Brandon Kintzler Being Evaluated for Right Pec Discomfort
Craig Kimbrel was placed on the IL Monday with right knee inflammation, Pedro Strop is on the IL with a neck strain, Brandon Morrow hasn’t pitched in over a year and just had a third procedure on his right elbow. Then there’s Steve Cishek giving up more homers already than he did in 80 appearances last season. All things considered, it’s not a great time for more injuries.
So when Brandon Kintzler was seen wincing and rubbing upper chest as he exited Monday’s win, well, it wasn’t what you’d call a good sign. But maybe that’s just anxiety-induced hysteria, right?
Not necessarily what you want to see from your currently most critical reliever while you also have a bunch of other injuries. pic.twitter.com/tLpg53S7U1
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) August 6, 2019
Joe Maddon admitted after the game that the righty was indeed experiencing discomfort in his right pec, but didn’t have any information about Kintzler’s availability moving forward. Best-case scenario, this was just a matter of sympathy pains after seeing Tony Kemp take a ball to the midsection before retiring Mark Canha for the final out of the 8th.
Maddon said Kintzler has some discomfort in his right pec muscle. Cubs don't know anything more on his status at this time
— Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) August 6, 2019
Worst-case scenario…nah, let’s not entertain that idea.
Update: Kintzler has been placed in the IL and Pedro Strop has been activated.