"Chicago Cubs infielder Matt Shaw missed his team's 1-0 loss Sunday in Cincinnati. The win completed a sweep for the Reds, presently a distant eight games behind Chicago for second place in the NL Central and clinging to the back of the wild-card contenders. The Cubs already clinched a playoff spot last week, but are just a game and a half up on the rising San Diego Padres in the battle for the top wild card."
"Shaw's absence, as well as his team's handling of the situation, scan as strange in baseball terms, but he attended Kirk's funeral as a personal acquaintance. Shaw, who was also a late scratch from Chicago's game on Sept. 10, the day Kirk was killed, later said he was invited personally to attend by Erika Kirk, Charlie's widow. Shaw met and befriended Charlie in 2024, when the two were neighbors in a"
Matt Shaw was a healthy scratch from the Cubs' 1-0 loss in Cincinnati after he received permission to miss work to attend a memorial service in Arizona for Charlie Kirk. The Cubs had already clinched a playoff spot but remain close to the Padres in the wild-card race. SNY commentators Gary Cohen and Todd Zeile limited commentary to rules and precedent, noting Shaw's request did not meet MLB bereavement-leave criteria and therefore prevented a temporary replacement. The team's limited communications made Shaw's complete absence surprising. Shaw says he was invited by Erika Kirk and had befriended Charlie in 2024 when they were neighbors.
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