Schwarber to get more starts at catcher vs. Reds
ATLANTA -- Kyle Schwarber didn't start at catcher Sunday but the rookie can expect to start three of the Cubs' four games in Cincinnati against the Reds.
Promoted from Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Schwarber made his first Major League start behind the plate that day, and has spent the last two working in the bullpen with pitching coach Chris Bosio and catching instructor Mike Borzello. David Ross was behind the plate Saturday and Sunday.
"There's nothing [Schwarber] has to show me," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of the team's No. 2 prospect. "I think he did great [Friday]. It's an experience thing over a confidence thing. [Ross] has all the experience. I have all the confidence in the world in Schwarber."
Schwarber was promoted after Miguel Montero went on the disabled list with a sprained left thumb. Montero is scheduled to see another hand specialist on Monday in Arizona, and the Cubs will likely have a better idea as to how long he'll be sidelined. It's a crash course for Schwarber now.
"Give it a chance to play out a little bit," Maddon said.
Worth noting
• Dallas Beeler, who made a spot start July 7 in a doubleheader against the Cardinals, most likely will be called up to start one of the Cubs' doubleheader games Wednesday against the Reds. Beeler gave up two runs on four hits over five innings against St. Louis, but did not get a decision. At Triple-A Iowa, the right-hander was 2-5 with a 6.02 ERA in 14 starts, but he's been solid in his last six outings, giving up seven earned runs over 31 1/3 innings and striking out 31.
Kyle Hendricks is set to start one of the games in the day-night doubleheader at Great American Ball Park.
• The Trade Deadline is two weeks away, and Maddon said he hasn't gotten any updates on potential deals from the Cubs front office. The last time he talked to Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein was Thursday when they discussed Schwarber's promotion.
"That was the only communication," Maddon said.