The Cubs placed the right-hander on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday because of lower back tightness Tremaine Edmunds Jersey Bills , leaving a short-handed bullpen without its most important piece.
While Morrow went on the DL, Yu Darvish threw a simulated game. Manager Joe Maddon said he looked ”outstanding,” and the Cubs will see how he feels Thursday before announcing the next step as he works his way back from tendinitis in his right triceps.
Morrow – signed by Chicago to a $21 million, two-year contract in December after helping the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Cubs in the NLCS – has 16 saves in 17 chances.
He hurt his back taking his pants off at home early Monday morning, after the team returned from St. Louis. The Cubs put him on the DL before their game against the Dodgers and announced right-hander Justin Hancock will remain with the club after being called up from Triple-A Iowa as the 26th man for Tuesday’s day-night doubleheader.
”Anybody who’s had a back spasm knows you can pretty much get it doing anything – brushing your teeth, sneezing, picking up a kid,” Morrow said. ”I think almost everybody has a story about doing so I just said how I did it.”
Morrow said he’s ”pretty comfortable” walking Authentic Tracy Walker Jersey , but feels it when he sits. He said he would have needed a few more days to be ready to pitch. But the Cubs opted not to hold his spot on the active roster.
”We thought it would be wise to give him a couple of days,” Maddon said. ”We just can’t go with one less pitcher right now. We just cannot.”
The Cubs are also missing relievers Carl Edwards Jr. (right shoulder inflammation) and Brian Duensing, who is on the bereavement list after his grandfather died Saturday.
Maddon said the matchups will dictate who closes with Morrow sidelined. He also said the Cubs are ”very close” to mapping out a plan for the return of Edwards, who has been throwing. He said the Cubs hope to get Duensing back by Friday.
Darvish, meanwhile, said through an interpreter that the simulated game went better than expected. He felt some anxiety before the outing but felt comfortable on the mound and had good command of his fastball and slider, though he needs to work on his curve and splitter.
Darvish also said he thinks he will need only one rehab start before rejoining the rotation. Once he is ready, the Cubs will have some decisions to make.
Mike Montgomery has a 1.21 ERA in five starts since he was inserted into the rotation in Darvish’s absence. And Tyler Chatwood leads the majors with 63 walks.
Darvish is 1-3 with a 4.95 ERA in eight starts Brian O'Neill Color Rush Jersey , not what the Cubs envisioned when they signed the prized right-hander to a $126 million, six-year contract in February.
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RALEIGH, N.C. — The Tampa Bay Lightning have entered a playoff mode before the postseason and there’s still something to play for.
That will be the case in the regular-season finale Saturday night against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena.
This chase for the top seed in the Eastern Conference has put the Lightning in a playoff state of mind.
“I think it’s good for us to kind of stay in that mentality,” Tampa Bay left winger Alex Killorn said.
The Hurricanes have been on the outside of the playoff picture, but they would like to take a victory into the offseason.
“We got to do it right,” Carolina forward Sebastian Aho said. “It’s just the last game. We want to play it like we want (to). Just do right, the way we want to do it.?”
The Lightning (54-23-4) are still striving for the top spot in the conference, something that can be achieved by winning the Atlantic Division. Tampa Bay leads the Boston Bruins by two points. The Bruins have two games remaining Kurt Suzuki Jersey , going to Ottawa on Saturday night and finishing Sunday night at home against the Florida Panthers.
Tampa Bay has won three consecutive games after the 7-5 home victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night.
After defeating Boston 4-0 on Tuesday, Tampa Bay had the benefit of its final two games against non-playoff teams — Buffalo and Carolina.
Tampa Bay center Tyler Johnson said winning the division is the short-term objective.
“That’s our main goal and really the only thing we’re focusing on is how can we do that, and the first step is just playing the right way and doing what we need to do,” Johnson said.
The Hurricanes (35-35-11) carry a three-game losing streak into the game, with each of those outcomes a one-goal defeat.
“We’ll play better on Saturday,” Hurricanes center Elias Lindholm said.
It could be an interesting offseason for the Hurricanes, who underwent a midseason ownership change that already has resulted in the reassignment of now-former general manager Ron Francis.
Carolina is locked out of the playoffs for the ninth straight season, marking the longest active playoff drought for any NHL team.
Aho said the Hurricanes have been a step behind in recent games against teams vying for playoff spots or postseason positioning.
“I think we weren’t quite there Nick Markakis Jersey ,” Aho said. “I mean, we didn’t have the same level.”
The Hurricanes did have a few uplifting moments this week, including the first goal of the season in 32 games for defenseman Klas Dahlbeck.
“It’s a reward for staying with it, being a good pro,” Carolina coach Bill Peters said. “Good to see him take advantage of the opportunity.”
Aho scored for the third time six games in Thursday night’s loss at Philadelphia. That puts him with a team-leading 29 goals this season.
The Hurricanes are expected to go with veteran goalie Cam Ward in what could be his final game with the franchise. He has a 22-14-4 record this season.
Tampa Bay won by 5-1 and 5-4 scores against Carolina in previous matchups this season.
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