Kyle Tucker’s collapse just triggered the Cubs’ first big panic move

In a move that is weeks too late, Craig Counsell confirmed that Kyle Tucker will temporarily be taken out of the Chicago Cubs' starting lineup as his disastrous slump has continued. Tucker was hitless in four plate appearances during the Cubs' 7-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday afternoon. It was the first game of a doubleheader, and afterward, Counsell revealed that Tucker would not be in the starting lineup for the second game.

Rainstorms are making their way through the Chicagoland area, so there is no guarantee that the Cubs will even have a game tonight. Regardless, it does seem that Tucker's reset won't just be limited to tonight's game. It sounds like the Cubs plan on giving Tucker several days off as the team looks to get him back on track.

Since July 1, Tucker is slashing .195/.333/.242 with 1 home run and a 77 wRC+. Tucker has 159 plate appearances during that stretch and beyond the overall struggles, what has stuck out the most is the lack of power, as there's only been one home run from the Cubs' All-Star right fielder since the calendar flipped to July.

Kyle Tucker’s collapse just forced the Cubs into full-blown panic mode

Before Monday afternoon's game, Jed Hoyer all but confirmed that Tucker was playing through a thumb injury earlier this season and developed some poor swing habits as a result. Nothing is ever straightforward when it comes to how the Cubs handle injuries, so it's unclear if Tucker is still hurt or simply still working to find the approach he had earlier this season.

In the background of Tucker's slump has been that the Cubs promoted Owen Caissie last Thursday with an apparent plan that doesn't have him seeing regular plate appearances. With Tucker taking part in this reset, it stands to reason that Caissie will get a majority of the starts in right field in the meantime.

Tucker appears to be broken, and that description extends beyond just the physical element to his game. No one could have predicted this is where the Cubs would be in August, especially when Tucker began the season on such a torrid pace. There's still time for the Cubs to correct the ship, and reach the postseason, but it almost certainly won't be as the National League Central champion.

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