Overview
- The Cubs activated shortstop Dansby Swanson and put him in the lineup for the series opener in Cincinnati, a move announced Friday to fill the vacancy created by his oblique injury.
- Swanson had been on the 10-day injured list since mid‑August with a left oblique strain and completed a simulated game at Wrigley after two planned Triple‑A rehab games were rained out.
- To open the roster spot the team optioned infielder B.J. Murray Jr. to Triple‑A Iowa after Murray made his MLB debut earlier this month.
- Chicago went 13–16 while Swanson was sidelined and shifted Nico Hoerner around the infield, and the club cited a need to restore Swanson’s defensive stability for its Wild Card push.
- Swanson signed a seven‑year, $177 million deal in 2022 and has produced 16.9 bWAR for the Cubs, so his health and immediate on‑field form could materially affect the team’s late‑season outlook.