Cubs' Schwindel leaves game with back injury
The first four Cubs batters struck out against Atlanta starter Charlie Morton on Friday. Then the first batter to make contact, Frank Schwindel, started hobbling on the way to first base on a grounder to third. Schwindel left the game due to low back tightness.
"He's a little sore," manager David Ross said. "We'll check him (Saturday). I think he's said he's already gotten three rounds of treatment on it, still a little stiff. We'll see how he wakes up tomorrow."
Catcher P.J. Higgins replaced Schwindel at first base and recorded the final out of a 1-0 victory with an unassisted putout on a ground ball.
Pitcher Marcus Stroman (right shoulder inflammation) talked about his progress before Friday's game. He's played catch two days in a row and will continue to increase activity.
"My shoulder feels back now ... to where it did pre-COVID. I'm just looking to build from here," he said. "I can't go too quick, because then I don't want to kind of introduce that inflammation back in. If I had to put (an estimate), a few weeks, give or take."
Stroman said the injury developed after he needed an 18-day break to recover from COVID. He made four starts since returning and last pitched on June 3.
Manager David Ross said outfielder Seiya Suzuki is feeling better since giving his sprained left index finger a rest and planned to take some swings Friday. He's been out since landing on second base awkwardly on May 26 in Cincinnati.
In other injury news, right-hander Ethan Roberts (right shoulder inflammation) threw live batting practice in Arizona and is planning to pitch in Iowa on Sunday. ... right-hander Drew Smyly (right oblique strain) did some light throwing Thursday. ... Infielder David Bote is ready to continue his rehab stint in Iowa after taking a break due to dizziness.
Around the horn:
Outfielder Clint Frazier cleared waivers and there were reports he decided to accept an assignment to the Iowa Cubs. ... Former Cubs president Theo Epstein was in attendance Friday, according to multiple photos posted on Twitter. ... World Series MVP Ben Zobrist was also at Wrigley Field.
According to Elias, the last time a team with a 14-game win streak faced an opponent with a double-digit losing streak was June 16, 1953 when the Yankees hosted the St. Louis Browns.
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