Cubs provide reasoning for Matt Shaw's absence on Wednesday

Cubs provide reasoning for Matt Shaw’s absence on Wednesday originally appeared on The Sporting News

On Wednesday, the Chicago Cubs faced off against the Atlanta Braves in the series finale of their three-game series. Atlanta got the better of Chicago in the first game, but Chicago was able to settle the score in the second game and even up the series.

With the regular season dwindling, every one of these games matters. The Cubs want to keep themselves as high up in the National League Wild Card race as possible.

Chicago knew they would be coming into this game without their star outfielder, Kyle Tucker, who was placed on the 10-day IL with a right calf strain. However, the news that Matt Shaw would be unavailable for the game was a bit of a surprise.

Cubs provide reasoning for Matt Shaw’s late scratch

Matt Shaw was initially listed on the team’s starting lineup for the game on Wednesday. He was listed as the team’s starting third baseman and was pencilled in to hit eighth.

His removal from the starting lineup left a lot of questions. However, the Cubs cleared up the confusion, sort of, via Chicago Sun-Times Maddie Lee’s X account.

“Matt Shaw was scratched from the lineup due to personal reasons, per the Cubs.”

Those reasons were not disclosed, still leaving some questions unanswered. Fortunately, the club has a day off on Thursday before a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend. Hopefully, this gives Shaw time to deal with whatever it is that kept him out of the lineup on Wednesday.