Cubs reveal Dansby Swanson's return date with NL Wild Card stakes getting serious

The Chicago Cubs have revealed the return date for Dansby Swanson as he continues his recovery from an oblique strain. If things go according to plan, Swanson will make his return when the Cubs play the Cincinnati Reds next weekend.

Swanson had resumed baseball activity in recent weeks, and the question that remained was if he would skip a minor-league rehab assignment and return directly to the Cubs. Assuming there's no setback over the weekend, Swanson will have a minor-league rehab assignment with the Iowa Cubs.

Swanson suffered the oblique strain on August 16, and the original timeline provided by the team was four-to-six weeks. The overall hope was that the Cubs would get Swanson back before the playoffs, but as it turns out, his return is coming at a pivotal moment.

Cubs have Dansby Swanson's return date and the timing couldn't be more important

Entering Friday, the Cubs have lost six of their last ten games. They trail the Philadelphia Phillies by one game for the top wild-card spot in the National League, but the bigger concern is what is happening behind them. Suddenly, the San Diego Padres are only 2.5 games behind the Cubs. In other words, right now, only 2.5 games is keeping the Cubs from missing the playoffs. The concern extends beyond the Padres, considering the Arizona Diamondbacks are only a half-game behind their division rival.

For the Cubs, the benefit lies with the fact they hold the tier-breaker over each of those teams. Of course, it won't matter if the Cubs can't get ahead of the Phillies. Right now, the Wild Card series between the two teams would be in Philadelphia.

The larger concern lies with the pitching staff, and how Craig Counsell is going to find out-getters in the bullpen, but Swanson's return can't be overlooked. Swanson, along with Nico Hoerner, gives the Cubs the best middle infield defense in all of baseball, and would allow both Pedro Ramirez and Matt Shaw to be used in the utility roles they have served in for most of the season.

That does carry added importance for Shaw, especially for what that means for Craig Counsell's lineups against left-handed pitchers during the final two weeks of the regular season and into the playoffs. Swanson's return could allow Counsell to unveil lineups against southpaws that include Shaw at first base, considering the up-and-down season of Michael Busch, with Tyrone Taylor in left field and Ramirez operating as the team's designated hitter.

Swanson's return shouldn't be viewed as the moment that's going to save the Cubs season, that will need to be through the bullpen finding stability, but it's an important development as the playoffs near.

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