David Ross Gives Cubs Fans Optimistic Anthony Rizzo Injury Update

Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo has been having a bit of a rollercoaster of an MLB season so far. The 10-year Chicago veteran has been a fan favorite over the course of his tenure, but he's spent this campaign deal with trade rumors and now a back injury.

Rizzo has missed the last five Cubs games with low back tightness, which is nothing new considering he's had back problems throughout his career. However, Cubs manager David Ross provided the team's fans with a pretty optimistic update regarding Rizzo's injury status on Monday.

Anthony Rizzo Injury Update

Rizzo was scheduled to field ground balls on Monday, which is a pretty big step in the right direction. When asked about the possibility of the four-time Gold Glove winner returning ahead of Tuesday's game against the San Diego Padres, Ross said that he didn't know if Rizzo would be back, but he did say, "Hopefully." While that isn't a guarantee, Cubs fans should feel optimistic about their manager's answer.

So far, Rizzo has 41 hits in 159 at-bats this season, turning that into 5 home runs and 19 RBI. He's also slashing .258/.366/.434 — each statistic being an increase over his numbers from last season.

While the 31-year-old isn't putting up the numbers that he was during his prime, he's still a leader in Chicago and a big part of the organization. Considering how the Cubs trail the St. Louis Cardinals by half a game for the NL Central lead, any boost that Rizzo can provide will be appreciated by the team and its fans alike.

The Cubs are currently tied for the 17th-best odds to win the World Series at +6000, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. They're also 8-2 in their last 10 games and have a three-game series against the Cardinals beginning on Friday, June 11.

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