CHICAGO -- Joc Pederson will not travel with the Cubs for their upcoming series in Atlanta, but will instead head to the team's alternate training site with the goal of beginning a hitting program this week.

Prior to Sunday's game against the Brewers, Cubs manager David Ross noted that Pederson has made positive strides in recent days. The outfielder landed on the 10-day injured list on Thursday due to tendinitis in his left wrist.

"Joc feels great," Ross said. "Some really good progress in the last two days, that feels kind of like the irritation is getting out of there."

If everything goes according to plan with no setbacks, Ross said Pederson could resume light hitting as early as Tuesday or Wednesday at the Cubs' training site in South Bend, Ind. From there, Pederson would build up through batting practice and facing live pitching.

Through 16 games this season, Pederson has hit .137/.262/.235 with one homer, four RBIs and 20 strikeouts against seven walks. After hitting .378 with a 1.431 OPS in an incredible Spring Training showing, Pederson started his Cubs career with an 0-for-15 this season.

Pederson went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts while playing in near-freezing temperatures on Tuesday, and was then shelved with the wrist injury.

"We have to obviously listen to him and the wrist," Ross said. "If the batting practice goes well and the next day [and] there's no residual effects from that, then we'll continue to push him forward. That stuff, really, has a lot to do with how he feels and how he bounces back."

Tepera's suspension reduced
The Cubs announced Sunday that reliever Ryan Tepera's initial three-game suspension had been reduced to two games by MLB, following the appeal process. Tepera began serving the suspension on Sunday against the Brewers.

Tepera will be eligible to pitch for Chicago on Tuesday in Atlanta.

"It stinks to play a man down, for sure," Ross said. "I don't know what the argument was, but we'll be happy to get him back in Atlanta on that second day."

Tepera was suspended for intentionally throwing behind the legs of Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff in the fifth inning of a 3-2 win for the Cubs on April 13. The right-hander, who logged four outings while appealing, admitted it was in retaliation for multiple Cubs batters being hit by a pitch.

Quotable
"Every Major Leaguer, especially young Major Leaguers, has to go out and prove that they belong here. I think he's well on his way to doing that. There's guys that come up and force your hand sometimes, too, right? Some guys come up and are playing really well, and it's hard to send them back down." -- Ross on Nico Hoerner