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Jesse Rogers
CHICAGO — The North Siders welcomed back outfielder Kyle Tucker from the injured list Friday, just ahead of the squad’s playoff participation.
Tucker, now at age 28, had been absent from the starting lineup since September 2, when he was removed from the game due to tightness in his left calf.
“I’d suggest he dial back a bit from full intensity on the base paths,” manager Craig Counsell commented on Friday morning. “I anticipate the flow of the game will naturally guide him, but taking unnecessary risks isn’t our goal today.
“The primary aim is to get him back in the rhythm of at-bats.”
Tucker is slotted as the designated hitter for Friday’s matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals. The team aims for him to see some outfield action this weekend before the Cubs face off against the San Diego Padres in the initial playoff round next week. This season, Tucker has a .270 batting average, along with 22 homers and 25 stolen bases.
The Cubs also hope that standout rookie pitcher Cade Horton will be ready to go next week. Horton, aged 24, is experiencing some unease in his back/rib region and had to exit his previous start against the New York Mets on Tuesday after just a couple of innings. He engaged in light throwing exercises on the field prior to Friday’s game and is scheduled to throw from the bullpen mound this weekend to help determine his availability for the first round of the playoffs.
“Each choice we make in this process is vital,” stated president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer. “And this marks our next crucial decision point.”
Horton made a significant impact in the latter part of the season, achieving one of the best post-All-Star break ERAs (1.03) in baseball history (minimum of 10 starts). He was initially set to be the Cubs’ starting pitcher for Game 1 against the Padres next Tuesday, but that’s now uncertain as he recovers from his injury.
The Cubs have arranged adequate downtime for their three principal pitchers — Horton, Shota Imanaga, and Matthew Boyd — allowing any of them to potentially take the mound in Game 1.
“We have the luxury of time for these choices,” Hoyer mentioned. “We’ve set up that flexibility to allow us some patience.”
To create an opening on the roster for Tucker, infielder Carlos Santana agreed to be assigned to the Cubs’ Arizona training facility in Mesa. He’ll be included as part of the team’s traveling reserves for the postseason.
