Cubs place Contreras, Steele on IL with lingering injuries
It's been nearly a month since catcher Willson Contreras turned his left ankle while running the bases during the "Field of Dreams" game in Dyersville, Iowa.
Contreras stayed in the game that night, but the ankle is still an issue, so the Cubs placed him on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Sept. 3. He's played in 12 games since the injury happened, some as a DH.
"I think it's a 'one step forward and two steps back' kind of thing," manager David Ross said before Tuesday's game against the Reds. "It feels better each and every day with rest. (Then) test it out, sore again the next day. It made a lot of sense with it not bouncing back, putting him on the IL, let him get all the way healthy. If possible, get some images of it, make sure everything's on the up and up in there."
Depending on how things work out this winter when he becomes a free agent, Contreras could be in his final days as a Cub.
Earlier in the day, pitcher Justin Steele went on the 15-day injured list with a low back strain. He left his most recent start in Milwaukee on Aug. 26 with that issue. Ross said Steele threw a bullpen in St. Louis over the weekend and was tight the next day.
Ross still hopes Steele and Keegan Thompson, also out with a back injury, will be able to get back on the mound before the end of the season.
"Keegan had a live BP today, he looked really good," Ross said. "It's important to both of those guys to finish the season and close out their last starts. We'll obviously (consider) that with what's best long-term."
In other moves, the Cubs called up outfielder Michael Hermosillo and pitcher Hayden Wesneski to fill in for the injured players. To make room on the 40-man roster they designated pitchers Kervin Castro and Luke Farrell for assignment.
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