The Cubs are going to the playoffs. Pete Crow-Armstrong joined the 40-40 club, Wrigley Field has another reason to celebrate, and Chicago can finally turn its attention toward October.
There's just one problem. Well, two, actually.
Alex Bregman is recovering from facial fractures, and Kevin Gausman hurt his shoulder Wednesday against Miami. Not exactly the injury report Jed Hoyer wanted to see after spending so much money assembling a roster built to win in October.
Thursday's 2-1 victory over the Marlins secured Chicago's postseason berth. Now Craig Counsell has to figure out what kind of team he'll actually have available.
Alex Bregman's injury leaves the Cubs with an expensive question
Remember why Chicago gave Bregman $175 million? October was a pretty big part of that conversation.
The Cubs wanted an established hitter with postseason experience, someone capable of delivering when opposing pitchers stop giving away easy at-bats. Bregman looked the part, collecting 26 home runs and 89 RBIs before taking a foul ball to the face against Cincinnati.
Now he's trying to recover from facial fractures with the postseason approaching.
Even if doctors clear him, how much can Chicago realistically expect right away? There's a difference between being healthy enough to play and immediately finding your swing against playoff pitching.
The Cubs could certainly use his bat. Their offense managed just four runs over the first two games against Miami, hardly an encouraging development with October around the corner.
And Bregman's absence isn't the only headache Counsell has to deal with.
Kevin Gausman picked a terrible time to get hurt
Gausman was brought to Chicago at the trade deadline for games like the ones coming next week.
Instead, the veteran pitcher injured his non-throwing shoulder while attempting a diving tag Wednesday. He left after 5 2/3 innings, and suddenly Counsell has another postseason decision hanging over his head.
Wonderful timing.
Matthew Boyd gave the Cubs seven strong innings Thursday, while Justin Steele's potential return offers another possibility. Neither development changes what Gausman was supposed to provide when Chicago acquired him.
The Cubs wanted another experienced starter capable of handling playoff lineups. Losing that option would put considerably more pressure on the remaining rotation.
Counsell could find himself making pitching decisions he probably hoped to avoid until much later in October.
Jed Hoyer's spending spree wasn't about making the playoffs
Chicago didn't commit $175 million to Bregman and acquire Gausman just to celebrate another postseason appearance.
Hoyer wanted a roster capable of advancing once it got there.
The Cubs have already accomplished plenty. Crow-Armstrong's 40-40 season deserves every bit of recognition it's receiving, and Chicago has enough offensive talent to give opposing pitchers problems.
But there's a reason teams spend heavily on proven veterans. They're supposed to provide stability when the schedule gets shorter and every mistake becomes more expensive.
Right now, two of Chicago's biggest acquisitions are trying to get healthy instead of preparing for October under normal circumstances.
The Cubs have earned their champagne celebration. Counsell, meanwhile, has a few days to figure out whether the expensive roster Hoyer assembled will actually be the one he gets to use.
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