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  "path": "/cubs/2026/05/01/cubs-nico-hoerner-exits-game-with-left-sided-neck-tightness-per-team",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-01T19:18:53.433Z",
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  "textContent": "<p>Not you, too, Nico Hoerner.</p><p>The <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs\" target=\"_blank\" >Cubs</a>' best player this season exited Friday's series opener against the Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field with \"left-sided neck tightness,\" according to the team. With all the injuries sustained by the Cubs already — most of them among pitchers — losing an All-Star-caliber leadoff man and second baseman for any length of time would be far from ideal.</p><p>Facing Zac Gallen, Hoerner led off the bottom of the first with a gapper to left-center for a double. He came around and scored on Michael Busch's two-out, two-run base hit in the Cubs' three-run frame. </p><p>Hoerner, who entered the game hitting .291 with a team-high 26 RBI, was in the field for the top of the second but got no action. Utility man Matt Shaw pinch-hit for him in the bottom of the inning.</p><div class=\"Enhancement\" data-align-center><div class=\"Enhancement-item\"> <div class=\"ExternalContent-wrapper\" > <div class=\"TweetUrl\"> <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Nico Hoerner grimaced while running the bases in the first inning and has now been removed from the game <a href=\"https://t.co/6KxxWj6RK7\">pic.twitter.com/6KxxWj6RK7</a></p>— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TalkinBaseball_/status/2050288198882869606?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script> </div> </div> </div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><bsp-listcarousel class=\"PageListE\" data-module data-column-count=3 data-hide-authors=\"true\" data-hide-categories=\"true\" data-hide-dates=\"true\" data-hide-descriptions=\"true\" data-show-loadmore=\"true\" ><a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"list-c90005\" name=\"list-c90005\"></a><div class=\"PageList-header\" > <div class=\"PageList-header-title-wrap\" > <div class=\"PageList-header-title\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs\" target=\"{borderColor=#dfdfdf, pageNumber=1, titleUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs, inverseColors=false, count=13871, footerBgColor=#000000, title=Latest on the Cubs, bodyFont=font-3, pagination=[{body=[Next Page], href=?p=2, _template=/link/Link.hbs, contentId=null, pianoSectionSlug=null, target=null}], showListNumbers=false, imagePositionHorizontal=null, rteBodyFont=font-3, headerBottomBorderColor=#111010, subTitle=null, stickyHeader=true, listTitleColor=#000000, tableCellBorderColor=#ccd1d5, pullQuoteIcon=[{image=null, narrowImage=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=null}], relatedListFont=font-1, hideAuthors=true, tertiaryTextColor=#6c6c6c, buttonHoverTextColor=#ffffff, tableFont=font-1, carouselAutoPlay=false, promoTitleFont=font-2, ctaButtonText=[], primaryTextColor=#2a2a2a, buttonTextColor=#ffffff, linkTextColor=#1a1a1a, hideTitles=false, footerLinkColor=#ffffff, carouselSpeed=null, buttonHoverBgColor=#a91d23, rteHeadingFont=font-1, secondaryColor=#656565, hideCategories=true, _template=/page/list/includes/PageList-header.hbs, font3=Arial, font4=Source-serif-4, ctaUrl=null, hideImage=false, footerLinkHoverColor=#d3242c, _styledTemplate=/page/list/PageListE.hbs, hideAudioPlayback=false, description=[], listColumns234=null, showSecondItemMedia=false, footerTextColor=#ffffff, hideDescriptions=true, headerSecondaryBgColor=#000000, primaryTextColorInverse=#ffffff, titleColor=null, ampLink=null, listHeaderPosition=null, showActionBar=true, linkHoverColor=#d3242c, buttonBgColor=#d3242c, ctaTarget=null, suppressPagination=false, promoButtonText=null, backgroundColor=null, headerSecondaryTextColor=#ffffff, anchorId=list-c90005, listTitleFont=font-2, headlineFont=font-1, promoDescriptionFont=font-3, primaryColor=#d3242c, items=[{timestamp=1777600704000, type=Image, categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs, title=Shota Imanaga doing more than ever to ensure he and Cubs share common language, media=[{narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/a8/8b/c118e3614fd19c347ccb6c78488f/shota-1.jpg, width=4391, height=2927}, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/a8/8b/c118e3614fd19c347ccb6c78488f/shota-1.jpg, width=4391, height=2927}, alt=Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga delivers against the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field on April 21, 2026.}], _styledTemplate=null, category=[{items=[Cubs]}], imageAlignment=null, url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/30/shota-imanaga-chicago-cubs-tommy-hottovy-jameson-taillon-craig-counsell-japanese-baseball, isFeatured=false, target=null, primaryMediaType=null, description=[{items=[In his third season with the Cubs, Imanaga is taking accountability in a new way. 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I'm finding out, category=[{items=[Sports Media]}], primaryMediaType=null, anchorId=promo-600001, ampLink=null, categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-media, wordCount=860, audio=[], url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-media/2026/04/30/whats-it-like-for-local-media-covering-cubs-white-sox-chicago-rate-field-wrigley-field-steve-stone-len-kasper-taylor-mcgregor-jim-deshaies-ron-coomer-pat-hughes, audioDuration=null, _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs}, {type=Image, category=[{items=[Cubs]}], categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs, wordCount=519, description=[{items=[Tallion shut down the first 14 batters in order, survived two solo homers, and then allowed just one more hit in seven innings of the ]}, {text=[{items=[Cubs]}], _template=/rte/PlainTextLink.hbs, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null}, {items=[’ 5-4 victory over the Padres.]}], media=[{narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/83/03/6390843846f99a4286057013223f/cubs-padres-baseball.jpg, width=5539, height=3693}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/83/03/6390843846f99a4286057013223f/cubs-padres-baseball.jpg, width=5539, height=3693}, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon works against a Padres batter during the first inning Wednesday, April 29, 2026, in San Diego.}], timestamp=1777520218000, _styledTemplate=null, authors=[{name=[{items=[Gordon Edes]}], ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/author/byline/AuthorByline.hbs, bio=[{items=[Chicago Sun-Times sports contributor]}], authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/gordon-edes, jobTitle=[{items=[Gordon Edes is a sports contributor at the Chicago Sun-Times.]}], media=[{ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/8c/3b/a9e4df4442f181af5f9e4e9e5510/image0.jpeg, width=1001, height=1331}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/8c/3b/a9e4df4442f181af5f9e4e9e5510/image0.jpeg, width=1001, height=1331}, alt=Gordon Edes}]}], imageAlignment=null, isFeatured=false, publishDate=April 29, 2026 10:36 PM, target=null, primaryMediaType=null, anchorId=promo-600002, ampLink=null, audio=[], audioDuration=null, title=Cubs’ offense backs Jameson Taillon's solid start, url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/29/cubs-offense-backs-jameson-taillons-solid-start, _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs}], slimFooter=false, hideHeadline=false, hideDates=true, headerBorderColor=#e9e9e9, pageCount=4624, ratingCardFont=font-1, titleTarget=null, tableCaptionColor=#626262, mobileCarousel=false, tableEvenRowsBgColor=#f9f8f3, containerTitleFont=font-2, listBorderColor=#dfdfdf, defaultArticleLeadStyle=standard, _parentFiles=[/page/list/includes/PageList-header.hbs]}\">Latest on the Cubs</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageListE-items\"> <div class=\"PageListE-items-item\"> <div class=\"PagePromoB\"data-align-top> <div class=\"PagePromo-media\"><a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Shota Imanaga doing more than ever to ensure he and Cubs share common language\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/30/shota-imanaga-chicago-cubs-tommy-hottovy-jameson-taillon-craig-counsell-japanese-baseball\" ><picture data-crop=\"medium-4x3\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/bf5a877/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4373x2927+0+0/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa8%2F8b%2Fc118e3614fd19c347ccb6c78488f%2Fshota-1.jpg\"/> <source width=\"490\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/74ddd19/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4373x2927+0+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa8%2F8b%2Fc118e3614fd19c347ccb6c78488f%2Fshota-1.jpg\"/> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga delivers against the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field on April 21, 2026.\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/74ddd19/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4373x2927+0+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa8%2F8b%2Fc118e3614fd19c347ccb6c78488f%2Fshota-1.jpg\"> </picture> </a></div> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-category\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs\" >Cubs</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/30/shota-imanaga-chicago-cubs-tommy-hottovy-jameson-taillon-craig-counsell-japanese-baseball\" >Shota Imanaga doing more than ever to ensure he and Cubs share common language</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">In his third season with the Cubs, Imanaga is taking accountability in a new way. Through his interpreter, he says he no longer wants to use his being from Japan as an excuse for when he doesn’t do well.</div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1777600704000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class=\"dot\"></span></div> <div class=\"PagePromo-author\"> <span>By </span><strong><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/gordon-edes\" >Gordon Edes </a></strong> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-readingTime\"> <span class=\"dot-divider\"></span> <svg class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-icon\"> <use xlink:href=\"#icon-clock-reading\"></use> </svg> <span class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-text\"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count=\"1054\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageListE-items-item\"> <div class=\"PagePromoB\"data-align-top> <div class=\"PagePromo-media\"><a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"What's it like for local media covering Cubs, White Sox? I'm finding out\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-media/2026/04/30/whats-it-like-for-local-media-covering-cubs-white-sox-chicago-rate-field-wrigley-field-steve-stone-len-kasper-taylor-mcgregor-jim-deshaies-ron-coomer-pat-hughes\" ><picture data-crop=\"medium-4x3\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3d61021/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5712x3824+0+230/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fff%2F11%2Fe354081a4fad88571b08930f0f0a%2Fimg-5663-1.jpeg\"/> <source width=\"490\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/28e98bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5712x3824+0+230/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fff%2F11%2Fe354081a4fad88571b08930f0f0a%2Fimg-5663-1.jpeg\"/> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"IMG_5663 (1).jpeg\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/28e98bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5712x3824+0+230/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fff%2F11%2Fe354081a4fad88571b08930f0f0a%2Fimg-5663-1.jpeg\"> </picture> </a></div> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-category\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-media\" >Sports Media</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-media/2026/04/30/whats-it-like-for-local-media-covering-cubs-white-sox-chicago-rate-field-wrigley-field-steve-stone-len-kasper-taylor-mcgregor-jim-deshaies-ron-coomer-pat-hughes\" >What's it like for local media covering Cubs, White Sox? I'm finding out</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">Not only am I fulfilling a dream I’ve had since I was a kid — covering baseball — but I’m getting out and seeing the broadcast media’s coverage up close, not just from my office chair at home.</div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1777567213000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class=\"dot\"></span></div> <div class=\"PagePromo-author\"> <span>By </span><strong><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/jeff-agrest\" >Jeff Agrest </a></strong> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-readingTime\"> <span class=\"dot-divider\"></span> <svg class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-icon\"> <use xlink:href=\"#icon-clock-reading\"></use> </svg> <span class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-text\"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count=\"860\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageListE-items-item\"> <div class=\"PagePromoB\"data-align-top> <div class=\"PagePromo-media\"><a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Cubs’ offense backs Jameson Taillon's solid start\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/29/cubs-offense-backs-jameson-taillons-solid-start\" ><picture data-crop=\"medium-4x3\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1429e85/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5517x3693+0+0/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F83%2F03%2F6390843846f99a4286057013223f%2Fcubs-padres-baseball.jpg\"/> <source width=\"490\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8a042a5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5517x3693+0+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F83%2F03%2F6390843846f99a4286057013223f%2Fcubs-padres-baseball.jpg\"/> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon works against a Padres batter during the first inning Wednesday, April 29, 2026, in San Diego.\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8a042a5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5517x3693+0+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F83%2F03%2F6390843846f99a4286057013223f%2Fcubs-padres-baseball.jpg\"> </picture> </a></div> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-category\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs\" >Cubs</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/29/cubs-offense-backs-jameson-taillons-solid-start\" >Cubs’ offense backs Jameson Taillon's solid start</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">Tallion shut down the first 14 batters in order, survived two solo homers, and then allowed just one more hit in seven innings of the Cubs’ 5-4 victory over the Padres.</div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1777520218000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class=\"dot\"></span></div> <div class=\"PagePromo-author\"> <span>By </span><strong><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/gordon-edes\" >Gordon Edes </a></strong> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-readingTime\"> <span class=\"dot-divider\"></span> <svg class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-icon\"> <use xlink:href=\"#icon-clock-reading\"></use> </svg> <span class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-text\"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count=\"519\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </bsp-listcarousel><p></p>",
  "title": "Cubs' Nico Hoerner exits game with 'left-sided neck tightness,' per team",
  "updatedAt": "2026-05-01T19:47:21.735Z"
}