CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs rookie slugger Kyle Schwarber is expected to miss three to five days because of a mild rib cage strain.
He hurt himself on a checked swing during batting practice before Wednesday's game against Cincinnati. The left-handed hitter hopes to be in the lineup Monday when Chicago opens a three-game series at St. Louis.
Manager Joe Maddon says the team is "just going to chill a little bit right now and figure it out from there." He doesn't anticipate the injury being "too bad."
Schwarber is hitting .270 with 13 homers and 38 RBIs in 48 games.
He is a catcher who mostly has been playing left field. He was called up from Triple-A Iowa as a designated hitter in June for six interleague games, then recalled again July 17.
Entering Friday's game against Arizona, Chicago holds the second spot in the NL wild-card race.