SAN DIEGO – The Cubs might not have closer Craig Kimbrel back from his elbow inflammation until the final week or so of the season.
They might have their Class AA shortstop starting at least three or four more days in a pennant race because of injuries to their two major-league options.
Their best leadoff hitter, Ben Zobrist, was out of the lineup Wednesday night after fouling a ball off his right knee and leaving the game Tuesday.
Meanwhile, much of Cubs Twitter and some studio-based media 2,000 miles from the team are calling for the manager’s job in all-caps tweets and ripping him in middle-of-the-night videos.