Kris Bryant’s X-rays negative after being drilled in right hand vs. MetsRussell Dorseyon June 16, 2021 at 2:58 am

Bryant was removed in the second inning of the Cubs’ 3-2 loss on Tuesday after being hit in the right hand.

NEW YORK – Kris Bryant left removed from Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to the Mets with a right hand bruise. Bryant took a fastball off of his right hand during his first at-bat of the night and looked to be in pain.

Bryant stayed in the game to run the bases after being checked out by manager David Ross and the team’s training staff, but was replaced by Patrick Wisdom in the second inning. It’s the second time this season Bryant has been hit in the hand/wrist this season.

Ross said after the game that Bryant’s X-rays came back negative, but would wait and see to decide if he’ll be in the lineup on Wednesday.

The Cubs multi-positional superstar has been having an MVP-caliber first half, slashing .292/.374/.544 with 13 home runs, 38 RBIs and a team-leading 16 doubles.

Mills strikes out six in spot start

The Cubs have needed innings from different places with starters Adbert Alzolay and Trevor Williams on the 10-day injured list. Right-hander Alec Mills got his number called in his first start since April 13 and just his second since coming off the IL.

Mills wasn’t bad on short notice and was in control for most of his outing. After the Cubs took an early 2-0 lead on Javy Baez’s two-run shot in the third inning, the Mets came right back with two runs of their own on a two-run single by Pete Alonso, tying the game at 2.

Alonso gave the Mets the lead in the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly to make it a 3-2 game. Mills finished the game allowing three runs on five hits over 4 1/3 innings. He walked two batters and struck out six.

“I think it’s something we talked about at the beginning of the year,” Mills said. “We were gonna need more than just the five starters. I think everybody across the league is seeing that now. I think to jump from 60 to 162 is just a big toll on the body. We were just doing what we can to stay healthy. I’m doing everything I can just to be available whenever they need me.”

The Cubs had an opportunity to tie the game in the ninth inning after Eric Sogard singled to the right-field gap. Jake Marisnick, who came in to pinch-run for Willson Contreras, went first to third and got waved home by third base coach Willie Harris who made an aggressive send.

But the Mets made the perfect relay on the play as outfielder Kevin Pillar fired the ball to second baseman Luis Guillorme, who threw out Marisnick at the plate.

“I always err on the side of aggressiveness,” Ross said. “I thought that was a really nice relay by Guillorme. Almost a blind turn and throw to get our fastest baserunner trying to make something happen there late. I don’t have a problem with that at all.”

Stock gets the nod on Wednesday

Right-hander Robert Stock will make the start for the Cubs on Wednesday against two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom. Stock will be making his first appearance for the Cubs after being claimed off waivers in the offseason.

Stock has gotten rave reviews for his stuff during his recent stretch starting in Triple-A and has been consistently hitting and sitting at 100 mph in four-inning bursts.

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