MESA, Ariz. -- Kyle Schwarber, who had to leave Thursday's game with soreness in his left knee, said he hoped to be back in the Cubs' lineup on Saturday. But manager Joe Maddon said they will give him at least one more day.
Schwarber came out of the Thursday's game after two innings after he tweaked his knee making a throw from left field to home in the second inning against the Mariners. After popping up in his second at-bat, he opted to leave the game as a precautionary measure.
• Schwarber exits game with sore left knee
"It was obviously nothing significant," Schwarber said Friday. "You know me -- if I can still play, I'm going to play. I felt it wasn't the smart thing to do right then. Luckily we caught it early. We'll give it a day rest and see what it brings tomorrow. And if I can get in there tomorrow, I'll be in there."
Maddon talked to Schwarber during the morning stretch, saying Sunday would be the earliest for the young slugger to return to the lineup.
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"He wants to play, and I said, 'You're not playing, and just take it easy for the next couple days,'" Maddon said. "It's that time of the year when you don't press these kind of moments. I think he's fine. But if the knee is sore, he's not playing."
Maddon wasn't concerned that Schwarber was putting too much stress on his knees by trying to play both outfield and catcher. Will Schwarber ease into a game as the designated hitter?
"I don't think so," Schwarber said.