Fowler rests left ankle; Wada's status TBD
CHICAGO -- Dexter Fowler, who sprained his left ankle Monday night, was not in the starting lineup on Tuesday, though he did pinch-hit during the deciding rally in the Cubs' 1-0, 10-inning win. Pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada's status, however, was a little more uncertain.
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Wada had to leave Monday's game after two-plus innings because of soreness in his left shoulder. The Cubs felt part of Wada's problem may have been related to dehydration. He was able to play catch on Tuesday, but manager Joe Maddon wasn't ready to say whether the left-hander could make his next start, Saturday against the Cardinals.
The Cubs do have two former starters in the bullpen, in Travis Wood and Edwin Jackson, and Maddon said he prefers keeping Wood in a relief role rather than have him make a spot start.
Video: LAD@CHC: Wood throws 3 1/3 scoreless relief innings
"It's really nice to see his name on that list [of available relievers]," Maddon said about Wood, who earned the win with 3 1/3 innings in relief of Wada on Monday. "When he comes out for that one time through the batting order, he can just let it go. He knows he doesn't have to save it for the fifth or sixth innings."
Jackson's longest outing this season has been 3 2/3 innings, June 9 against the Tigers.
• With Fowler out of the leadoff spot, Chris Coghlan batted first Tuesday night. Maddon said he did not consider rookie Addison Russell, who has been batting ninth.
"I think Addison is doing really, really well where he's sitting now," Maddon said. "Addison's development is so important to me and to us -- I'm not saying he can't do it, I'm not saying that at all. ... Right now, his on-base percentage is getting to respectability. You see him work better at-bats. I just like what he's doing and I don't want to mess with his development."
• The Cubs' bullpen entered play Tuesday on a roll.The relievers had compiled a 1.53 ERA, giving up 15 earned runs over their last 88 innings. That 1.53 ERA was the lowest in the Major Leagues in that span.
Maddon said what's helping the pitchers is that he's using them in different roles. For example, Hector Rondon, who was the closer at the start of the season, pitched the eighth Monday while Jason Motte picked up his second save.
"The fact that they are wearing various hats is helping," Maddon said.
Video: LAD@CHC: Motte gets Kendrick to end the game
• President of baseball operations Theo Epstein said they will try to add a starting pitcher if they feel it's needed. Maddon has no doubt that Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer will deliver.
"As long as we're pertinent, they'll do whatever they can to augment what we're doing, I totally believe that," Maddon said. "If it's a pitcher, it'll be a pitcher. Whatever we need, I believe they'll attempt to make it happen."
But Maddon is not counting on another starter.
"I never really look at it that way," he said. "I'm always prepared to go with what we have. I'm used to that. My job is to get the most out of whatever is here. Of course, you want to get stronger. If the situation calls for us to get the most out of these guys, that's what we'll do."