The Cubs put center fielder and leadoff hitter Dexter Fowler on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a right hamstring strain.
Fowler suffered the injury while running out a ground ball Saturday. General manager Jed Hoyer said the move is precautionary. To fill Fowler’s roster spot, the Cubs called up relief pitcher C.J. Edwards from Class AAA Iowa.
“We don’t think it’s a long-term injury,” Hoyer said. “I hate to put timetables on this. But ultimately, we knew it was going to be something that would sideline him for at least the next handful of games, [a] week or so, and that’s the case.
“Playing short-handed for what would be the significant part of a [disabled list] stint doesn’t make a lot of sense.”
Fowler has excelled in the leadoff spot. Entering Monday, his .398 on-base percentage was tied for ninth in the National League.
After manager Joe Maddon batted Chris Coghlan in the leadoff spot Sunday against the Pirates, he moved second baseman Ben Zobrist into the top spot Monday against the Cardinals.
Maddon said he likes the idea of Zobrist hitting behind Anthony Rizzo but knows he’ll have to be flexible with Fowler on the disabled list.
“[Zobrist] is a superutility guy — anywhere on the field, anywhere in the batting order — he never complains” Maddon said. “He just shows up, he plays and he’s ready to go.”
La Stella, Soler improving
Tommy La Stella and Jorge Soler are progressing as they continue to rehab from hamstring injuries. Both worked out with the team’s training staff Monday.
Maddon said he couldn’t allow Fowler’s injury to affect how quickly La Stella and Soler return.
“We can’t really try to manipulate that,” Maddon said. “Just let [Soler] get well, and whenever he’s well, he’s ready to go. But I’m hearing that Tommy’s going to be better before Jorge is better.
“Jorge is on his own little pace right now.”
Youth movement
With the exception of 35-year-old Zobrist, each of the Cubs’ starting position players Monday against the Cardinals was in their 20s. That includes a pair of 22-year-olds in Albert Almora Jr., who started in center, and shortstop Addison Russell. Catcher Willson Contreras, 24, made his first major-league start after hitting a pinch-hit home run in his first major-league at-bat Sunday.
Maddon joked that he should have started Matt Szczur, 26, and “just kept [Zobrist] out of it, and then it would have been really interesting.”
The Cubs have nine players on their 25-man roster who are 26 or younger.
“You look at the young talent around the room, and that’s pretty cool to see that happening,” 23-year-old Kris Bryant said.
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