Alex Bregman exit mars Cubs’ rout of Reds as Chicago nears postseason berth

The Chicago Cubs moved within a single victory of clinching a 2026 MLB postseason spot on Sunday, rolling to a 9-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on the road — but the game’s biggest storyline came from an injury that unfolded far from the batter’s box.

Third baseman Alex Bregman was struck in the face by a foul ball while standing in the on-deck circle during the top of the fourth inning. With two outs and a 1-2 count, teammate Michael Busch’s check swing sent a pitch foul, redirecting the ball directly toward Bregman’s face. He immediately grabbed at his eye area and was removed from the game, with Matt Shaw entering as his replacement. Busch went on to reach base on the same at-bat.

After the final out, Bregman shared an image on Instagram documenting the visible damage from the impact. FOX Sports’ MLB account amplified the post on X, spreading the graphic photo widely across social media. The image drew significant attention — a reminder of how quickly a routine moment in a game can produce viral, visceral content for sports media companies like Fox Corporation, whose FOXA shares closed at $64.45 on Monday, down 0.82% from the prior close of $64.98, valuing the entertainment company at roughly $26.85 billion.

Before departing, Bregman had already contributed to the blowout. He opened the scoring with an RBI single that brought home Pete Crow-Armstrong, and the Cubs had plated five runs by the end of the third inning. Chicago never allowed Cincinnati back into contention. Shaw, pressed into duty unexpectedly, went hitless in two at-bats but drew a walk in his first plate appearance.

The Cubs now get a day off Monday before returning home to face the Miami Marlins, their first opportunity to punch a ticket to October. Bregman’s availability for that series remains uncertain; the team’s stated priority is his recovery, and additional rest days have not been ruled out.

What to watch

• Bregman’s injury status and whether he appears in the lineup for the Marlins series beginning Tuesday.
• Whether the Cubs clinch a postseason berth during the Miami homestand.
• Any updates from manager Craig Counsell on the severity of the facial injury.

Source: original release