Cubs News: Injury updates on Kris Bryant, Jake Marisnick and Jake Arrieta

The Chicago Cubs are hoping the next week-plus will be enough to get Jake Marisnick healthy again. Well, semi-healthy. Marisnick exited with a right hamstring injury on Tuesday and was forced to the 10-day IL. Last year, he was limited to 16 games for the Mets because of hamstring issues in both legs.

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So far this year in 27 games, Marisnick has tallied nine extra-base hits with 14 RBI and a .973 OPS – with an OPS+ of 168. Ian Happ is on the 10-day IL with a rib contusion. Kris Bryant has been under the weather lately and was hit in the wrist by a pitch on Wednesday. Jason Heyward has had discomfort in his hand but is still out there for now. As things currently stand, it’s down to Nick Martini and Joc Pederson out there with Heyward.

Hopefully, the Cubs have dodged a worst-case scenario with Bryant (reportedly it’s just a bruise). Because losing both Bryant, who’s playing like an MVP, and Marisnick would be devastating. You definitely don’t feel good with Martini and Heyward as two-thirds of your outfield with no backup in sight.

You’ve got a little wiggle room in the organization, but it’s not enough. Cameron Maybin? He’s hitting .111 at Triple-A Iowa. Adding him to the big league mix doesn’t exactly make me feel better.

Cubs seem to be betting on guys recovering rather than making moves

So what do they do now? Make a trade? Sign a free agent? They traded for Trayce Thompson earlier this week, but if he’s the answer, we’ve got big-time problems. Marisnick will be reevaluated over the weekend and early next week. We’ll get an update on Bryant, an MVP candidate early this year, ahead of Friday’s opener in Detroit.

No matter how you slice it, the outfield is pretty banged up. After 36 games and a 17-19 record? There’s little room for error here. Cubs skipper David Ross is still optimistic, though – although he acknowledged how important Marisnick has been for the team this year.

“He’s played great,” Ross said of Marisnick. “He’s somebody that is a sparkplug when he’s out there, especially against lefties. He gives us great defense when he’s in there.

While we hold our breath on updates on Marisnick and Bryant, at least we can take a little comfort in the fact Jake Arrieta will return from the IL to start on Friday and Nico Hoerner seems set for action this weekend, as well.