The wait for Matt Shaw and Hoby Milner is finally ending. Both players threw up strong numbers on Wednesday night in Iowa. Shaw went 1-for-3 at the plate while playing five innings at second base. Milner pitched a clean inning, giving up just one hit and striking out a batter. This wasn’t a fluke; it’s a clear sign the Cubs are getting their key pieces back from the injury list.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Shaw landed on the 10-day Injured List on June 29 with a sprained left hand. He suffered that injury while fouling off a pitch. The recovery took longer than the team hoped. He struggled to swing the bat at full speed for weeks. But now he’s back in game action.
According to MLB.com, Shaw has been hitting .246 with a 105 OPS+ through 56 games this season. That’s solid production for a 24-year-old rookie. The real story is how he fits in. Shaw started 114 games at third base last year as the 13th overall pick. Then the team signed Alex Bregman to a five-year deal. Shaw had to change his role. He has started games in all three outfield spots and every infield position except shortstop. This flexibility is exactly what the Cubs need right now. When Seiya Suzuki was out earlier, Shaw played right field. He can slide in anywhere. That’s a huge value for a roster that’s tight on depth.
Milner Finds His Groove
Hoby Milner is also looking good. He pitched a scoreless inning in his seventh game of his rehab assignment. Milner had a 3.53 ERA in 38 appearances for the Cubs before he went down. He landed on the IL on June 27 with appendicitis. That’s a tough thing to bounce back from. But he allowed only one hit and got a strikeout in this outing. The Iowa Cubs lost the game 2-1 to the Toledo Mud Hens, but the individual work was there. As noted by Bleed Cubbie Blue, he retired the next two batters in order after a leadoff single.
The Cubs need their bullpen to be deep. They have been thin on the left side. Milner was a reliable option before his surgery. Getting him back soon means more innings for the starters. It also means less stress on the rest of the relief corps. The team originally thought Shaw’s absence would be short. The slow recovery changed that plan. Now they need a run of game action to build him up to full strength. Milner is already past that point.
The roster construction allows Shaw to be a backup at first base when he returns. That adds even more value. He’s a player capable of manning multiple spots while hitting above replacement level. The Cubs are lucky to have him healthy again. The road to the playoffs is long. Every game counts. Having Shaw and Milner back in the mix gives the team a better chance to win close games. The fans in Chicago will be happy to see them back in the lineup soon.
