Seattle's form card is rockier than the record suggests. After taking both meetings with Houston, the Mariners were run off the field by Milwaukee in an ugly loss before bouncing back to win the next one and dropping the finale — good for 1 of the first 3 against the Brewers so far. Chicago's stretch reads calmer on the surface: they dropped both of their looks at St. Louis in that window, the Boyd blowup among them, before rattling off 2 of 3 against the crosstown White Sox to get right again.
- Day-To-DayKevin Gausman (SP) — Gausman was removed from Tuesday's start against the White Sox with a left hand cramp, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.08/19
- 10-Day-ILMatt Shaw (RF) — Shaw (hand) is scheduled to embark on a rehab assignment Wednesday with Triple-A Iowa, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.08/17
- 10-Day-ILDansby Swanson (SS) — The Cubs placed Swanson (oblique) on the 10-day injured list Monday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.08/17
- 15-Day-ILGavin Hollowell (RP) — Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Hollowell (shoulder) has resumed a throwing program, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.08/19
- 15-Day-ILEdward Cabrera (SP) — Cabrera pitched through a blister on his right middle finger during his start in Sunday's 11-4 loss to the Cardinals, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports. He dropped to 5-5 on the season after striking out two batters while allowing seven earned runs on six hits and three walks across 3.2 innings.08/17
- 15-Day-ILHoby Milner (RP) — Milner (abdomen) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, tossing a scoreless inning.07/30
- 60-Day-ILPhil Maton (RP) — The Cubs transferred Maton (knee) to the 60-day injured list Wednesday.08/19
- 60-Day-ILBen Brown (RP) — Brown (neck) is slated to throw against live hitters Friday at the Cubs' facility in Arizona, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.08/19
- 60-Day-ILDaniel Palencia (RP) — Palencia (elbow) will be reinstated from the 60-day injured list ahead of Friday's game in Seattle, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.08/19
- 60-Day-ILRiley Martin (RP) — Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Martin (elbow) has been ruled out for the remainder of the season, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.08/19
- 60-Day-ILHunter Harvey (RP) — Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Harvey's (triceps/shoulder) rehab hasn't come along as hoped, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.08/19
- 60-Day-ILJustin Steele (SP) — Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Steele (elbow) is close to being cleared to face hitters, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.08/19
- 60-Day-ILShelby Miller (RP) — Miller (elbow) began a rehab assignment Sunday at Triple-A Iowa, striking out two batters while allowing one run on two hits and no walks.08/09
- 60-Day-ILPorter Hodge (RP) — The Cubs transferred Hodge (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILCade Horton (SP) — The Cubs transferred Horton (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILTyler Austin (1B) — The Cubs placed Austin (knee) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.05/08
- Day-To-DayBryan Woo (SP) — Woo (shoulder) threw his normal between-starts bullpen session Thursday, Zach Sweet of MLB.com reports.08/20
- 10-Day-ILJ.P. Crawford (SS) — Crawford (wrist) will start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday, Tim Booth of The Seattle Times reports.08/19
- 10-Day-ILColt Emerson (SS) — The Mariners placed Emerson on the 10-day injured list Friday with left wrist inflammation, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.08/14
- 15-Day-ILMatt Brash (RP) — Brash (lat) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.08/14
- 15-Day-ILCole Wilcox (RP) — Wilcox left Thursday's game versus the Tigers due to left oblique tightness.08/07
- 60-Day-ILLuke Raley (RF) — The Mariners transferred Raley (forearm) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.08/19
- 60-Day-ILCooper Criswell (RP) — Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said July 31 that Criswell (shoulder) has resumed a throwing progression, MLB.com reports.08/09
- 60-Day-ILCarlos Vargas (RP) — Vargas (lat) is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with High-A Everett on Saturday night, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.08/08
- 60-Day-ILWill Wilson (3B) — Wilson (thumb) has gone 3-for-9 with two RBI and a 1:2 BB:K in his first three rehab games between High-A Everett and Triple-A Tacoma.06/17
- 60-Day-ILLogan Evans (SP) — The Mariners placed Evans (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Monday.05/08
The injury sheets read almost like organizational depth charts at this point. Chicago's already without Justin Steele, Cade Horton and Porter Hodge for extended stretches, and Kevin Gausman is day-to-day after leaving his last start with a hand cramp — thin margins for a staff that just watched its most reliable arm have a nightmare outing. Seattle's not much healthier: Luke Raley's done for the year, Colt Emerson and J.P. Crawford are both trying to work back, and even Woo is on the day-to-day list. Neither dugout is at full strength walking into this one.
Whatever's still realistically in play for Seattle this year, T-Mobile Park has at least given them one recent statement — see Hancock's near-masterpiece against Houston. For Chicago, the assignment is simpler: stop the bleeding, get length out of Boyd, and remind everyone why they're 20 games over .500. Whoever solves that first probably takes the opener.