Dansby Swanson Returns To Cubs For Final 9 Regular-Season Games

Following a month on the sidelines, the Chicago Cubs are getting a key player back for the final nine games of the regular season.

Shortstop Dansby Swanson was activated from the 10-day injured list Friday by the Cubs, who optioned infielder B.J. Murray back to Triple-A Iowa.

Swanson went on the IL Aug. 17 with a strained left oblique. While a terrific defender, Swanson has been disappointing this season offensively, putting up a .216/.300/.404 slash line with 18 homers and 66 RBIs. He returns to the Cubs as they are tied for the top NL wild-card spot with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Cubs open a three-game road series against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday, then finish against the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field and then travel to Atlanta for the final three games of the regular season. The Phillies, meanwhile, are in a four-game road series against the New York Mets, then have three-game home series against the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays, the probable No. 1 seeds in the NL and AL, respectively.

The Cubs and the Phillies are also just one game ahead of the San Diego Padres, who hold the No. 3 NL wild card, four games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Murray was called up when rosters expanded Sept. 1, but has only played in seven games and gone 1-for-11 (.091) at the plate.