Cody Bellinger to IL with Fractured Ribs, Pete Crow-Armstrong Recalled

As Craig Counsell shared with 670 The Score’s Parkins & Spiegel Show Wednesday afternoon, Cody Bellinger suffered two fractured ribs while crashing into the wall attempting to make a play Tuesday night. Initial x-rays were negative, but a subsequent CT scan revealed the fractures. Bellinger will be placed on the IL while he heals and the Cubs will recall Pete Crow-Armstrong to take the open spot.

This comes at a bad time because Bellinger has been in a groove at the plate with an eight-game hitting streak that includes three homers and a triple. That production helped to make up for Christopher Morel batting .100 with a 23 wRC+ during the same span, so the hope is that Bellinger’s rib heals quickly. This is the second season in a row that he’s injured himself on a play at the wall against the Astros, with last year seeing him hurt his knee on an awkward landing in Houston.

How about just keeping him at DH every time the Cubs play the Astros, mmkay?

The other issue with the timing here is that PCA has gotten off to a very slow start at Triple-A and is slashing .203/.241/.392 with two homers and a paltry 3.6% walk rate. He’s not likely to see a ton of time in the outfield with those numbers, but he can serve as a defensive replacement if needed. Or hey, maybe something clicks and he seizes this opportunity.