Chicago Cubs: Jason Motte supporting former teammate

While the Chicago Cubs look to pick up ground behind the first-place St. Louis Cardinals in the N.L. Central, the division leaders are going to have to find some sort of replacement for fallen ace Adam Wainwright.

Wainwright, 33, had a hard time getting out of the batter’s box against the Milwaukee Brewers, resulting in him suffering a lower ankle/Achilles injury. Since then, the Cardinals have placed him on the 15-day disabled list, but will be without him for the remainder of the season according to ESPN.com.

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Cubs’ middle reliever and former teammate, Jason Motte, is still good friends with the future Hall of Fame pitcher despite signing with a long-time division rival. Regardless of where someone ends up during their playing career, it doesn’t cancel out the fact that they have formed brother-like bonds with people they’ve played with for years.

It’s definitely hard to see someone you respect and care about having to go through an injury such as this, considering how hard it is to avoid this type of injury for a second time.

Both Wainwright and Motte won a World Series together back in 2011 while experiencing multiple post-season runs over the course of Jason’s time spent in St. Louis. Which is why Motte took to his personal Twitter account to show his support and knows someone will step up as he told reporters over the weekend.

"“Guys step up, and that’s what good teams do. I was sitting in the bullpen, thinking, ‘Who else is down there? Guys kept coming up and doing the job and doing what they’re asked.” – Motte via Cubs.com"

Wainwright’s injury has shined the light on a potential DH rule that will carry over to the National League in the future. Multiple faces from across the league including active players and managers are voicing their opinions on why it’s time to change things to avoid other pitchers from being injured because they’re required to make plate appearances.

This is something that will be a topic of discussion, especially if someone else who is as important to their ballclub like Wainwright falls to either the same injury or something worse.

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