The Cubs are playing a dangerous game with Seiya Suzuki's latest injury

The Chicago Cubs are trying to sneak their way through a Seiya Suzuki injury.

Suzuki first injured his wrist nearly three weeks ago when the Cubs were facing the Texas Rangers at Wrigley Field. After a couple of games off, Suzuki was able to return to the Cubs' starting lineup without needing to be placed on the IL.

However, it would appear that the wrist injury is still bothering Suzuki. Suzuki was originally penciled in the Cubs' starting lineup on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers before being scratched due to the same wrist injury.

With an off day on Thursday, it would seem likely that Suzuki has a chance of returning to the lineup this weekend when the Cubs host the Philadelphia Phillies. However, we are seeing a repeat of an odd trend the team has followed in recent seasons.

As opposed to placing an injured player on the IL, the Cubs often have carried the player on the bench while playing a man short. In theory, that would be fine if a player truly was day-to-day, but that doesn't seem to be the case for Suzuki.

Now, to Suzuki's credit, his offensive production hasn't regressed as he has been playing through the injury. Entering play on Wednesday, Suzuki had a slash line of .276/.354/.540/146wRC+ with 6 home runs through his first 99 plate appearances this season. Essentially, Suzuki, through the early parts of the 2025 season, has turned into the hitter the Cubs projected him to be when they signed him prior to the 2022 season.

That would be why, if Suzuki's wrist injury is still bothering him, the best course of action would be to place him on the 10-day IL. Kyle Tucker has been great, but if Suzuki is out for any considerable amount of time, that is a level of protection for Tucker that the Cubs' lineup would be missing. Or, at the very least, it would place added pressure on Michael Busch's production.

The Cubs have survived the gauntlet that was their April schedule. With the schedule easing up in the coming weeks, the Cubs can afford to be without Suzuki if it ensures he will be healthy for the duration of the season.