The Cubs placed Kris Bryant on the DL with shoulder inflammation

It feels like so many of the top players in the National League are getting bit by the injury bug this year. Someone go wrap Freddie Freeman in bubble wrap.

The Chicago Cubs are coming off a tough stretch that saw them swept by the Cincinnati Reds and they have lost five in a row overall. This puts them 2.5 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers. Normally, the news that the Brewers have lost star outfielder Lorenzo Cain for a while due to injury would be welcome news for a team that needs some breaks to go their way.

However, the Cubs got another dose of bad news on Tuesday.

When your best hitter and a guy that could contend for the NL MVP each season is going to be out of the lineup for a bit, there is no sugar coating that. Bryant has posted a .280/.383/.481 line in 2018 with nine homers and 36 RBIs. When that is considered slightly down from a player’s expected performance....well, that says a lot about that player.

Replacing Bryant’s production isn’t going to be easy. For the moment, the Cubs have recalled David Bote from the minor league ranks and will likely move some players around the infield to make things work while Bryant gets healthy.