This homestand is wreaking havoc on Chicago Cubs outfielders.<\/p>\n
It started Tuesday when right fielder Kyle Tucker developed tightness in his left calf, and he has not been back in a game.<\/p>\n
The pain continued Saturday when center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong fouled a ball of his right knee in a 2-1 loss to the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field.<\/p>\n
X-rays were negative, and the Cubs are calling it a bruise. But, like Tucker, Crow-Armstrong is now a member in the \u201cday to day\u201d club.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt just hurts \u2014 that\u2019s about it,\u201d Crow-Armstrong\u00a0\u00a0said after the game. \u201cWe\u2019ll see how I feel (Sunday).\u201d<\/p>\n
Crow-Armstrong fouled the pitch off of his right leg in the bottom of the sixth. He limped down the third-base line and then went to his knees. After a few minutes he jogged down the first-base line and felt fit enough to stay in the game.<\/p>\n
He was back in the batter\u2019s box and drew a walk. He ran hard and made a headfirst slide during Nico Horner\u2019s groundout to end the inning and limped off the field toward the dugout. He was replaced by Kevin Alc\u00e1ntara in center in the top of the seventh.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was one of those moments where I was weighing my options,\u201d Crow-Armstrong said of leaving the game. \u201cI\u2019m no use, really, out there if I\u2019m not moving the way I should be. So, I felt that our best chance is not having me move around out there.\u201d<\/p>\n
He couldn\u2019t gauge his recovery based on past injuries.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never fouled a ball straight off my kneecap before,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s new pain. There\u2019s definitely (stuff) that\u2019s hurt worse. This hurts.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the legs are just funny. That\u2019s how I help the cause on a daily basis \u2014 with my legs. It was a good stinger for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Cubs](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/CTC-Z-CUBS-NATS_1727ce.jpg\")
Cubs manager Craig Counsell, left, and a team trainer check on center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong during an at-bat in the sixth inning against the Nationals on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at Wrigley Field. Crow-Armstrong fouled a ball off his right knee and later left the game. (Erin Hooley\/AP)<\/p>\n
Manager Craig Counsell is taking a wait-and-see approach.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s pretty sore, so it\u2019s day to day,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
A crowd of 38,011 watched the Cubs (81-61) scratch out only three hits but receive a generous seven walks from Nationals pitchers. They hit into three double plays to help kill rallies.<\/p>\n
Left-hander Matt Boyd (12-8) took the loss, giving up two runs on seven hits in seven innings and made team history when he picked off Brady House in the second inning and CJ Abrams in the fifth. He has 10 pickoffs in 2025, a Cubs record since pickoffs were recorded starting in 1901. The major-league record is 23 by the Toronto Blue Jays\u2019 Jerry Garvin in 1977. The Philadelphia Phillies\u2019 Steve Carlton owns the National League record with 19, also in 1977.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s awesome whenever you can get an out inside the margins, if you will,\u201d Boyd said. \u201cIt\u2019s a bonus. It\u2019s a bonus to limit the running game when you have that weapon to potentially steal an out. That\u2019s always welcomed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Boyd\u2019s first three pitches of the game resulted in a CJ Abrams double and singles from James Wood and Jorge Alfaro. By the time Boyd threw his eighth offering, a run was in and the bases were loaded, but he got out of it striking out Dylan Crews and inducing Nasim Nunez to ground into a forceout.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe pitched well,\u201d Counsell said of Boyd. \u201cThey jumped him and got three hits in the first three pitches in the game. I thought he got it together and didn\u2019t get shook by it and gave us seven strong innings.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rookie Daylen Lile homered off Boyd in the fourth to provide the winning run for the Nationals (57-84).<\/p>\n
The Cubs\u2019 lone run came in the second, when Crow-Armstrong raced home on a Carson Kelly groundout to third.<\/p>\n
Counsell announced after the game that reliever Drew Pomeranz would open Sunday\u2019s series finale.<\/p>\n
Injury report<\/p>\n
Tucker missed his fourth straight game with the left calf injury but was not put on the injured list.\u00a0Top prospect Owen Caisse was scratched from the lineup Friday night at Triple-A Iowa and was on call for a return to the majors if Tucker needed IL time.<\/p>\n
Counsell said the team was going to ride it out with Tucker after a better report Saturday morning.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had improvement today,\u201d Counsell said. \u201cWe\u2019re just going to treat it as day to day and see where that gets us. We think we have time to let this heal without putting him on the injured list. We think he will be ready before what an injured list would cost him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving the extra player in September, we\u2019re not playing short. I don\u2019t feel that from a roster perspective it hurts us at all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tucker is not expected to be in the lineup in Sunday\u2019s series finale against the Nationals, but Counsell is hoping he will be available off the bench.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, things are looking up for two pitchers on the injured list.<\/p>\n
Mike Soroka, who is battling a right shoulder strain, threw to hitters before Saturday\u2019s game. Counsell said Soroka\u2019s velocity is up and if he recovers well, he will pitch Wednesday for Iowa.<\/p>\n