CHICAGO -- Manager David Ross has learned to lean on his medical staff and keep the big picture in mind when it comes to giving his star players time off. The latest example was Javier Báez being out of Sunday's starting lineup.

Báez tried to play through some back tightness on Saturday, but was lifted late in Chicago's 3-2 win over the Pirates. With an off-day looming on Monday, Ross opted to give Báez a little more time to rest and recover.

"Every player wants to stay in unless they're seriously injured," Ross said. "That's the competitive nature of the player. I think most guys I've been around want to continue to feel like they can contribute. It gets to a point where you just want to think long term."

Ross also does not want Báez to lose his current rhythm in the batter's box.

Entering Sunday, Báez was batting .306/.318/.613 over his past 16 games with a 29.9 percent strikeout rate, 71.4 percent contact rate and 17.1 swinging-strike rate. The shortstop will always be a free swinger, but that showing is much improved over his start to this season.

Over the season's first 13 games (prior to the stretch noted above), Báez hit .191/.255/.404 with a 43.1 percent strikeout rate, 47.1 percent contact rate and 28.5 swinging-strike rate.

The recent improvement has given Báez a .257/.291/.523 overall slash line with a 124 OPS+ (24 percent above MLB average as a hitter). The shortstop has eight homers and entered Sunday tied for the National League lead in RBIs (25).

Ross summoned Báez in the ninth inning of Sunday's 6-5 loss with the tying run on second, but the shortstop grounded out to end the game.

"Javy's in a really good place," Ross said. "I feel like this is more the player that we all have seen have a lot of success. Working through some things early on mechanically, I think, and approach-wise has really got him locked back in and making more contact, staying in the zone a little bit more with his approach, with his swings.

"I would say [he's] a little less out of control than he was there for a minute. So, yeah, I think it's been nice."

Worth noting
• Ross said Chicago's players (led by outfielder Jake Marisnick) have been bonding over opening packs of baseball cards in the clubhouse before games. The manager said it's a "huge ordeal" with everyone gathering around to see which cards a player lands.

"They even let me open one the other day," Ross said. "I didn't have a whole lot of luck in getting the good cards. I'm suspended from opening any cards."

• Right-hander Jake Arrieta (10-day injured list, right thumb) threw a bullpen session with no issues on Saturday, per Ross. The manager noted that Arrieta will throw off the mound again during the upcoming series in Cleveland and is on target to return during next weekend's road set in Detroit.

• Ross noted that infielder Nico Hoerner (10-day IL, left forearm) has come through fine during some light fielding and hitting work in recent days. The manager quipped that there's "not much to report on him other than the kid can't sit still."

• Right-hander Shelby Miller (10-day IL, back) struck out five in three innings in a Minor League rehab start for Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, beginning what developed into a no-hitter for the Cubs' affiliate against Indianapolis. Tommy Nance, Brad Wieck and Ryan Meisinger worked the rest of the game for Iowa.

Quotable
"I've been super pleased with these guys and their poise and the character in the moment. Pitch characteristics are important and stuff matters, but how you're able to control your mind and the heartrate and the heartbeat and the emotions out there on the mound is sometimes just as important as how hard you throw." --Ross, on young arms like Keegan Thompson and Justin Steele