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Baez has fractured thumb, will meet with specialist to determine timeline

Dylan Buell / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Chicago Cubs and shortstop Javier Baez received awful news Saturday when the results of an MRI exam revealed a hairline fracture in his left thumb, the team announced, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian.

A timeline for Baez's return will be determined after he meets with a hand specialist Monday.

"It's a tough blow," teammate Anthony Rizzo said, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times. "He's a perennial All-Star. It's not easy. But we can't hang our heads.

"I'm not going to be surprised if he tries to play through it the last 20 games," Rizzo added.

Baez, 26, was removed from a Sept. 1 game against the Milwaukee Brewers with what was first described as a jammed thumb. He wanted to return to action Thursday but continued to feel pain during batting practice.

The discomfort persisted Friday, prompting the MRI.

Baez's injury couldn't have come at a worse time for the Cubs, who are clinging to the National League's second wild-card spot with a 2 1/2-game lead over the streaking Arizona Diamondbacks.

The 2018 NL MVP runner-up was in the midst of another stellar campaign prior to the injury, hitting .281/.316/.532 with 29 home runs, 38 doubles, 88 runs scored, and 85 RBIs while playing tremendous defense.

Addison Russell has started in Baez's absence and is in Chicago's starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Brewers.

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