Suspense builds over Seiya Suzuki's knee

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — No news wasn’t necessarily good news Monday in the case of Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki’s right knee, which he injured Saturday night in Japan’s loss to Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.

Suzuki, who walked off the field in Miami with a minor limp after sliding headfirst while unsuccessfully trying to steal second base, was still limping in the Cubs’ clubhouse Monday morning and wearing a soft brace. After being checked by a team doctor, he told teammate Michael Busch he was en route to an MRI exam. Busch hugged Suzuki and wished him well.

Although the MRI results were expected to be known Monday night, the Cubs said they’d wait until Tuesday to make them public.

Manager Craig Counsell declined to speculate on whether Suzuki might miss Opening Day on March 26.

“Let’s get the information, and then I should be able to tell you that,” Counsell said. “We’ll let the MRI tell us. The player comes in, he leaves the game with a knee injury, and then he’s limping. We thought an MRI made sense.”

Suzuki didn’t get one Saturday in Miami after doctors from Team Japan and the Marlins inspected him following his exit with what was announced as “right knee discomfort.” An update on the injury had been expected by Monday, but flight delays from Miami to Phoenix prevented Suzuki from returning to camp soon enough.

Losing Suzuki’s bat in the middle of the lineup for an extended time would be a blow to the Cubs’ offense as they seek a good start in their quest for a deep postseason run. Suzuki batted .245/.326/.478 with 32 homers in 151 games as their primary designated hitter last season. In the WBC, he went 3-for-9 with two home runs, five RBI, five walks and two runs scored.

Boyd bringing the cheer

Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd was expected to rejoin Team USA in Miami for the WBC championship game Tuesday night, but for moral support only. He’ll stay in his routine by throwing his bullpen session there earlier Tuesday.

Boyd cut short his WBC stint to stay on track to the opener.

Getting Team USA participants Pete Crow-Armstrong, Alex Bregman and Daniel Palencia back in Cubs training camp “is
the most exciting thing about the week for me,” Counsell said. “Probably Friday.”

Hot stuff

Tuesday begins a stretch of seven consecutive days with forecasted temperatures of 97 degrees or higher in the Phoenix area, including five straight days with projected record highs between 101 and 106.

“After the off day Thursday, it looks like it gets pretty bad,” Counsell said. “So we will modify our outdoor activities, keep them to a minimum.”

The Cubs already were slated to play night games Monday and Tuesday, but their Friday and Saturday games were changed to the evening because of the heat.

Around the diamond

Matt Shaw, who may get more playing time in right field than expected in his new super-utility role, depending on Suzuki’s injury, played first base for the second time Monday. He has appeared in six games this spring training in right field, three in center field, three at third base, two at second base and two at first.

CUBS 5, GUARDIANS 2
Cade Horton was sharp with swing-and-miss stuff, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out 10 in five innings in his fourth appearance of the spring. Horton and Guardians starter Gavin Williams each had 21 swings and misses, tying for the most by a pitcher in spring training this year. Horton’s fastball up in the strike zone and changep to lefties were particularly effective.“I felt like tonight I put it all together,” said Horton, who retired eight straight batters in one stretch.The 2025 NL Rookie of the Year runnerup, Horton is pegged as the No. 2 starter in the Cubs rotation. He threw 72 pitches, 54 for strikes.“The whiffs are cool but I’m not out there chasing whiffs,” Horton said. “I’m just out there executing pitches.

• Matt Shaw (.361 average, .955 OPS) had a double and RBI single and Triple-A shortstop Scott Kingery hit a two-run homer against Williams, his second of the spring.

• Right fielder Kevin Alcantrara (.296) had an RBI double.

• On deck: Angels at Cubs, 8:05 p.m. Tuesday, Mesa, 670-AM, 104.3-FM, Mitch Farris vs. Shota Imanaga.