Cubs rest Soler with rain affecting outfield

CHICAGO -- Jorge Soler did not start Sunday, but that was part of the Cubs' plan to help the rookie outfielder stay healthy in his return from leg injuries. Soler was pulled from Saturday's game after five innings because rain had made the playing field slippery and the Cubs didn't want to risk injury.

"The guys were talking about how it was getting a little softer," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said Sunday about the outfield. "For us, it was the right thing to do at that time [to pull Soler]. We have three [games] more against St. Louis, then a day off Thursday, and three more in Milwaukee, and he'll finish off playing."

Soler has played four or five days in a row, then gotten a breather in his comeback. He began the season with Double-A Tennessee but suffered a leg injury after his first hit in his first game April 3. He went on the disabled list and returned in May, but needed to go on the DL again. After rehabbing in Mesa, he rejoined the Smokies in July, and batted .463 in 15 games before he was promoted to Triple-A.

• Renteria and general manager Jed Hoyer are conducting exit interviews with players, and the discussion has turned to what the Cubs need for 2015. What's on Renteria's wish list?

"What we'd really like is to have a bunch of really good baserunners," Renteria said Sunday. "One of the things we're talking about is going into Spring Training and get some skill work done and a better of sense what we need to add."

Isn't baserunning instinctual?

"I've always thought that instincts are learned," Renteria said. "If you take advantage of experiences, it teaches you something."

• The Cubs have yet to finalize the rotation for the last series of the regular season next weekend in Milwaukee. Kyle Hendricks will start the season finale on Sept. 28. One of the options is to have Eric Jokisch start a game. He was 9-10 with a 3.58 ERA in 26 starts at Triple-A Iowa this season.