The Chicago Cubs may enter their postseason push without right-handed closer Brandon Morrow.
Morrow, out nearly two months with biceps inflammation, hasn't thrown off a mound since July 18 and is unlikely to pitch again this season. Manager Joe Maddon says his ace reliever "barely" has enough time to get ready, according to Carrie Muskat of MLB.com.
"It's hard to get him up to speed," Maddon added. "You have to talk about building arm strength up, seeing hitters, throwing, day off, throwing again, and then just to be cautious regarding consecutive appearances."
Prior to the injury, the 34-year-old was having a fine inaugural season with the Cubs, posting a 1.47 ERA while recording a career-best 22 saves over 30 2/3 innings.
Maddon said it will be difficult to adjust without a proven closer at the back-end of the bullpen, but that it is manageable.
"When you have an anchor, that one guy at the end, who can get the three plus outs, you can manage the game differently," he said. "It's like how we used Wade (Davis) last year in Washington. If you don't have that, you have to manipulate it. Does it become more difficult? It probably does. But it can be done."
This is Morrow's second trip to the disabled list this season after missing time in June with back tightness.
Morrow has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, but returned to relevance as a shutdown reliever for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. He was leaned on heavily during the postseason, appearing in 14 games including all seven World Series contests against the Houston Astros.
