwing and receiving daily soft-tissue treatment to loosen the area until the inflammation calms down.
“That last game (Friday), I came in and I usually just kind of grab my jersey and pull it off over my head, and I can’t do that with my right arm,” Roberts said. “So after that, I knew I had to go (tell them).”
Clint Frazier in good spirits after appendectomy
Ten days after an appendectomy, outfielder Clint Frazier was cracking jokes Tuesday and looking ahead to when he might return.
Frazier isn’t cleared for core work yet, though he was expected to get his first exercise on a stationary bike. But not before kidding with Ross that he was available to pinch-hit against the White Sox.
Frazier’s upbeat demeanor couldn’t completely hide his frustration at missing time because of the unexpected surgery.
“I don’t know how to put it lightly: It definitely sucks,” Frazier said. “I mean, the season’s so long as it is, so it’s comforting a little bit to know, like, all right, I’m going to have some time, but I definitely didn’t expect to get my appendix removed two weeks into the season.
“It definitely throws a wrench in a little bit of momentum that I felt like I was starting to get.”
An appendectomy typically sidelines a position player about four weeks. Frazier is expected to need a rehab assignment once he is cleared to return. The crowded outfield limited Frazier to five starts before his surgery. He never really got going, hitting 3-for-21 with five strikeouts and two walks.
Frazier said he made some tweaks to his setup at the plate but didn’t get a chance to use them in a game. He’s not a believer in building momentum on a minor-league rehab assignment, preferring to do that in the majors.
“I think I can hit more than people think right now,” Frazier said. “Seeing a .143 average is pretty underwhelming, but I’m ready to get a bat in my hands.”
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Source: Berkshire mont
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