Chicago Cubs: Neil Ramirez to have MRI on Thursday

Cubs await results before making roster moves

The Chicago Cubs continue to make roster moves due to injuries, and sooner or later

may be part of one. After dealing with some “discomfort” while throwing in Thursday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds,

was taken out of the game after three pitches. He’s expected to have an MRI on Thursday with the results expected on Friday.

The Cubs just recently sent Justin Grimm to the 15-day DL, so losing Ramirez–who was a key part of last year’s success in the bullpen–would be a blow to a group that has been very effective so far. The Cubs currently have 13 pitchers on the roster, but with the off day they’ll use it to re-evaluate things.

"“It’s nothing real positive I don’t think,” Maddon said after the game. “I don’t like to go to negative town too quickly but we’ll see.” h/t Jesse Rogers, Chicago Cubs beat reporter"

Grimm is eligible to come off the DL today, so it’s possible the Cubs could just “swap” the two, but that remains to be seen. If it turns out that Ramirez has an injury that will keep him out, that may delay the arrival of Bryant–if that idea was even in the works.

Tommy La Stella will be eligible to return April 24th. Chris Denorfia is currently on a minor league rehab assignment and could be back soon as well. With several moving pieces, odds are we weren’t going to see Bryant this weekend anyway.

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With the Cubs playing winning baseball right now, they won’t force Bryant into the shuffle. If Maddon feels they need the extra arm in the bullpen, we’ll likely see Grimm return. With Coghlan off to a hot start, they may allow Denorfia time to make a few more rehab starts before calling him back up.