After getting the last two days off and three games off, Kyle Tucker returns to the Chicago Cubs lineup on Thursday afternoon in the series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers. It was announced after the Cubs lost the opener of the series 7-0 on Monday night that Tucker would get a few days off for a mental reset. It came out later that Tucker had been playing through a hairline fracture in his finger. The initial X-rays on the finger showed no break, but it was later determined that there was a hairline fracture. Chicago manager Craig Counsell said on Wednesday night that Tucker’s finger has now healed.

Tucker went through a miserable stretch at the plate to start the second half. He has not hit a home run since July 19th and has only hit .171 over that same stretch. It is hard to say how much of that was the injury, and then getting into some bad habits to compensate for said injury. The Cubs hope that the time off the last couple of days has given Tucker time to rework his swing to what it was before the injury.

Owen Caissie filled in for Tucker during his time off and had a big day in the doubleheader against the Brewers on Tuesday. He had a home run and three RBIs in the first game and another RBI in the second game. Caissie will take a seat in the series finale with Tucker returning to play right field.

The Cubs have won two of the first three games in this massive series against the Brewers. Chicago now trails Milwaukee by six games in the National League Central standings. The Cubs currently hold the first Wild Card spot in the National League.