Swanson (right knee sprain) heads to IL; Suzuki returns

PITTSBURGH -- The Cubs got a big part of their offense back on Friday, but they also lost another piece for at least the next 10 days.

Outfielder Seiya Suzuki was activated from the 10-day IL, but shortstop Dansby Swanson was placed on the 10-day IL with a right knee sprain in a move retroactive to May 8.

Swanson was not in the lineup on Wednesday against the Padres because of soreness in his knee. He sustained the injury on April 25 in a game vs. the Astros, when he slid into second base. Swanson tried to play through the lingering discomfort, but it got to a point where it was affecting his ability to play at 100%.

“It was kind of a weird, acute thing,” Swanson said. “Obviously been trying to do it for the last couple of weeks, and nothing’s gotten any better. I think we all decided it was probably best to take some rest. My pride doesn’t like it, but here we are.”

Swanson will be in rest mode for the next few days, then he’ll take it day by day after that and reevaluate how his knee is feeling. He’s frustrated, but he and the Cubs agreed that they see the bigger picture and that continuing to try to grind through it would be, in Swanson’s words, “more stupid than tough.”

“At this point in the year, grinding through four and a half months of this just doesn’t make sense,” manager Craig Counsell said. “So the hope is that with a little break here, he can have this behind him and not have it be an issue for the rest of the season.”

Suzuki was activated on Friday but was not in the lineup for the series opener at PNC Park -- a scheduled rest day for him after he played in two rehab games on Wednesday and Thursday. Counsell said he expects Suzuki to be in the lineup on Saturday.

“I feel good,” Suzuki said through interpreter ​​Toy Matsushita. “My body was moving without any discomfort, so I feel very good right now.”

Suzuki said the doctors told him that his oblique strain came from running, which is a more uncommon cause for an injury in that area. He’s working on prevention through changes to his diet and workout regimen to try to get any advantage he can.

“When you play at a high level, unexpected things happen, so you’ve got to overcome them,” Suzuki said. “So what I’m planning on doing is trying to better my lifestyle, not just on the field but off the field. I feel that is incorporated into what I do on the field as well.”

The good news is that the Cubs have been able to weather injuries well so far this season. Cody Bellinger, who is still in DH-only mode while recovering from two fractured ribs in his right side, missed significant time early this season alongside Suzuki, Kyle Hendricks, Jordan Wicks and more.

However, the Cubs are still well above .500, and their depth has come through.

“We’ve all just got to help each other out,” Suzuki said. “We’re a team, and I feel like we can do that as one. I’m just looking forward to what we can do.”