Baez (heel) out of lineup for first time this season
Cubs shortstop Javy Baez, who left the game Sunday night because of a bruised heel, was out of the lineup Monday for the first time this season.
“It’s not bad. He’s just sore,” manager Joe Maddon said. “We thought it would be wise just to give him the day. I had already built in a day off this week for him, but it may be altered now based on the fact he’s not playing [Monday].
“We’ll just do the day-by-day thing with him. But I think he’s going to be fine.”
Baez was hurt charging an infield chopper in the third inning but stayed in the game until the sixth.
Updates on closers
Pedro Strop, the Cubs’ de facto closer since Brandon Morrow was shut down at the All-Star break last season, threw from a mound for the first time since going on the injured list with a hamstring injury two weeks ago.
Strop threw 25 pitches and, barring a setback, is expected to throw again this week.
Morrow, who suffered a setback with his balky elbow last month, played catch from 45 to 60 feet in Arizona. He’s still not expected to return until at least July.
Tough break
Prospect Nico Hoerner, whose progress from a wrist injury had been slow since getting hit by a pitch last month, continued to suffer discomfort after resuming a hitting progression, prompting a CT scan that revealed a hairline fracture.
Hoerner, a 2018 first-round draft pick, will miss at least one more month.