Rizzo sits for third straight game with tight back

ST. LOUIS -- Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who had hoped to return for the start of the Cardinals series on Friday night, did not start for a third straight game because of tightness in his lower back.

Cubs manager Rick Renteria said Rizzo was better than he was on Thursday. Whether he'll be able to play in one of the Cubs' doubleheader games on Saturday is to be determined.

Rizzo's back became an issue on Tuesday when he couldn't get loose after a 50-minute rain delay in Cincinnati. He came out of that game as a precaution.

Rizzo has yet to be in the lineup since top prospect Jorge Soler was promoted from Triple-A Iowa.

"We all want to see [Rizzo] in that lineup," Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said. "It'll be fun to see that lineup card. I don't have a prognosis [on Rizzo's status], just that he's day to day in the true sense of the word."

On Thursday, Rizzo said there wasn't one thing that aggravated his back, and called the problem "frustrating."