What Will Cubs Do If Alex Bregman Is Not Ready For Wild Card Series?

The Chicago Cubs' third baseman, Alex Bregman, suffered multiple facial fractures after being hit by a foul ball during a game against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. Bregman is expected to undergo treatment for his injury, but he remains uncertain about his timeline for returning to action. In recent images shared on social media, he is seen with significant swelling and bruising around his left eye, suggesting his recovery may require more than a week.

If Bregman is unable to play in the upcoming best-of-three Wild Card Series, which kicks off next week, the Cubs will need a replacement at third base. The team's options include Pedro Ramirez and Matt Shaw. Shaw was called in to replace Bregman after he left the game on Sunday, while Ramirez, who started the game at second base, was reassigned to third base.

Shaw is a left-handed hitter who struggles against right-handed pitching, and he and Ramirez have both been dealing with difficulty against that type of pitching this season. Ramirez, however, has shown better performance at the plate compared to Shaw.

With Shaw and Ramirez both vying for the starting spot at third base, the Cubs will likely opt to select one of them to begin the series, rather than fielding both simultaneously. If Bregman does not recover in time to play, Ramirez is expected to take over the third-base position.