MILWAUKEE – For the second time in 5 days, All-Star third baseman Kris Bryant was compelled to the Cubs bench by an ailing proper knee that has bothered him since banging it on a headfirst slide in late June.
“It’s still barking,” mentioned supervisor Joe Maddon, who sat Bryant Tuesday forward of a scheduled off day and determined to take a seat him Sunday once they talked after Saturday’s 0-for-Three recreation.
“It’s bothering him in all aspects of the game,” Maddon mentioned.
Bryant, who spent Sunday’s pregame time getting therapy, mentioned earlier within the collection he anticipated to handle the problem down the stretch and downplayed its affect on his efficiency.
His final homer got here on Aug 21. Since then, he’s hitting .220 with a .668 OPS and 20 strikeouts in 50 at-bats.
His standing might be decided each day over the ultimate 20 video games.
Kimbrel replace
Closer Craig Kimbrel performed catch Sunday morning, the primary time he has thrown for the reason that day after experiencing elbow soreness in his final outing every week earlier.
He and the membership anticipate him to be activated from the injured checklist to rejoin the bullpen by the tip of the week.
Contreras again
After sitting out the final two video games, largely due to the Cubs’ cautious plan for relieving him again from a hamstring damage, All-Star catcher Willson Contreras was again within the lineup Sunday.
He walked and scored on Jason Heyward’s homer within the ninth.
Maddon mentioned the medical employees was “adamant” about not taking part in Contreras Friday after reaching base seven instances Tuesday and Thursday, cautioning that the primary few video games again from an damage of that nature are the video games of best danger for re-injury.
“You’ve got to follow the plan,” Contreras mentioned, “and understand there’s a lot of games to play.”
He ought to get extra time the subsequent 4 days in San Diego.
Big debut
Eight years after the Mariners drafted him with the No. 2 general choose in a star-studded first spherical, left-hander Danny Hultzen made his big-league debut for the Cubs within the seventh inning.
With a number of shoulder surgical procedures and numerous comebacks behind him, Hultzen, 29, hit the primary batter he confronted, Christian Yelich, then allowed a single to Ben Gamel earlier than hanging out Eric Thames, Hernan Perez and Cory Spangenberg to complete the inning.
“I had my adrenaline pumping, but once I threw that first pitch it was baseball again,” he mentioned. “I’ve had a lot of great advice from a lot of these guys about not trying to fight the adrenaline but just kind of accepting this is life, this is it, this is what you’ve worked so hard for; just enjoy it, embrace it.”
Crew lower
The Cubs completed the season 9-10 towards the Brewers, together with losses in 5 of the final six conferences (and a 3-7 mark at Miller Park).
It’s the primary time since 2013 the Cubs have misplaced the season collection to the Brewers.
Notes: Heyward’s 19th residence run of the season Sunday was his first since Aug. 18. … Left-hander Jon Lester hadn’t allowed an earned run in 13 2/Three innings towards the Brewers in two earlier begins this season earlier than Sunday’s loss (eight earned runs, 5 1/Three innings). … Lester’s subsequent residence run allowed will tie his profession excessive of 26 (2017).