Craig Counsell Announces Alex Bregman News After Removal From Cubs Lineup

Recently, though, Bregman’s struggles have intensified. He has gone hitless in his last 10 at-bats, but it turns out there may be a reason behind the slump. Cubs manager Craig Counsell revealed that Bregman is dealing with a sore toe after getting hit by a pitch during Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Bregman played through the injury on Monday in the series opener against the San Diego Padres, but for Tuesday’s game, he was removed from the lineup. Matt Shaw drew the start at third base instead.

Counsell added that Bregman was affected “pretty significantly” while running on Monday, and although the toe is improving, the Cubs want to ensure the issue is fully behind him before putting him back on the field (h/t Meghan Montemurro of The Chicago Tribune).

The encouraging news is that Counsell does not expect Bregman to require a stint on the injured list, calling it more of a day-to-day situation. And the Cubs can afford to be cautious. It is still only April, and Chicago sits at 17-12, remaining one of the stronger teams in the National League.

Getting Bregman healthy, and eventually back to his usual level, will be essential as the Cubs push deeper into the season.