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Cubs SP Jose Quintana Set for Significant Time on IL

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In a 60 game season, the cliche “every game matters” takes on a new level of meaning. Every single start, from any SP, is ramped up in significance. Losing any of your starting rotation pitchers, no matter who they are, any given John Doe, hurts all that much more in this strangest of MLB seasons.

Chicago Cubs staritng LHP Jose Quintana suffered a laceration on his left thumb while washing dishes in his Miami, FL home over the weekend, and yes, this first cut was indeed among the deepest, as it required five stitches to repair.

Earlier this morning, the club sent out a press release stating that Quintana underwent microscopic surgery to diagnose the severity of his injury.  The statement reports that the procedure “identified a lacerated digital sensory nerve in his left thumb, which was surgically repaired.”

The team went on to state that “Quintana is expected to resume his throwing program in approximately two weeks, after which time a further determination will be made on expected length of absence.”

“Quintana is expected to resume his throwing program in approximately two weeks, after which time a further determination will be made on expected length of absence.”

With Opening Day scheduled for July 23-24, Quintana’s summer camp, or spring training 2.0, is essentially wiped out now. And with no minor league baseball to speak of this season, it means no rehabilitation stints will be available for anyone this year. That means Quintana will likely see 2020 action first via spot duty out of the bullpen, and it will be mid to late season if/when that happens.

That’s the optimistic view of the timetable. It’s just a weird, strange season all around, as the National League will have a designated hitter and all extra-inning games (starting in the 10th inning) will begin with a runner on second base.

Quintana went 13-9 with a 4.68 ERA and a 1.386 WHIP last season. For his career, Quintana is 83-77 with a 24.4 WAR, 3.72 ERA and 1.265 WHIP.

Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly contributes to WGN TV, Sports Illustrated, Chicago Now and SB Nation.

You can follow Banks, a former writer for Chicago Tribune.com, on Twitter and his cat on Instagram.