Yet, there he was -- running sprints in right field, running as if rounding a base, taking leads off first, moving around, proving he could play.
The Cubs arrive limited by injury as first baseman Anthony Rizzo (ankle) is in a boot and out of the series. Javy Baez (thumb fracture) remains out indefinitely. Closer Craig Kimbrel has also been dealing with an injury (Update: Kimbrel is available Thursday night out of the Cubs' bullpen and Baez will pinch run if needed.) The Cubs are not the roster they imagined, and the Cardinals are not the offense they imagined.