Lat injury forces Quintana to injured list

The Cubs’ weekend plans were altered a bit on Wednesday with the news that left-hander José Quintana was placed on the 10-day injured list due to left lat inflammation. The move is retroactive to Aug. 31.

The 31-year-old Quintana, who was previously sidelined eight weeks with a left thumb injury, had recently logged two three-inning outings in relief, and he was presumed to be Tyler Chatwood’s replacement when the right-hander went on the IL with an elbow injury. Now, the Cubs will have to replace the replacement and figure out how to piece together a rotation that will face the Cardinals five times beginning Friday, including a doubleheader on Saturday. Before his injury, Quintana was the likely choice to pitch one of those two games.

Manager David Ross said Quintana likely felt the discomfort in the final of his three innings thrown Sunday against the Reds. Ross initially thought it wasn’t serious, but then Quintana still felt some pain during his bullpen session on Wednesday. The IL move is to ensure it doesn’t worsen.

“[It's] out of caution. Making sure everything’s fine there is important,” Ross said.

Among the options to start in replacement of Quintana are right-handers Adbert Alzolay and Tyson Miller, who are both working at the alternate training site in South Bend, Ind. Asked specifically about Alzolay, Ross said it’s realistic to expect him to get a look in the rotation.

Colin Rea, who was a starter prior to joining the Cubs this year, could also be an option. Twenty-six of his 34 career appearances have been in a starting role.

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To replace Quintana on the active roster, right-hander Jason Adam was recalled from South Bend, and he pitched the ninth inning of the Cubs’ 8-2 win over the Pirates.

The 29-year-old Adam has a 5.79 ERA over four relief appearances with the Cubs this season. He signed a Minor League contract in the offseason after going 3-0 with four holds and a 2.91 ERA in 23 relief appearances for the Blue Jays in 2019.

Adam limited opponents to a .200 batting average, turned in a 1.15 WHIP and allowed one home run in 21 2/3 innings pitched last season. For his career, Adam is 3-4 with a 4.91 ERA in 58 relief appearances, covering three seasons with the Royals (2018), Blue Jays and Cubs.

Additionally, infielder Hernán Pérez cleared waivers and has been assigned outright to the alternate training site.

Bryant proud of 'the most obnoxious' teammates
One of the buzzwords that has come out of the 2020 season is “chippy.” It’s not a new word, but it’s become more relevant this year, with teams playing in fan-less ballparks that make it easier to hear almost everything their opponents are saying in the opposite dugout.

From this phenomenon has sprouted teams getting “chippy” with one another. It’s another way of saying they argue -- sometimes yell -- at each other, or get on one another’s nerves, or exchange brief and mostly meaningless insults along the lines of, “Oh yeah? Says who?”

The Cubs have had a couple of incidents where things got chippy, and in some cases, it was due to opponents reacting to noise coming from the Cubs’ dugout. And that’s fine with the inhabitants of that dugout, because in their view, they’re just having fun. Without the fans cheering them on, the Cubs have to “create their own energy” -- a phrase that’s turned into a rallying cry of sorts for the players.

Kris Bryant compared the enthusiasm in the dugout to something one might find on a college baseball team; the rally chants and colorful conversation might not exactly translate in a more traditional setting. He said the entire team is enjoying the environment.

“I think we might be the most obnoxious,” he said with a smile. “But we're all embracing it and enjoying that. I think other teams can go about it the same way; I just think we're doing a really good job of creating our energy in the dugout. We’ve got to get through the game and enjoy it and win, and I think it's been working for us, so [we'll] keep doing it.”

Day off, after a day that went on and on
After returning to the lineup Tuesday following a stint on the injured list, Bryant lobbied Ross to play again Wednesday, but the third baseman instead was given the game off.

This was precautionary, just to make sure Bryant’s stamina didn’t take a hit after the long night the Cubs had in the opener in Pittsburgh. Bryant played all 11 innings of the Cubs’ 8-7 win, part of which was played in pouring rain.

Catcher Willson Contreras was slotted into the No. 2 spot in the order. Kyle Schwarber and Jason Heyward were also given the night off.

“It was a long game and a long day yesterday, it really was,” Ross said. “If you look around the league and what's going on with the players' bodies and this unique season, I think it's important that we take care of these guys.”