Cubs still don’t know when Kyle Tucker will play again but hope is alive

Set to start a pivotal three-game series against the New York Mets at Wrigley Field on Tuesday night, the Chicago Cubs remain uncertain when it comes to when Kyle Tucker will be ready to return from a calf injury that has kept him sidelined since the first week of September. While appearing on 670 The Score on Tuesday afternoon, Jed Hoyer didn't give a date for when Cubs fans can expect to see Tucker in the starting lineup, but the hope remains he will be ready for the playoffs.

"The hope is that he progresses and we can get him in the lineup for a few games here and get his timing back and get him going (before the playoffs)," Hoyer said.

Cubs keeping faith that Kyle Tucker will be back when it matters most

After Tucker spent the last week in Florida with his physical therapy team, Hoyer confirmed that the All-Star right fielder is back with the team in Chicago. It's been a curious injury, considering the initial diagnosis was that Tucker would be day-to-day. Before the update from Hoyer on Tuesday, the indication had been that Tucker's injury was getting worse. So while the Cubs remain optimistic that Tucker will be back before the playoffs, the actions simply haven't met their expectations.

At the very least, the impression is that the Cubs and Tucker haven't been on the same page when it comes to his recovery. The decision to leave the team in favor of his own training staff was believed to be Tucker's, and with that, the impression is that the 28-year-old veteran could be operating with a focus on his free agency this offseason.

By Sunday, the Cubs will need to know what Tucker is capable of doing, assuming he will be active for the National League Wild Card round. Tucker's health could be the deciding factor between keeping a player like Owen Caissie or Kevin Alcantara on the roster, or being able to slide Billy Hamilton into the mix as a speed option on the bench.

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