Lester to start Friday as Cubs reset rotation

PITTSBURGH -- After a rain-shortened start Monday night, Jon Lester said he would be ready to pitch sooner rather than later, but he didn't want to disrupt the rest of the Cubs' rotation to account for his abbreviated outing.

The Cubs believe they found an ideal solution, slotting Lester back into the rotation Friday night against the Giants at Wrigley Field. Dan Haren will make his Cubs debut Wednesday night at PNC Park, as planned, and Jason Hammel will pitch Thursday's series opener against the Giants.

The move will push right-hander Kyle Hendricks back a day, as he'll start Saturday, and Jake Arrieta is scheduled to pitch Sunday's series finale on normal rest.

"It's not bad to give Kyle an extra day. That still keeps Jake on his normal day," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "You don't want to really backlog Jon that much. ... It worked out really well.

"Jon fits easily into that Friday, then you give Kyle the extra day, which we like. It just played really well."

Lester threw only 31 pitches against the Pirates on Monday night, when the game was postponed after four innings due to inclement weather. None of the stats from Monday night's game count, including Lester's 1 2/3 innings.

Extra bases

• Catcher Miguel Montero (sprained left thumb) is on a Minor League rehab assignment with Double-A Tennessee and is expected back at some point this weekend.

Maddon has said that rookie Kyle Schwarber will remain in the big leagues upon Montero's return. He's also offered his opinion to the Cubs' front office regarding how the roster should shake out at that point.

Video: CHC@MIL: Schwarber lifts a solo homer to pad the lead

"Right now, just being very honest with you, I've been conducting conversations with our guys in the front office to see what they have in mind," Maddon said. "I know what I think, and I've told them that. I'm not ready yet to specifically tell you what the plan's going to be.

"Once Miggy comes back, I want it to be in place so there's no gray area and everybody knows what's going on. But those conversations are actively going on."