NEW YORK – Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson has decided not to play in the All-Star Game as he deals with a bruised left heel. Major League Baseball announced Friday that Diamondbacks middle infielder Geraldo Perdomo would replace him on the National League roster.
“That’s obviously a tough question,” Swanson said Thursday evening, before making his decision official Friday. “It’s something you want to be a part of.”
Three Cubs were named All-Stars this year, but only lefty Justin Steele is lined up to play in the game. Right-hander Marcus Stroman has also decided to use the break to rest.
Swanson’s availability this weekend against the Yankees, in their last series of the unofficial first half, remains uncertain.
He was not in the lineup Friday, but manager David Ross said Swanson’s availability off the bench would be a “game time decision.” If Swanson felt well enough after pregame treatment, he’d test his injury in the batting cage.
Ross also didn’t rule out putting Swanson on the injured list. Because of the All-Star break, if the Cubs put Swanson on the 10-day IL, he could miss as few as six games. He sustained the injury trying to beat out a double play in Milwaukee on Wednesday.
Swanson received the second All-Star nod of his career this year. He entered Friday slashing .258/.343/.409 and leading NL shortstops in outs above average (nine).
Bellinger powers up
Cubs center fielder Cody Bellinger extended his hitting streak to 13 games, setting a new career high. He started the streak about a week after returning from the IL (bruised left knee). And now, he’s added power behind his hot stretch.
“I’ve been feeling good for a while and putting the right swing on the ball,” he said Thursday, after going 4-for-4 with a double and a home run in the Cubs’ series finale in Milwaukee. “That’s the only thing I’ve been focusing on. No results or how far it was going. I wasn’t too worried about it.”
Then, in his first at-bat Friday, he launched a no-doubter into the second deck at Yankee Stadium. That solo shot marked his ninth of the season and first time homering in back-to-back games since the end of April.
Having a lefty slugger back in the middle of the lineup is bound to affect the offense’s production.
“Yeah, we’ve missed that,” Ross said.
Almost prophetically, Ross added before the game: “He looked really sexy yesterday with those swings. It was nice to see the ball come off the bat really hot. Hopefully that’s something he can build upon right here this last series.”
Sweet home Chicago
Left-hander Carlos Rodón made his Yankees debut against the Cubs on Friday. The former White Sox pitcher held the Cubs to two runs through 5 ⅓ pitches. He issued two walks in the fifth inning but was efficient enough early to face two batters in the sixth and only total 69 pitches.
