3 ripple effects from Cubs’ scary Alex Bregman injury

Since the All-Star break, the Chicago Cubs’ duo of Pete Crow-Armstrong and Alex Bregman has arguably been one of the most feared one-two punches in the league. On Sunday, Crow-Armstrong crushed his 45th home run of the season, leaving him just two stolen bases shy of a 40/40 season.

Bregman, meanwhile, suffered a scary injury after being struck in the cheek by a foul ball while standing in the on-deck circle. He immediately left the game with blood coming from his face and was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. Following the incident, Bregman posted an update on his Instagram account, reassuring fans with a simple message: “I will be back.”

up for Alex Bregman after he got hit in the face while waiting on deck today.

via abreg_1/Instagram https://t.co/AhF7WvSHfG

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 20, 2026

That said, as concerning as Bregman’s injury appears to be, even with reportedly not fracturing anything, with less than a week remaining in the regular season, there are some significant ripple effects worth discussing.

3 ripple effects the Chicago Cubs must consider following Alex Bregman injury

As mentioned above, there are fewer than seven days remaining in MLB’s regular season: six days, to be exact, as of September 21. The National League Wild Card Series begins Tuesday, September 29, just eight days from now. That timeline creates an important roster consideration for the Cubs.

Unless Bregman is placed on the seven-day concussion IL, putting him on the 10-day IL would prevent him from returning in time for the start of the postseason. The ripple effect is that the Cubs could be forced to play the final week of the regular season with one fewer position player on their active roster while Bregman takes the necessary time to recover. Without the ability to add a replacement, that would leave Chicago at a significant roster disadvantage.

Lastly, the Cubs will need to hope Bregman can return to his pre-injury form by the time the playoffs begin. The swelling around his eye following the hit to his cheek could potentially affect his vision and, in turn, his ability to track the ball and perform at his usual level. For a player who had been on such a torrid run and has become an important part of Chicago’s lineup, the timing of the injury could be particularly problematic.

Between the possibility of Bregman avoiding an IL stint, the Cubs potentially playing shorthanded this week, and the uncertainty surrounding whether he can quickly return to form with the playoffs beginning next week, Bregman’s injury is more than just a freak and unfortunate accident. It comes at perhaps the worst possible time for Chicago, as they battle for a Wild Card spot while also looking to make a deep playoff run.

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