Cubs rookie Kyle Schwarber, who hit a game-winning home run in the seventh inning Tuesday night, was a late scratch from Wednesday’s lineup because of right rib soreness, the team said.
He was sent for a precautionary MRI. The severity of the injury and the timeline were not immediately clear.
Schwarber, who debuted for a week in June for interleague DH work, was recalled at the All-Star break, and that promotion coincided with a resurgence of the Cubs lineup – which has average a run more per game in the second half than the first half.
He’s hitting .270 with 13 homers, 38 RBIs and a .917 OPS in 48 big-league games.
Chris Coghlan moved from right field to left to take Schwarber’s place defensively Wednesday. Newly acquired outfielder Austin Jackson replaced Coghlan in right.
The Cubs have had two players go on the disabled list with oblique strains this season, including infielder Tommy La Stella, who missed most of the first five months of the season (suffering a setback during his first rehab assignment). Right fielder Jorge Soler, who has been on the DL since Aug. 24, said Wednesday he hopes to start swinging a bat Friday and believes the injury is not season-ending.
