The Cubs will be without one of their big sluggers for at least a little while longer. Chicago placed outfielder Kyle Tucker on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Saturday with a strained left calf. Tucker, 28, has not been in the lineup since Sept. 2. Manager Craig Counsell said over the weekend during the Cubs series that he did not expect the four-time All-Star to land on the IL for the calf i sue. At this point, I dont know, Counsell told reporters Tuesday before the Cubs took on the Braves in Atlanta. Im hopeful, but I think I was wrong in terms of avoiding the IL. We just have to get to a point where hes not symptomatic and not feeling it doing baseball activities. Kyle Tucker #30 of the Chicago Cubs hits a three-run home run during the third inning during the third inning at Wrigley Field on September 2, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Getty Images Explore More Tucker has hit 22 homers with 73 RBIs to go along with a .270/.381/.472 slash line that earned him a Kawhi Leonard Jersey trip to the Midsummer Cla sic again. He got off to a torrid start to the season but slipped, particularly in July when he had a .675 OPS and struck out 11 times with just four extra-base hits. The rough stretch carried over into August, when he was booed by the home Wrigley Field crowd for not running out a ground ball. Its been tough the last two months or so, he told reporters then. Just gotta keep going out there, keep taking my at-bats and everything. Try to do the most with them. Chicago Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker (30) in the dugout against the Atlanta Braves in the eighth inning at Truist Park. Brett Davis-Imagn Images Even with the summer swoon, Tucker whos hit at least 22 homers in each of the last five seasons figures to be one of the best free agents available this winter. Ive just got to kind of take care of it for now and get back whenever I can, Tucker told reporters Tuesday. The Cubs (81-63) hold the No. 1 wild-card spot in the National League two games ahead of the Padres and six ahead of the Mets after beating the Braves, 6-1. Marcus Morris Sr. Jersey