The Cubs are well past the days when they ruled the NL Central. Once perennial contenders, they now find themselves staring up a steep hill, nine games behind the Brewers and searching for answers in a season already slipping away. And for a team desperately trying to stay afloat, the last thing they needed was another blow. On Wednesday night in Toronto, they got one.

Catcher Miguel Amaya, one of the few reliable bats in the lineup with a steady .280 average, stepped to the plate at the top of the eighth inning against the Blue Jays. Moments later, disaster struck. Charging down the line toward first base, Amaya lunged for the bag, his foot clipping the corner awkwardly. And in an instant, he went sprawling across the Rogers Centre turf.

Well, the scene stirred an unsettling sense of deja vu for longtime baseball fans. Remember Jason Kendall’s gruesome ankle dislocation in 1999? A reminder of how quickly a game can turn from routine to alarming. Trainers rushed to Amaya’s side, and while he was eventually helped off the field, the Cubs now wait anxiously for updates on his condition.

And here’s the latest update….

“Craig Counsell said Miguel Amaya exited today’s game with an ankle sprain. X-rays were negative, but Amaya will be placed on the IL.” MLB insider channel watchmarquee updated.

Well, Amaya’s comeback didn’t last long. Just two days after returning from a lengthy oblique injury, the Cubs catcher had to face this gruesome injury. X-rays were negative, but manager Craig Counsell said Amaya suffered a sprained ankle that will land him right back on the injured list. So, in his absence, Carson Kelly and Reese McGuire are expected to go back to sharing duties behind the plate.

For the unversed, Cubs catcher’s return to the lineup took a heartbreaking turn on Tuesday night. Just reinstated from the 60-day injured list after missing time with a strained left oblique, Amaya stepped in during the top of the eighth inning against the Blue Jays. And he hustled down the first base line on a grounder to shortstop Bo Bichette. While he managed to beat the throw, as his left foot landed on the bag, his leg appeared to give out, sending him tumbling past first.

The moment looked bad immediately. Visibly, Amaya stayed down, clearly in pain, as Cubs trainers sprinted out to check on him. Within moments, a cart was summoned. And as he was helped aboard, the Marquee Sports Network broadcast showed a visibly emotional Amaya wiping away tears, his frustration and disappointment obvious. Now that he is back in the IL, the Cubs would miss his service for a significant time.

The Cubs’ disheartening performance just got amplified

Well, if you’re looking for a snapshot of the Cubs’ frustrating stretch, just glance at their 1-5 loss to the Blue Jays. Like so many of their recent defeats, it wasn’t a disaster. The pitching held up fairly well, but it just wasn’t quite enough. The offense had its chances, putting plenty of runners on. But they stranded 10 and left the bases loaded twice, going just 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

So, that kind of missed opportunity is only magnified by a disappointing trade deadline. The front office’s top goal was to land a front-end starter to pair with Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd for a postseason push. But they came up empty. The lone rotation move was picking up Michael Soroka from the Nationals. But that also fell apart almost immediately when Soroka got hurt in his very first start.

And now, as if they needed more bad news, Miguel Amaya’s injury adds to the growing concern list. His return could have at least given the offense a small boost. But just two days back from a long oblique rehab, he’s headed to the injured list again with a sprained ankle.

Hence, put it all together, and the Cubs’ problems are stacking up with missed scoring chances. A rotation still lacking a true ace, and now another key injury. Instead of gearing up for a strong postseason push, they’re left scrambling to patch holes faster than they can fill them.