Chicago Cubs: The latest on Dansby Swanson and his up-in-the-air return

The Chicago Cubs were fortunate that every other team in the hunt for a National League Wild Card spot also lost on Tuesday. Otherwise, the team’s frustrating 6-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves would’ve been a really tough blow.

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As things stand right now, the Cubs are a half-game ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies when it comes to the top NL Wild Card seed and, more important, the right to host the Wild Card series. The San Diego Padres, meanwhile, are just 1.5 games behind the Cubs with ten games to go in the regular season.

With the tight race in mind, this will be “all hands on deck” time for the Cubs, across the board.

For the offense, being present and productive is especially important considering the team’s pitching problems.

That’s why the return of Dansby Swanson is taking on an extra degree of importance.

The veteran shortstop went on the IL August 17 with a left oblique strain and was to begin his rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, with the goal being two games played and then a return to the main Cubs roster by this weekend for the Cincinnati Reds series.

Revised plans for Dansby Swanson

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A rainout for the Iowa Cubs is forcing a change of plan.

“The weather’s not cooperating,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters on Tuesday.

“We’ll just have to make a decision and go from there,” Counsell said. “Obviously, the plans are going to get changed. He’s unlikely to play two games, so we’ll figure that out.”

Counsell hinted at the possibility of just one rehab game for Swanson before a return to the majors, but that decision could depend on what he sees in that one game.

Whatever the case, the Cubs would like to have Swanson and his elite glove back on the field for what will amount to a crucial stretch of games. They could also use his bat.

The importance of having Dansby

A notoriously streaky hitter, Swanson can carry the team when he’s hot and is still a significant longball threat, even when slumping.

In his absence, Nico Hoerner has moved over from second to shortstop with rookie Pedro Ramirez taking the second base spot more often than not. Hoerner has done a tremendous job filling in and Ramirez has been solid, but there’s just something extra special about the Swanson-Hoerner tandem.

“Shortstops that [hit 20 homers and drive in 80 runs in a season] and play Gold Glove defense don’t really just grow on trees, you know?” Hoerner said back in July. “He’s a star for a reason.”

Outfielder Michael Conforto shares Hoerner’s admiration of Swanson.

“Dansby’s been the same every single day,” Conforto told media, also back in July, amid a Swanson hot streak. “That’s what real leaders do. He’s that steady presence for us, and he deserves every bit of what’s coming to him because he works his butt off.”

On the season, Swanson is hitting just .216, but he has 18 home runs and 66 RBIs with an OPS of .704 through 119 games.

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