Extra bases
• Sveum met with the relievers in his office for a few minutes prior to Wednesday's game to go over their roles and clarify that there was no long man.
Carlos Villanueva would seem a logical choice for that role, but Sveum said the right-hander, recently moved from the rotation to the bullpen, was too valuable to be used only in long relief.
Kevin Gregg remains the closer, and he is 6-for-6 in save situations.
• Albert Almora, the Cubs' No. 1 Draft pick last year, joined Class A Kane County and was activated for Wednesday's game at Peoria. Catcher Carlos Escobar was placed on the disabled list, retroactive to Monday.
Almora, rated by MLB.com as the organization's No. 2 prospect, split his first professional season with Mesa in the Rookie League and Class A Boise last season, batting a combined .321 with two home runs and 19 RBIs.
He broke the hamate bone in his left hand in Spring Training and had been rehabbing in Mesa, Ariz.