3 ripple effects from Cubs’ scary Alex Bregman injury

That said, as concerning as Bregman’s injury appears to be, even with reportedly not fracturing anything, with less than a week remaining in the regular season, there are some significant ripple effects worth discussing.

3 ripple effects the Chicago Cubs must consider following Alex Bregman injury

As mentioned above, there are fewer than seven days remaining in MLB’s regular season: six days, to be exact, as of September 21. The National League Wild Card Series begins Tuesday, September 29, just eight days from now. That timeline creates an important roster consideration for the Cubs.

Unless Bregman is placed on the seven-day concussion IL, putting him on the 10-day IL would prevent him from returning in time for the start of the postseason. The ripple effect is that the Cubs could be forced to play the final week of the regular season with one fewer position player on their active roster while Bregman takes the necessary time to recover. Without the ability to add a replacement, that would leave Chicago at a significant roster disadvantage.

Lastly, the Cubs will need to hope Bregman can return to his pre-injury form by the time the playoffs begin. The swelling around his eye following the hit to his cheek could potentially affect his vision and, in turn, his ability to track the ball and perform at his usual level. For a player who had been on such a torrid run and has become an important part of Chicago’s lineup, the timing of the injury could be particularly problematic.

Between the possibility of Bregman avoiding an IL stint, the Cubs potentially playing shorthanded this week, and the uncertainty surrounding whether he can quickly return to form with the playoffs beginning next week, Bregman’s injury is more than just a freak and unfortunate accident. It comes at perhaps the worst possible time for Chicago, as they battle for a Wild Card spot while also looking to make a deep playoff run.