Strop aims to return Thursday

Reliever Pedro Strop, who said earlier in the week that he expected to return to form quickly even without a regularseason tune-up, seemed sure that the Cubs’ next game after the regular-season finale Sunday won’t involve a tiebreaker Monday or a wild-card game Tuesday.

“Thursday,” Strop said, smiling about a potential National League Division Series opener. “Don’t tell me about Tuesday. We’re looking for the ‘A’ plan.”

Strop has thrown off a mound twice since suffering a left hamstring injury Sept. 13.

He said he has been able to keep his arm fresh during his recovery and planned to play catch and jog before the game Saturday against the Cardinals.

Strop is 11-for-13 in save chances since Brandon Morrow went on the disabled list in July with a season-ending elbow injury.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he would continue to use a rotation of relievers to finish out games and won’t designate a formal closer even after Strop returns.

“I really like what we’re doing, having all these different options late,” Maddon said. “I definitely would not just say he’s the closer. He’s just part of the back end of the bullpen.”

Right-hander Jesse Chavez has two saves in September and has allowed only two runs in 12‰ innings.

Left-hander Jorge De La Rosa also has a save in September and has allowed two runs in 10 innings.

“All these different guys getting the work they’ve done to this point, they feel pretty good about themselves,” Maddon said.

“It really presents a wideopen method with the bullpen.”