The Chicago Cubs have a 19-12 record entering today’s contest with the Arizona Diamondbacks. While the team’s pitching staff has been bitten by the injury bug early and often. Today, they see Nico Hoerner leave the game. Matt Shaw pinch hit for him in the bottom of the second inning. The Cubs were leading 3-0 at the time.
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Nico Hoerner
Nico reportedly exited today’s game with left neck tightness. Fortunately, a stiff neck is far less concerning than an ankle sprain or oblique issue. Before leaving, Nico led off. He went 1-for-1 with a run scored. However, he was lifted in the bottom of the second inning.
So far this season, Hoerner has been excellent at the plate. He entered the day hitting .291 with four home runs. In addition, he leads the team with 26 RBI and has already collected eight doubles.
Of course, his value goes beyond the numbers. Defensively, he remains a Gold Glove-caliber presence in the field. Moreover, his role as a consistent contact hitter has been a key factor in the lineup’s success. As a result, Nico has delivered in several clutch moments. He has proven to be a reliable contributor when the team has needed him most.
His replacement, Matt Shaw, has been off to a hot start this year as well, with a .297 batting average, three home runs, and ten RBI. Shaw is filling in that super utility role for the Cubs. This role has come in handy lately. Dansby Swanson recently had an issue with a glute muscle, causing him to miss a game. The Cubs are fortunate to have a utility player of his caliber ready and waiting for times like these. Hopefully, Nico was removed for precautionary reasons and will not miss much time at all.
