Chicago Cubs Continue to Lose Players to Injured List but Keep Winning

Introduction

It is really quite amazing that the Chicago Cubs have been playing so well after losing so many players to the injured list in May of 2021. The Chicago Cubs started off the 2021 Major League Baseball season extremely slow as they were play sub – 500 baseball. During April they struggled score runs either by manufacturing them playing small ball as well as via the long ball on home runs. Their pitching was not very good either. They did not seem to have a strong starting rotation or many relief pitchers to rely on when they did have a late lead in a ball game.

The Chicago Cubs recorded an overall record of 19 wins and 8 loses in the month of May this season which was the best record in the National League of Major League Baseball in May of 2021. The Chicago Cubs have been losing one guy after another to injuries as well. They have been playing without great position players such as Anthony Rizzo, Jason Heyward, Matt Duffy, Nico Hoerner, Jake Marisnick, David Bote, and others. Luckily the Chicago Cubs have players like Kris Bryant who can play pretty much any infield or outfield position for Cubbies ball club.

The Chicago Cubs have also had young prospects step up to help out the success of their team along with other more veteran players down with the Chicago Cubs minor league affiliates such as Patrick Wisdom. Some of the Chicago Cubs young pitchers like rookie Keegan Thompson, Kohl Stewart, and Tommy Nance have been lighting up their opponents out of the bullpen usually after the Chicago Cubs have pushed ahead in the game with a lead that these guys have needed to protect.

Hopefully for Chicago they start to get players back from the injured list who will be healthy and ready to contribute as the Cubs schedule is much tougher during the month of July this year. The Chicago Cubs have dates scheduled with great ball clubs such as the San Diego Padres, the New York Mets, the St. Louis Cardinals, the San Francisco Giants, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Milwaukee Brewers. It will be interesting to see how the Chicago Cubs record looks by the time we get to July of 2021.

The Chicago Cubs’ Injured List (as of 6/1/2021)

June 1, 2021

• Jake Marisnick, Center Fielder, 10 – Day IL, Right Hamstring Strain
• Jason Heyward, Right Fielder, 10 – Day IL, Left Hamstring Strain
• Matt Duffy, Third Baseman / Utility Player, 10 – Day IL, Lower Back Strain

May 31, 2021

• Trevor Williams, Starting Pitcher, 10 – Day IL, Emergency Appendectomy Surgery
• D. J. Wilson, Center Fielder, Day – to – Day, Undisclosed Injury

May 30, 2021

• Anthony Rizzo, First Baseman, Day – to – Day, Back Injury
• David Bote, Second Baseman / Utility Infielder, 10 – Day IL, Dislocated Left Shoulder
• Trevor Williams, Starting Pitcher, Day – to – Day, Emergency Appendectomy Surgery

May 28, 2021

• Jake Marisnick, Center Fielder, 10 – Day IL, Right Hamstring Strain

May 27, 2021

• Trevor Megill, Relief Pitcher, 10 – Day IL, Forearm Injury

May 26, 2021

• Nico Hoerner, Shortstop, 10 – Day IL, Forearm Injury

May 25, 2021

• Matt Duffy, Third Baseman / Utility Player, 10 – Day IL, Lower Back Strain

May 22, 2021

• Alec Mills, Starting / Relief Pitcher, 10 – Day IL, Back Injury

May 21, 2021

• Justin Steele, Relief Pitcher, 10 – Day IL, Right Hamstring Tightness

May 20, 2021

• Justin Steele, Relief Pitcher, Day – to – Day, Right Hamstring Tightness
• Jason Heyward, Right Fielder, 10 – Day IL, Left Hamstring Strain

May 18, 2021

• Trevor Megill, Relief Pitcher, 10 – Day IL, Forearm Injury
• Alec Mills, Starting / Relief Pitcher, 10 – Day IL, Back Injury

May 12, 2021

• Kris Bryant, Third Baseman, Day – to – Day, Wrist Contusion
• Ian Happ, Center Fielder, 10 – Day IL, Bruised Ribs
• Nico Hoerner, Shortstop, 10 – Day IL, Forearm Injury
• Jake Arrieta, Starting Pitcher, 10 – Day IL, Thumb Injury

May 11, 2021

• Jake Marisnick, Center Fielder, 10 – Day IL, Right Hamstring Strain
• Shelby Miller, Relief Pitcher, 10 – Day IL, Back Injury

May 8, 2021

• Dan Winkler, Relief Pitcher, 10 – Day IL, Triceps Injury

May 5, 2021

• Austin Romine, Catcher, 60 – Day IL, Significant Wrist Sprain
• Brennen Davis, Center Fielder, Day – to – Day, Head Injury

April 30, 2021

• Trevor Megill, Relief Pitcher, 10 – Day IL, Strained Forearm

April 26, 2021

• Jonathan Holder, Relief Pitcher, 60 – Day IL, Shoulder Injury
• Rowan Wick, Relief Pitcher, 60 – Day IL, Right Knee Sprain

Current MLB Standings (as of Tuesday, June 1st, 2021)

American League East

Tampa Bay Rays 35 – 20 0 Games Behind

Boston Red Sox 32 – 21 2 Games Behind

New York Yankees 29 – 25 5.5 Games Behind

Toronto Blue Jays 27 – 25 6.5 Games Behind

Baltimore Orioles 17 – 37 17.5 Games Behind

American League Central

Chicago White Sox 33 – 21 0 Games Behind

Cleveland Indians 29 – 24 3.5 Games Behind

Kansas City Royals 26 – 26 6 Games Behind

Minnesota Twins 22 – 31 10.5 Games Behind

Detroit Tigers 22 – 32 11 Games Behind

American League West

Oakland Athletics 31 – 25 0 Games Behind

Houston Astros 29 – 24 0.5 Games Behind

Seattle Mariners 28 – 27 2.5 Games Behind

Los Angeles Angels 24 – 30 6 Games Behind

Texas Rangers 22 – 33 8.5 Games Behind

National League East

New York Mets 26 – 20 0 Games Behind

Atlanta Braves 25 – 26 3.5 Games Behind

Philadelphia Phillies 25 – 29 5 Games Behind

Miami Marlins 24 – 28 5 Games Behind

Washington Nationals 21 – 29 7 Games Behind

National League Central

Chicago Cubs 30 – 23 0 Games Behind

St. Louis Cardinals 30 – 24 0.5 Games Behind

Milwaukee Brewers 29 – 25 1.5 Games Behind

Cincinnati Reds 24 – 28 5.5 Games Behind

Pittsburgh Pirates 20 – 33 10 Games Behind

National League West

San Francisco Giants 34 – 20 0 Games Behind

San Diego Padres 34 – 21 0.5 Games Behind

Los Angeles Dodgers 32 – 22 2 Games Behind

Colorado Rockies 20 – 34 14 Games Behind

Arizona Diamondbacks 19 – 36 15.5 Games Behind

Odds to Win the MLB 2021 World Series

According to Bovada sportsbook below are the odds to win the MLB 2021 World Series as of Tuesday, June 1st, 2021. Currently the Chicago Cubs have the 14th highest odds to win it all for this exciting 162 game regular season of Major League Baseball in addition to the 2021 MLB playoffs. This is a little surprising to me as the Chicago Cubs have been playing so incredibly well throughout May of 2021 even with losing many of their core position players to minor injuries.

The Chicago Cubs will definitely have the opportunity to prove themselves over the course of the next month or so as their schedule is much tougher in June of 2021 than it was during May of 2021. Hopefully the odds for the Chicago Cubs to win the 2021 World Series will increase if they keep winning and get back some of their best players from the injured list.

Team	Odds
Los Angeles Dodgers	+300
San Diego Padres	+650
New York Yankees	+750
Chicago White Sox	+900
New York Mets	+900
Houston Astros	+1600
Tampa Bay Rays	+1700
Oakland Athletics	+1800
Boston Red Sox	+1800
Atlanta Braves	+2000

Sources:

“The Chicago Cubs keep getting injured -- and keep winning”, Jesse Rogers, espn.com, June 1, 2021.

“Chicago Cubs Injuries”, espn.com, June 1, 2021.

“MLB Standings 2021”, espn.com, June 1, 2021.

“United States, MLB Futures, MLB 2021 World Series: To Win Outright”, bovada.lv, June 1, 2021.