Castro remains only player to start every game

ST. LOUIS -- With Anthony Rizzo sitting on Tuesday for the first time this season, the only Cubs player who has started every game is shortstop Starlin Castro. Manager Dale Sveum was thinking about giving Castro a breather last week, but not now.

"It's one of those things you kind of think about but don't do," Sveum said. "If it continues, or whatever, it might be one of those things where he needs to kick back and watch, too."

Castro was batting .241 overall and .153 this month. He has played 263 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the National League.

Sveum said he didn't see the struggles by Castro and Rizzo as "red flags."

"It'd be a red flag if maybe you were expecting young players who hadn't produced yet in the big leagues, but these guys have obviously produced," Sveum said. "We've seen Rizzo hit fastballs, we've seen him have a lot of success and hit good pitching, and all kinds of pitching. It's not a red flag that way.

"These guys will end up figuring it out. It's just one of those processes in their careers."