Cubs' Suzuki to make season debut vs. Pirates after WBC injury - ESPN

CHICAGO — Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki will make his season debut on Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates after recovering from a knee injury suffered during the WBC, the team announced before the game.

Suzuki, 31, had career highs in home runs (32) and runs driven in (103) last season, helping the Cubs to the postseason for the first time since 2020. He was injured last month on a stolen base attempt while playing for Team Japan, leading to an early stay on the injured list.

«We're putting one of our middle of the order bats back in the lineup,» manager Craig Counsell said Friday morning. «It's a big addition, for sure.»

Suzuki is in the final year of a five-year, $85 million contract in which he has alternated between right field and DH. He'll start in right on Friday but the team will be «somewhat cautious» with him coming off the knee injury, according to Counsell.

The team designated outfielder Dylan Carlson for assignment to make room for Suzuki on the roster. Carlson had only four at-bats over the first two weeks and lost out on a competition with Michael Conforto for that roster spot.

The Cubs also called up righty Ethan Roberts from Triple-A after placing reliever Phil Maton on the injured list with right knee tendinitis. Maton did not look sharp over his first few appearances, in part, because of the knee issue.

«It's gradually gotten worse,» Counsell said. «We saw real effects from it in his last outing in Tampa. His velocity was down. It was just a case of not being able to sit into his back leg and drive off the mound.»

Maton gave up six runs over four innings before going down. He joins starter Cade Horton on the injured list as the latter awaits surgery on his elbow. The procedure will determine the