MILWAUKEE -- A Chicago Cubs' season that's been about as hellish as a competitive season can be just got worse for them. Joe Maddon told reporters on Saturday afternoon that shortstop Javier Baez has a hairline fracture in his left thumb.
Baez will see a hand specialist on Monday to determine a timetable to return, but fractures are bad news. This injury very likely knocks Javy out for several weeks, likely for the remainder of the regular season. And it's no guarantee when he'll be ready for the postseason -- if the Cubs make it there.
The Cubs have been snakebitten by players missing games this season due to injury and personal circumstances. Ben Zobrist, Anthony Rizzo, Willson Contreras, Kris Bryant, Javy Baez, Cole Hamels, Craig Kimbrel, and others have missed various amounts of time this year. Javy is one of the Cubs' best hitters (when he's on) and Chicago will sorely miss his defense in the middle of the diamond.
There's no telling yet when Baez will return, but the Cubs now have to try to make the postseason -- whether through the Wild Card or winning the NL Central title -- without one of their best players for the foreseeable future. Things just got tougher in an already tough season for the Cubs.
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