Injury Bug Bites Hard: Cubs Struggle to Stay Afloat in 2024

The Leadoff Man

Forget the 'W' flag, it's time to raise the injury flag at Wrigley!

The Cubs have hit a rough patch, losing three of four to the Reds in Cincinnati. While the Reds are on fire, our Cubs are limping through games with key players out or playing at 75%. On the bright side, young guns like Ben Brown, Hayden Wesneski, and Jordan Wicks are getting their shot on the mound. But with fielding faltering and players like Morel and Busch adjusting to new positions, it’s been a bumpy ride. Suzuki’s struggles in right field haven’t helped either. I’m hoping to avoid the old June Swoon, but that usually applies when your team is good in April and May, then falls off in June.

Let’s dive into the details of our bruised and beaten Cubs, the struggles behind the plate, and what’s ahead against some tough upcoming opponents.

Cubs Bruised, Broken, and Beaten So Far in 2024

The Cubs are riddled with injuries, affecting their performance across the board.

This season’s injury list reads like a novel. Nico Hoerner is out with a fractured right hand. Christopher Morel’s toe has taken a beating. Cody Bellinger’s ribs were fractured, and Seiya Suzuki, who was sidelined with an oblique injury, aggravated it over the weekend. Nick Madrigal fractured his hand in his first minor league game, and Patrick Wisdom missed the start of the season. Ian Happ has battled hamstring issues.

Pitching hasn’t fared better. Kyle Hendricks is dealing with “ailments”, Jameson Taillon’s back is troubling him, and Jordan Wicks just returned from a forearm injury. Yency Almonte has a shoulder strain, Adbert Alzolay is struggling mightily and then with a right flexor strain, and Julian Merryweather has a rib stress fracture.

The upside? Young pitchers are stepping up, and getting invaluable experience. But as the injuries pile up, the Cubs need to find depth to stay competitive.

Catchers' Woes: Ineffective and Inconsistent

Cubs’ catchers are struggling both offensively and defensively, dragging the team down.

Yan Gomes and Miguel Amaya are having a rough season behind the plate. Gomes is only throwing out 14% of base stealers, while Amaya lags behind at 12%, both below the league average of 21%. Offensively, they’re struggling too. Amaya is hitting just .135 against left-handers, with Gomes worse at .071.

The team needs a reliable third catcher to bolster the lineup. It’s frustrating that the Cubs are still paying Tucker Barnhardt, who hasn’t performed well with the Diamondbacks either. To play meaningful baseball in September, the Cubs must address this catching conundrum and find someone who can step up both defensively and offensively.

Road Ahead: Can the Cubs Overcome Their Struggles?

With a tough schedule and a battered roster, the Cubs face an uphill battle this month.

It’s tough watching our Cubs struggle through injuries and inconsistency. Next up, they face the Tampa Bay Rays, followed by a series with St. Louis. Then, it’s a challenging home/away series against the struggling San Francisco Giants and the New York Mets in between those SF games before finishing the month against the Brewers.

These games are winnable, but without a healthy roster, the Cubs may find it hard to come out on top. It’s beyond frustrating, but we need to stay hopeful and support our team through these tough times.

The Closer

There have been some days when I can’t invest the time in this team after a game to recap a loss the Cubs should have won because I’m so frustrated. My minimum commitment to this venture will be Series previews and a write-up after a series concludes and it’s easier when we win.

I love looking at the upcoming pitching matchups and highlighting Cubs players who have historically played well against our opponents or at the stadium where they’ll play. My deep baseball knowledge and passion for the Cubs allow me to provide insights that bring the games to life, helping you understand what to expect from the upcoming series and reflecting on the key moments of the previous series.

A personal moment that stands out for me this season is my family still asking me daily, "Who are the Cubs playing?" My 8-year-old son can even tell that the game on the radio isn't the Cubs because Matt Olson is on the Braves, and the Cubs are playing the Reds this weekend. My loving wife puts up with hours of Cubs baseball on the TV while she works her fingers to the bone planning weddings and corporate events. It’s the love of my family that supports my Cubs passion and keeps me hoping for a strong end to 2024.

I'd also like to thank the subscribers; we hit a record number of subscribers last week, so I thank each of you for opening the newsletter, clicking on a video link, or submitting a message on the polls. This helps my metrics and future advertising revenue possibilities. Thank you for your support too!

Cubs are off tomorrow, but I’ll be back with a Tampa Bay Rays Series Preview.

Let’s go Cubs!