(670 The Score) As they continue to fall back in the NL Central race, the Cubs now have another challenge to deal with.
Star shortstop Javier Baez will likely sit out Monday after exiting early from a 4-0 loss to the Brewers with a neck and thumb injury Sunday. The ailments aren't serious, but manager Joe Maddon indicated that he's likely to give Baez a breather Monday.
Baez exited after the sixth inning Sunday. In the third inning, he slid hard headfirst into second base while stealing the bag. He suffered a jammed thumb and had a sore neck. X-rays on his thumb were negative.
"It was kind of getting sore in the joint," Maddon said of Baez's thumb. "It was getting so he couldn't hold the bat. We believe it is just sore. We put him up there next at-bat, and he drew a walk. He told us after that, it was getting too stiff. So we took him out. I have been looking to get him a day off. This may be the perfect time to do it. We will wait and find out how he is feeling."
Baez held out hope he could play Monday, when the Cubs host the Mariners.
"The two things were bothering me, the neck (and thumb), and after awhile, it became hard to squeeze my glove," Baez said. "The x-rays were negative, so we will take it a day by day. Hopefully, I am ready tomorrow."
Baez is hitting .281 with 29 homers, a team-high 85 RBIs and an .848 OPS.
