Talk about a gut punch. Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman suffered multiple facial fractures on the left side of his face after getting clocked by a foul ball Sunday, but get this, the man is still “hopeful” he’ll be back for the playoffs. Multiple fractures, folks! That’s just wild.
A Freak Accident With Major Stakes
This wasn’t some routine play, it was a total fluke. Bregman was just chilling in the on-deck circle when Michael Busch hit a check swing foul ball directly into his face during the fourth inning. He was too close to home plate, didn’t have a prayer to react in time. Manager Craig Counsell nailed it: “It’s just an unfortunate accident. I’m hoping and praying he is all right.” He was right to worry about Bregman’s general well-being first. Bregman even dropped an update on his Instagram story Monday morning, showing his face. The good news? He’s expected to avoid surgery. What a relief, honestly.
Playoff Run Hangs in the Balance
Now, the real question isn’t just pain tolerance, it’s whether that swelling goes down enough for him to actually see out of his left eye. No vision, no play. Period. There are only seven days left in the regular season. If the Cubs have to put Bregman on the 10-day injured list, he’d be out for the Wild Card Series next week. That would be a massive blow, even if he could return for the NLDS should they advance. The Cubs are sitting pretty, five games up on a wild-card spot, and they could clinch a postseason berth as early as Tuesday with a win over the Marlins or a Diamondbacks loss. They’re out of the NL Central race, but a playoff spot is right there.
As things stand, they’re looking at facing the Padres in the Wild Card, but that seeding is still up in the air. Without Bregman in the Wild Card Series, guys like Matt Shaw and Pedro Ramírez would likely have to step up, and let’s be real, that’s a downgrade. The team would need to lean even harder on NL MVP frontrunner Pete Crow-Armstrong, plus Seiya Suzuki, Dansby Swanson, and Nico Hoerner. Bregman, 32, has been a beast this season, hitting .262/.352/.452 with 26 homers overall, including 19 in his last 61 games. He’s been their second-best player behind Crow-Armstrong, and this is only the first year of his five-year, $175 million deal. Losing that kind of production and veteran presence for any part of the playoffs? Oof.
The Cubs play the Marlins on Tuesday, with a chance to lock down that postseason spot. All eyes will be on Bregman’s recovery, because his return could mean everything for a deep run. This team needs its second-best player out there, vision or not.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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