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Extra bases

• Alfonso Soriano did not start Wednesday and will likely be the Cubs' designated hitter when they play six Interleague games in American League West ballparks, starting Friday in Seattle.

Brian Bogusevic, called up from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, started in left field Wednesday against the Brewers, and will do so against the Mariners and Athletics, manager Dale Sveum said.

"You want to keep that bat going, and you don't want him to sit too long," Sveum said of Bogusevic, who hit .319 with 14 doubles, three triples, 10 home runs, 32 RBIs and 16 stolen bases with Iowa.

• The Cubs have yet to sign their first-round pick, third baseman Kris Bryant, but Sveum is eager to see the infielder play as soon as possible. Of course, fans want to know how quickly Bryant will be in the Major Leagues.

"You can't put a timetable on kids like that getting to the big leagues," Sveum said. "Hopefully, everything goes well and you get those kind of players with that kind of power and leverage in their swing, you want to get them here early, but you don't want to do anything to wreck his development either."

The Cubs are counting on the young prospects in their system to take the team to a World Series. That's a lot of pressure.

"You hope people don't get too anxious," Sveum said, "and say, 'Man, there's openings here, there's openings there. Man, I've got to do this to get to the big leagues soon.' You try to do too much and can wreck your own development."

• Class A Daytona outfielder Jorge Soler was set to be examined in Chicago. He's been sidelined with a sore left shin, injured when he fouled a ball off his leg. Soler went on the seven-day disabled list, which ended on Saturday, and has yet to play. He is supposed to see the Cubs' medical staff this week.

Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. She writes a blog, Muskat Ramblings, and you can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat.
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