NEW YORK — Kris Bryant sat out the Cubs’ game Wednesday against Jacob deGrom and the Mets because of a bruised right thumb. He was hit in the thumb by a fastball during his first at-bat of the Cubs’ 3-2 loss Tuesday.
While X-rays were negative, the Cubs obviously will be cautious with Bryant because he has meant everything to their offense this season, slashing .292/.374/.544 with 13 home runs and 38 RBI.
‘‘KB’s better,’’ manager David Ross said. ‘‘He felt better this morning. He’ll take some swings in the cage inside, but just the spot where he got hit, [he] kind of [feels] that bruise feeling. We’ll test it out and see swinging the bat here. He’s day-to-day, I would say.’’
Maples to 10-day IL; Higgins to 60-day IL
The Cubs put right-hander Dillon Maples on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Tuesday, with a strained right triceps. Maples has had the most success of his career this season with a 1.99 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 18 appearances. Right-hander Cory Abbott took Maples’ place on the active roster. Abbott has a 2.70 ERA in two appearances this season.
The Cubs also moved backup catcher P.J. Higgins to the 60-day IL with a strained right forearm. Higgins went on the 10-day IL on Friday, but the injury was more serious than the Cubs initially thought.
Higgins becomes the second Cubs backup catcher this season to suffer a serious injury. Austin Romine went down with a significant sprain of his left wrist in April and has not progressed as the team would have hoped.
‘‘[P.J.] played well [last week] in San Diego and complained after a game that it was kind of sore,’’ Ross said. ‘‘[We] checked him out [the next day], and it kind of presented where there could be some trouble. He had an MRI, and it showed some damage done to the elbow.
‘‘He’s gonna get a second opinion and kind of assess whether it’s a surgical thing or a long rehab process. But, yeah, that was some bad news we got after a good trip from San Diego. Just stinks for him to get started in his career and have a step back like that, but he’ll be back.’’
Megill to Iowa; Stock called up
To make room for right-hander Robert Stock, who was called up from Triple-A Iowa to start Wednesday, the Cubs optioned right-hander Trevor Megill to Iowa. Megill has had four scoreless appearances for the Cubs this season.
