Chicago Cubs’ Starlin Castro set to return on Tuesday

According to MLB.com Chicago Cubs beat writer Carrie Muskat, shortstop Starlin Castro will return from the bereavement list ahead of Tuesday’s series opener against the Reds in Cincinnati.

Castro, 24, is in the midst of a very impressive bounce-back campaign after posting the worst offensive numbers of his career in 2013. In 125 games this season, the young shortstop is batting .284/.333/.429 with 13 home runs and 64 RBIs. He is just one long-ball shy of tying his career-high of 14, which was set back in his All-Star 2012 campaign.

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The three-time All-Star has blossomed as the clean-up hitter in Ricky Renteria’s lineup, batting .285/.337/.432 in 102 games this season. Prior to his departure from the team last week, Castro was on a tear offensively, with an eye-catching .380/.405/.507 line in the month of August.

His role to the Cubs’ success has been evident more so in 2014 perhaps than in any other year. In Cubs wins, Castro has driven in 41 runs to the tune of a .336 average. However, in Chicago losses, the shortstop is batting just .243 with only 23 RBIs.

Castro is expected to return to the lineup Tuesday and will, in all likelihood, bat cleanup.