After a 5-year drought, the Chicago Cubs are back in the postseason and will be looking to reclaim the crown that they last saw in 2016. Teams like the Phillies, the Brewers, and the Dodgers will be tough challenges, but there is something else that poses a bigger threat: Injuries. We have seen how a single injury can derail a team, and with the Cubs, it could be the injury of Kyle Tucker. But Craig Counsell doesn’t seem very concerned, and MLB insider Mike Mulligan thinks that Counsell is putting on a smoke screen.

Kyle Tucker’s lingering calf injury has turned into a running gag with no punchline, while the Chicago Cubs juggle optimism and unease. What looked like minor soreness now reads like a mystery novel, with each chapter leaving fans squinting harder at the fine print.

In a recent show by 670 The Score, the whole topic of Tucker’s injury and his leaving for Tampa came up. Mulligan said, “You do worry that he’s not going to be able to get back, and you do worry that he’s got other concerns than what’s best for the Cubs. He’s got to do what’s best for him too… So it’s a very complicated situation… If you put Craig Counsell on a lie detector, I don’t know that it wouldn’t start beeping like all hell. I just don’t think anyone would like that. A guy leaving the team, a guy calling his own shot… Craig Counsell sounds frustrated.” 

When one radio voice suggested Craig Counsell’s “lie detector” might beep, it reflected his vague updates. Counsell publicly admitted there’s been “not much progress,” yet sounded frustrated, as if hiding behind cautious phrasing. In baseball, managers often downplay injuries to protect clubhouse stability and avoid creating panic among fans. Still, the contrast between his guarded tone and analysts’ skepticism has fueled suspicion about the transparency surrounding Kyle Tucker’s recovery.

That suspicion helps explain why Kyle Tucker has turned to his personal therapy group in Tampa for treatment. Counsell’s own words that there has been “not much progress” left Tucker understandably searching for alternatives. Adding to this, his looming free agency makes fitness not only urgent but essential for securing future value. With a Cubs staff member also traveling with him, the move signals seriousness without completely severing ties with the team.

Yet, the optics of leaving during September could test clubhouse chemistry right before the playoffs begin. Tucker has been Chicago’s most productive hitter this season, and his absence changes the lineup’s entire complexion instantly. If he is not ready for October, the Cubs lose their best bat and vital middle-order stability. In a three-game Wild Card series, missing that power could mean their long-awaited return collapses before it even begins.

Injuries may be baseball’s cruelest opponent, striking harder than any fastball and unraveling dreams faster than October pressure. Kyle Tucker’s calf has already dictated too many storylines, and the Chicago Cubs can’t afford another plot twist. If their biggest bat remains sidelined, champagne toasts could quickly turn into sympathy cards. After all, Wrigley’s faithful didn’t wait five years just to watch their season limp off the field.

Kyle Tucker’s injury might not hurt as much after the Cubs’ newest signing

Kyle Tucker’s lingering calf issue has turned every Cubs fan’s bracket of hopes into a shaky house of cards. Chicago knows postseason margins are measured in inches, not optimism, and losing a dynamic threat like Tucker could have left the lineup gasping. Enter the Cubs’ latest roster maneuver—a move designed less for glamor and more for grinding out those stolen-base inches that suddenly feel a lot more valuable.

The Chicago Cubs’ bold late-season move: Veteran Billy Hamilton to ignite their base-running. Hamilton, a premier base stealer, still flashes the wheels that defined his Reds years. He stole over fifty bases four straight seasons, showcasing elite speed despite offensive limitations. The Cubs see him as a situational weapon, prioritizing extra bases over batting prowess.

Much like Dave Roberts in the 2004 ALCS, Hamilton could turn small edges into game-changing moments. With Kyle Tucker’s injury leaving a gap in offensive threat, speed becomes more critical. The playoff roster will need careful construction, balancing specialists and everyday contributors. If deployed wisely, Hamilton’s presence could offset Tucker’s absence and pressure opposing defenses immediately.

If the Cubs are clever, Billy Hamilton won’t just be a footnote but a disruptive force in crunch time. Kyle Tucker’s absence still stings, yet Chicago’s gamble shows they understand baseball is often won in inches, not hype. Hamilton’s wheels could turn tense moments into momentum shifts, forcing opponents to rethink every pitch. In a postseason where small edges matter most, the Cubs might just prove that speed—and a little audacity—still matter.