CHICAGO -- The Cubs plan to make a statement as a team on Opening Day on Friday, doing their part to keep the conversation about racial injustice going. Manager David Ross did not delve into details, but he said Wednesday that the group will be together in its actions.

"We've had multiple meetings on the racial injustice topic," Ross said. "We've got a plan in place for Opening Day that these guys are unified with. It really has been some great discussions and some great conversations, learning and learning a lot about things that we don't see, or what other people may be going through.

"It's been really powerful, I think, for this group to have those discussions. It's brought us closer together, in my opinion. It's been really rewarding on my end and we've got great leadership here between the players and our front-office group and our coaching staff."

Ross preferred not to say what Chicago's players had in mind for Friday, when the Brewers come to Wrigley Field for the season opener. Opening Day starter Kyle Hendricks also stayed away from specifics, other than reiterating that the team was "unified" on the topic.

• New skipper leads Cubs into new territory

"We've had a lot of good discussions with everything going on in the world these days," Hendricks said. "It's just opened up conversation, and it's been the same amongst us, amongst teammates, just amongst friends and brothers, really. We've had really, really good open discussions about what all this means, how we want to move forward.

"I think the main point is we're all together in this. We're a family here. We're going to be unified in moving forward."

Lester sharp in last tuneup
The Twins sent a formidable lineup to Wrigley Field for Wednesday's 4-3 loss exhibition loss to the Cubs, giving veteran Jon Lester a good test in his final outing of Summer Camp. Lester was up to the task and pitched into the fifth inning.

"I don't need to see anything but him getting his work in," Ross said, "and continuing to try to execute pitches, continue to compete. I've got a ton of confidence in Jon. He's continued on that veteran plan, as some of these guys have to pace themselves and really build toward the season."

The 36-year-old Lester is in line to start the Cubs' fourth game of the season against the Reds on Monday in Cincinnati. Against the Twins, the lefty was charged with one run (it scored following his exit) on one hit with four strikeouts and two walks in 4 1/3 innings. Lester logged 66 pitches (42 for strikes).

Contreras stays hot vs. Twins
Cubs catcher Willson Contreras launched four home runs against his own pitchers during intrasquad action in camp, and he kept up the pace against Minnesota. Contreras belted a pair of solo homers off Twins righty Homer Bailey -- one to right-center in the first and the other a blast to straightaway center in the third. Contreras added a single in the fifth inning before bowing out of the exhibition.

"You're not surprised at all that he's able to just jump right in there and carry it in," Cubs hitting coach Anthony Iapoce said recently about the catcher. "The power thing, he's learning how to drive the ball more consistently, learning how to take chances and just playing more of the in-game chess in his at-bats. The swing has always been there."

Worth noting
• Anthony Rizzo homered in his return to the Cubs' lineup on Wednesday after battling back tightness for the past few weeks, but Kris Bryant was scratched from the lineup with a similar issue. Ross said moving Bryant (lower back tightness) to the bench was out of caution and indicated that the third baseman was still technically available to play.

"We're just trying to be cautious," Ross said before the exhibition game. "If today's a regular-season game, Kris plays."

• Right-hander Alec Mills logged five simulated innings on Wednesday afternoon, facing Josh Phegley, Ian Miller, P.J. Higgins and Hernán Pérez. Following the workout, Ross confirmed that Mills will be the Cubs' No. 5 starter, putting him in line to start on Tuesday on the road against the Reds.

"He's done everything he's needed to do," Ross said. "I couldn't be happier with Alec. He's done a great job for us. I like the way he competes. He was just getting his work in today and building up for that fifth start."

Quotable
"At the end of the day, to me personally, it really doesn't mean much. I'm just so excited to get back out there on the field with my teammates and playing to win. Yeah, I relished in it maybe for a second with my guys and my family, but other than that, back to normal." -- Hendricks, on being the Opening Day starter

Up next
Following an off-day Thursday, the Cubs and Brewers will clash on Opening Day at 6:10 p.m. CT Friday at Wrigley Field. Hendricks (11-10, 3.46 ERA in 2019) will take the ball for Chicago in his first Opening Day assignment, and will be opposed by righty Brandon Woodruff (11-3, 3.62 ERA in '19). The game will be aired on ESPN, Marquee Sports Network and MLB.TV.