The Chicago Cubs will not place third baseman Alex Bregman on the injured list, after suffering several facial fractures over the weekend. Bregman stood in the on-deck circle in Sunday's win over the Cincinnati Reds, when a foul ball off of the bat of Michael Busch hit him in the face. He immediately exited the game, sharing updates on his injury via social media in the days following.
His fractures looked pretty rough in those updates, but the Cubs seem to be confident in his return prior to the postseason. "Alex Bregman will not go on the injured list," Cubs reporter Taylor McGregor wrote via X. "Craig Counsell says they’re not ruling out his return to play this weekend." Bregman is one of the Cubs' most productive players this season, posting a .804 OPS with 26 homers and 89 RBIs on the year so far.
He has 5.4 bWAR on the year, which is second on the team to MVP hopeful Pete Crow-Armstrong. Additionally, Bregman has been one of the best players in MLB since the All-Star break. He has a 167 wRC+ since the All-Star break, which is the second-best mark in MLB behind Fernando Tatis Jr., who clocks in at 170.
Of his 26 homers this season, he hit 17 of them following the All-Star Game, and had one of the best months of his career in August. His 12 homers last month were the second most in baseball, trailing only Crow-Armstrong, and he had 30 RBIs — the most in the majors — during that stretch. If Bregman is to miss any time in the postseason it would be a huge blow to the Cubs, who are going to play in the Wild Card round for the second consecutive season.
The Cubs are in a heated battle for position in the Wild Card, but currently hold the most favorable spot in the fight. They currently hold the No. 4 seed, but are tied with the San Diego Padres in terms of record and are only one game ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies. They have two series left during the regular season, facing the Miami Marlins and Boston Red Sox, and will look to claim victory in both as they try to secure home field advantage in their opening postseason series.
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