Cubs' Bryant given day off after getting hit on elbow
Kris Bryant's season has been loaded with bad luck, but he's probably fortunate this injury wasn't worse.
Bryant got plunked on the end of his left elbow by a pitch from Cincinnati's Tyler Mahle in the third inning of Tuesday's game at Wrigley Field. Bryant kept playing, but was not in Wednesday's starting lineup.
"It swelled up pretty good after the game," Cubs manager David Ross said. "I just think it made a lot of sense to give him a day."
Bryant has already been on the injured list with a wrist issue, which happened while diving for a ball in the outfield in Cleveland, and his batting average has been submerged below .200.
"Some guys want to push through those things, which I don't know is always good," Ross said. "As a manager, I think it's my job to take those decisions off their plate sometimes. Nobody wants to come into my office and tell me they don't want to play or they think they need to sit out. I've never had a player come into my office and say that so far."
While David Bote started at third base, new addition Ildemaro Vargas got his first start as a Cub at second base. The Cubs claimed Vargas off waivers from Minnesota last week.