Injuries Pile Up For Slumping Cubs as Team Gets Tough September Priority Ahead Of Wild Card Push

In Sunday’s series finale, the Cubs fell 6–3 to the Nationals, and the team acknowledged that for September, they need their stars performing at their best. The game saw the Cubs’ lineup struggle without Pete Crow-Armstrong (right knee) and Kyle Tucker (left calf). PCA looks fine after fouling a ball off his kneecap; however, an injured list stint for Kyle Tucker has not been ruled out, per The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney. With the team sitting 7 ½ games behind the Brewers and only 19 games left, the focus needs to be on survival and preparation for October.

On Monday, Craig Counsell said that Kyle Tucker is “unlikely to return” for the Braves series opener, extending the star’s absence into a vital stretch. This marks the slugger’s fifth consecutive missed game, and it fueled speculation that the team could be mishandling the injury by refusing to place Tucker on the injured list. The manager pushed back, saying the Cubs feel progress is being made; however, fans are questioning whether the caution could backfire.

Kyle Tucker’s bat has struggled badly. Despite some summer issues, the star has still posted 22 home runs, 73 RBIs, and a 148 OPS+ in 133 games. Without Tucker, the team’s offense has sputtered, managing one run or fewer in three of their last five contests. Add in Seiya Suzuki’s second-half slide, and the Cubs’ once-potent lineup looks thinner by the day. However, Counsell has tried to calm the fans, saying: “As long as we’re having days where we’re moving forward and getting closer — that’s what we’ve felt the last two days, especially — we’re in a good place.” Still, the uncertainty about the star’s readiness lingers, specifically with free agency on the horizon.

That is why September talks more about chasing wins, and it talks more about ensuring that the roster is healthy enough to contend in October. With a likely Wild Card berth at stake, the team knows Kyle Tucker’s postseason pedigree, from his All-Star credentials to his World Series ring, could tilt a short series. However, until Tucker’s return, the Cubs face a balancing act of keeping pace while crossing fingers that the team’s star gets right in time.

May 15, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker (30) wipes off his uniform after hitting a double against the Oakland Athletics in the first inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

While Kyle Tucker’s short-period absence is troubling, the star’s long-shot future with the Cubs could prove to be a bigger storyline.

Cubs predicted to replace Kyle Tucker with 23-year-old slugger

All eyes will be on Kyle Tucker this winter, not just in the Cubs, but across MLB. Tucker’s first season with the Cubs has been elite despite hiccups, yet with free agency approaching, insiders think it could take upwards of $400–500 million to keep Tucker. That staggering cost raises doubts related to whether Jed Hoyer and the management are willing to stretch that far, specifically, for a star who landed at Wrigley via trade instead of choice.

If the team balks at such a historic deal, Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter has already sketched the next chapter. He thinks that Kyle Tucker could bolt to the Dodgers and sees 23-year-old prospect Owen Caissie stepping in as his Opening Day replacement. Caissie, a lefty slugger with raw power, has highlighted flashes in Triple-A and a brief MLB cameo. Though still strikeout-prone, the star’s 22 homers in 71 games at Iowa prove he could be the cost-controlled, homegrown answer the Cubs turn to in 2026.

The Cubs find themselves at a crossroads amid battling September injuries while staring down a massive offseason decision on Kyle Tucker. Whether the Cubs push all-in to retain the All-Star or pivot to stars like Owen Caissie, the stakes could not be higher. With postseason hopes hanging in the balance, the coming months will define the team’s trajectory.

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