(670 The Score) Cubs shortstop Javier Baez is out of the team's lineup against the Phillies on Monday evening, a day after he suffered a right heel contusion making an off-balance throw in a win against the Nationals.
Baez suffered the bruised heel on a play in which he came running in on a slow roller and then awkwardly landed Sunday. He stayed in the game for three more innings before manager Joe Maddon pulled in the sixth inning.
Addison Russell will start at shortstop in Baez's place and hit eighth, while Baez may be available to pinch-hit.
"He is not bad," president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. "I saw him in the clubhouse on a bike. He is just sore. We will just play it out. We thought it would be wise to give him the day. I think he will be available to hit if we need him to."
This will mark Baez's first absence from the Cubs' lineup this season, as he started each of the first 44 games at shortstop. He's the only Cubs player to appear in every game this season.
Baez has been a force for the Cubs, hitting .319 with 11 homers, 31 RBIs and a .953 OPS.
In other Cubs injury news, reliever Pedro Strop threw a 25-pitch bullpen session as he works back from a grade-2 hamstring strain. He's expected to throw another bullpen late in the week.
Reliever Brandon Morrow threw from 45 to 60 feet Monday in a session that went "well," Epstein said. Morrow had elbow surgery in November and has had several setbacks in his recovery and rehab.
