As the Chicago Cubs expected, center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong was back in the lineup Tuesday.
Crow-Armstrong sat out Monday’s series-opening loss to the Kansas City Royals with a bruised right knee he sustained on a slide in Sunday’s game. Manager Craig Counsell had expressed optimism that the 23-year-old could play after a one-game reprieve.
When Crow-Armstrong woke up Tuesday with his knee feeling normal again, he was deemed good to start against 45-year-old Royals lefty Rich Hill.
“I’m glad we got him an off day, he needed it yesterday,” Counsell said.
The Cubs are slowly healing as the trade deadline approaches.
Right-hander Javier Assad (oblique) is slated to pitch in Arizona on Thursday, then will join the Cubs over the weekend before making his first rehab start at an affiliate. Right-hander Jameson Taillon (calf strain) will throw live batting practice Friday as his first step and then have another BP session next week in Milwaukee before heading out on a rehab assignment.
Assad and Taillon are on track for mid-August returns.
“When you subtract players, it hurts,” Counsell said. “So we’d like to have the full arsenal available as soon as we can.”
Counsell expects catcher Miguel Amaya (oblique) to begin his rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa soon, likely Saturday.
“Physically the catching position, it’s demanding,” Counsell said. “He’s been catching bullpens like crazy. So I don’t think we’re going to ask Miguel — hopefully, knock on wood — to be playing every day right away when he comes back. So we’re in good shape.”
Originally Published: July 22, 2025 at 5:46 PM CDT