Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger welcomed the Houston Astros back to Wrigley Field for the first time in eleven years by depositing a baseball in the top row of the right-field bleachers. That home run started a five-run first inning that turned out to be all the Cubs needed to win the series opener 7-2. It didn’t come that easily, though.
In the fourth inning, Kyle Tucker hit a fly ball to center field that Bellinger seemed to lose in the lights, resulting in a one-out double. After an Alex Bregman groundout, Yanier Diaz sent a ball to deep center, which Bellinger had bounced off his glove as he bounced off the wall. It looked like an acrobatic catch, but the ball made contact with the wall and turned into an RBI double.
Everything seemed fine until Bellinger was seen gingerly rubbing his right-rib area in the dugout. After talking with a trainer, he headed down to the clubhouse. Alexander Canario came into the game to replace him in the seventh inning.
Since Seiya Suzuki went to the injured list, the Cubs can ill-afford losing another slugger in this lineup. Reporters swarmed after the game to make sure they got the latest and exact update from Bellinger himself. He confirmed to everyone he felt okay, thankfully. However, he told us what we should really be worried about.
Cody Bellinger: “Check On The Wall”
Per Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune, x-rays were negative for what was being called a right rib contusion for Cody Bellinger. He was pulled from the game as a precaution, calling his pain level “dull” afterward. Being the compassionate guy he is, Bellinger says we should check on the center field wall to see how it feels after the collision to ensure it is okay. He said he plans to be careful around it next time.
This was exactly what the Cubs wanted to hear. Bellinger is still in a bit of a slump to begin his 2024 season. He has five home runs but is still batting just .226. However, the turnaround may be in the works. Three of those home runs have come in the last seven games, and his batting average is .346.
Mike Tauchman has been hot lately and Alexander Canario is as capable as anyone filling in. We may see an off day coming soon for Bellinger—just as a precaution. Last night was the first game of sixteen in the same amount of days. There’s also a six-game road trip coming up. If this were September with the playoffs on the line, he’d definitely be out there. However, it’s still April, and we’re still getting into the meat of the schedule.
Bellinger turning his season around is an excellent ingredient to this team finally taking control of the National League Central division. As this team gets healthier and the bats heat up along with the weather, the Cubs will surely be right in the thick of the postseason race.
