Cubs Suzuki to Miss Opening Day with Knee Injury

Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki will miss the team's Opening Day game against the Washington Nationals on March 26 at Wrigley Field, manager Craig Counsell announced Saturday, due to a knee injury sustained during the World Baseball Classic.

Suzuki, who represented Japan in the tournament, suffered a sprain of his right posterior cruciate ligament on March 14 while attempting a headfirst slide to steal second base in the first inning of Japan's quarterfinal loss to Venezuela. The 31-year-old has rejoined the Cubs in Arizona for a modified workout routine that includes batting cage sessions and light throwing, but he has not yet progressed to running, sprinting or fielding drills. He wore a brace on the knee during Saturday's activities at the Sloan Park training complex.

"Opening Day, it's not going to happen," Counsell told reporters before a Cactus League game against Seattle in Peoria, Arizona. "He's not going to be ready to play on Opening Day. Once you get past Opening Day, we've got to make a decision. Does it just make sense to give him some time? We've got time to make that decision."

The Cubs have not finalized whether Suzuki will begin the season on the 10-day...