Alex Bregman in Cubs postseason lineup 9 days after sustaining 8 facial fractures from foul ball

The All-Star third baseman is batting second and serving as designated hitter for Game 1 of the wild-card series in San Diego , only nine days after sustaining multiple facial fractures from a foul ball off the bat of teammate Michael Busch . Per USA Today's Bob Nightengale , Bregman sustained eight broken bones in his face from the impact.

Bregman avoided the injured list in the wake of the play and was back in the lineup five days later. He played only two games before the end of the regular season, going 0-for-4 in his first game back then 4-for-4 with two homers in the second.

Bregman still hasn't played the field since his injury and won't on Tuesday, either. The Cubs are instead starting Pedro Ramírez at the hot corner. Manager Craig Counsell said the decision was made out of caution, for obvious reasons: