Chicago Cubs rookie third baseman Matt Shaw missed Sunday’s game, a 1-0 loss for Chicago at the hands of the Cincinnati Reds, to attend the memorial service for Charlie Kirk in Arizona at State Farm Stadium, the home of the Arizona Cardinals. Kirk, a conservative activist, was shot and killed at a speaking event in Utah on Sept. 10.
Shaw traveled to Arizona from Cincinnati after Saturday’s game in Cincinnati and missed Sunday afternoon’s contest. Monday Sept. 22 is an off day for the Cubs and Shaw is expected to be back with the team for Tuesday’s game at home against the New York Mets.
Kirk attended a Cubs game in Chicago on Aug. 20, a 4-3 win for the Cubs over the Milwaukee Brewers. Kirk posed for a photo on the field after the game with Shaw and Michael Busch, which he posted to his X account.
Shaw was scratched from Chicago’s game on Sept. 1o, the day Kirk was assassinated for undisclosed personal matters, though he did enter the game as a pinch hitter.
Kirk was a conservative activist who campaigned for President Donald Trump through college speaking and debating events.
Shaw’s Absence Noteworthy As Cubs Are Swept By Reds
Shaw’s absence on Sunday was noticed as his replacement, Justin Turner, went 0-for-3 in lieu of Shaw. The Cubs were shutout in a 1-0 loss on a getaway day as Cincinnati’s sweep put it on the right side of the playoff picture with a record of 80-76.
Chicago officially clinched it’s spot in the postseason on Sept. 17, when the defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-4.
Though the Cubs have ensured their spot in the 2025 postseason, they are still in the midst of battling for seeding within the playoffs. Their skid at the hands of the Reds allowed the San Diego Padres to draw within four games of them atop the Wild Card standings. Chicago currently owns the top spot, which would give them a home-field advantage in the Wild Card series, but the Padres are now within striking distance to overtake them and claim a home series, potentially against the Cubs.
The Padres have six games left, three against the Central Division champion Brewers and three against the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are fighting to make the playoffs as they sit just one game back of the Reds for the final Wild Card Seed. Chicago will face the New York Mets three times as they try to claw their way back into the Wild Card race after an abysmal stretch in September, and will finish their season against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Shaw Having a Strong Rookie Season
Shaw was a dark horse candidate to compete for NL Rookie of the Year honors for a while, though his teammate Cade Horton has taken over as the overwhelming favorite for that award.
Nonetheless, Shaw is having a great rookie season, as he has 12 home runs and 42 RBI in 121 games played. There are plenty of areas he could surely improve upon as he’s currently batting just .223 and has more strikeouts than hits, but if he can take the momentum and experience from this season to learn from over the winter, the Cubs may have their third baseman of the future right in front of them.
Cubs Third Baseman Matt Shaw Missed Game to Attend Charlie Kirk Memorial