Cubs Injury Update: Grimm and Russell to Iowa, Lester Set for Sim Game

It looks like the Cubs will be getting reinforcements soon. Addison Russell and Justin Grimm are heading to Memphis to put in some minor-league rehab work with the Iowa Cubs and Jon Lester is going to throw a simulated game prior to tonight’s tilt with the Pirates. Assuming all goes well, the trio should be back with the Cubs by the end of the week.

My guess is that they’ll all be activated Friday when rosters expand for the final month of the season. That gives Russell and Grimm the opportunity to round back into form and Lester won’t be ready to make a start prior to then anyway. Then one exception I could see is Russell coming back earlier, but that’s really only if the situation gets dire.

And with the way Javy Baez and Tommy La Stella are playing, it’s not as though Russell needs to be rushed back into the lineup. Unless several guys go down or every reliever is burned in the next two days, there’s no way you bring Grimm up at anyone else’s expense. As good as he’s been when he’s at his best, those days appear to be long gone at this point.

Lester’s sim game coincides with Mike Montgomery’s spot in the rotation, which would mean Lester taking the bump Saturday against the Braves should the Cubs keep the same order.

Getting these guys back — at least two of them — couldn’t come at a better time, as the Cubs have a division-heavy schedule from here on out. The Cardinals appear too preoccupied with fighting for custody of Rally Cat to worry about winning ballgames, but the Broors just took two of three from the Dodgers, allowing a total of five runs in the series.

Hurry up, September 1.