Jason Heyward likely to miss three-five days with contusion on right side – Will not be placed on Disabled List
The Cubs announced Jason Heyward has a contusion near his rib area on right side. Heyward is expected to miss three-five days. Heyward will not be placed on the DL.
Matt Szczur has been activated from the 15-day DL. To make room for Szczur, RHP Neil Ramirez has been designated for assignment.
Joe Maddon decided to move Ben Zobrist to right field for Saturday night’s game at AT&T Park. With Zobrist in right, Javier Baez is starting at second base with Kris Bryant at third base. Jorge Soler gets the start in left field.
Maddon moved his regulars up a spot in the lineup with Heyward out. Bryant is hitting second behind Fowler with Rizzo third and Zobrist batting in the cleanup spot.
Cubs batting order: Dexter Fowler CF, Kris Bryant 3B, Anthony Rizzo 1B, Ben Zobrist RF, Jorge Soler LF, Javier Baez 2B, Addison Russell SS, David Ross C, Jon Lester P
The Cubs will play with a man short tonight. Tommy La Stella, Tim Federowicz, Matt Szczur and Miguel Montero make up Maddon’s four-man bench.
With Heyward out, the Cubs will not be able to run out a lineup that would have the best chance to put up runs against RHP Matt Cain. Left-handers have torched Cain this season. Lefties are batting .354/.398/.549 with a .947 OPS. Right-handers are only hitting .283/.318/.485 against him with a .803. Cain has pitched a lot better his last two times out and has shown flashes of the Matt Cain of old.
Jason Heyward walked into the clubhouse with his teammates, which is a very good sign after last night’s violent collision with the base of the wall. Heyward told ESPN Chicago “he’s doing better today than last night. Jesse Rogers reported “watching Heyward move around you wouldn’t know he was injured.”