Cubs' Craig Counsell Announces Unfortunate Kyle Tucker News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Sep 17, 2025 12:02 PM ET

The Chicago Cubs will look to make a deep postseason run as they own an 87-64 record entering Wednesday. With a five-game deficit in the NL Central to the Milwaukee Brewers, the Cubs are likely headed for a wild card series.

With the postseason approaching, the health of Chicago’s offseason superstar acquisition Kyle Tucker remains the focus, as he’s sidelined with a left calf strain. Tucker has had an up-and-down season in his first year with the Cubs, after a prolonged slump in July led to him getting booed at Wrigley Field.

However, the 28-year-old outfielder has still posted a .270 batting average, .381 on-base percentage, .854 OPS, 22 home runs and 73 RBIs. Tucker was selected to his fourth All-Star Game in his eight-year career, and his numbers have been a huge reason for Chicago’s success.

Kyle Tucker Injury Update

Tucker has not appeared in action since leaving a game against the Atlanta Braves on September 2 with the left calf injury. After he failed to recover and the severity was revealed, Tucker landed on the injured list.

Ahead of Chicago’s series finale with the Pittsburgh Pirates, manager Craig Counsell announced that Tucker would be traveling to Tampa to receive additional treatment on his calf with his physical therapist group due to a delay in recovery.

Counsell continued, “We're aligned with Kyle, in this is the best way for him to make some improvements. Unfortunately, we plateaued and we weren't making progress.” (h/t Maddie Lee of Chicago Sun-Times)

Kyle Tucker is headed to Tampa this morning with a member of the Cubs medical staff to receive additional treatment on his calf with the PT group that he works with in the offseason and went to last year as he worked back from his shin injury with the Astros, Craig Counsell said.
— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) September 17, 2025

This is an unfortunate development for the Cubs, as time is winding down on the regular season, and if Tucker cannot recover fast enough over the next two weeks, he’s in danger of missing the postseason.

Tucker is set to hit unrestricted free agency in the offseason, and although his numbers have been consistently excellent, it may be impactful how he has not been reliable during the second half of the year with Chicago.

Tucker’s response to the additional treatment, along with his potential return, will be monitored as the postseason approaches. The Cubs will look to sweep the Pirates on Wednesday and then travel to Cincinnati on Thursday to play a four-game set against the Reds.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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