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The Chicago Cubs avoided a Willson Contreras injury disasterVincent Pariseon June 3, 2022 at 12:00 pm

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 02: Willson Contreras #40 of the Chicago Cubs is helped by by manager David Ross #3 of the Chicago Cubs and athletic trainer Nick Frangella after he was hit by a pitch during the eighth inning of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field on June 02, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)

The Chicago Cubs have been playing some pretty good baseball this week. After losing to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, they took two of four from the first-place Milwaukee Brewers and then the series opener against their rival the St. Louis Cardinals.

In the 7-5 victory, they avoided a serious injury disaster. In the 8th inning, Willson Contreras was hit by a pitch in his upper ankle area. He tried to stay in the game but he couldn’t and walked off the field on his own power. It was surely a scary sight for a team that can’t afford to lose its stars.

The good news is that David Ross confirmed after the game that Contreras came back with a negative X-ray on his ankle. That is outstanding news for the Cubs as they won’t be without their star catcher for a very long time.

Willson Contreras did say after the game that he wasn’t going to be in the lineup on Friday but that was in the plans anyway. He fully expects to be back in there for at least one of Saturday’s games against these same Cardinals (they have a doubleheader).

Willson Contreras is coming out of the game after getting hit by a pitch in the 8th.

Appeared to get hit around his left foot/ankle. He lightly jogged then walked off without help. #Cubs

— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) June 3, 2022

X-rays on Willson Contreras’ left ankle are negative, Ross says. #Cubs

— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) June 3, 2022

Willson Contreras says he got hit right above his left ankle. It’s sore and has a bandage on the spot, but he expects to be OK.

Contreras says he was already not going to be in the lineup tomorrow and looks to play Saturday. #Cubs

— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) June 3, 2022

The Chicago Cubs need Willson Contreras as healthy as possible all year.

We don’t know if Contreras is going to be with the Chicago Cubs by the end of the season but they need him healthy right now. For one, he is a key contributor to their lineup right now and they also won’t be getting much in return for him later if he isn’t healthy. He is an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.

Before this injury, he was having a very good game. Early in the game, he hit a two-run home run that gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead. He also drew a walk later on. It is clear that his big bat can heavily impact a game and he showed how here with his ninth home run of the season.

Contreras was the designated hitter in this one so he just was pinch ran for by Rafael Ortega after he came out. Ortega never needed to hit in his place. P.J. Higgins caught in this game. He will likely also catch on Friday and one of the two games on Saturday.

Contreras will likely get the other game on Saturday as long as his ankle is feeling fine. The Cubs clearly, by him not breaking anything, got a break with this. Losing him would have been very scary but he should be fine in short order.