Castillo scratched; Jackson continues throwing

CHICAGO -- Cubs catcher Welington Castillo was scratched from Friday's suspended game because of low back tightness, something he's been battling for a couple of weeks. Castillo has been on a roll, and he's thrown out eight of the last 10 baserunners attempting to steal on him, dating to Aug. 12.

"I told them, 'Let me try, let me try,'" said Castillo, who felt his back tighten during batting practice. "They crossed me out of the lineup to prevent something bigger in the future. I told them, 'I'm good to go [Saturday].' They gave me one more day to get better."

Pitcher Edwin Jackson, sidelined since Aug. 21 with a right lat strain, is continuing to do side work with the hope that he can get in a game before the season ends.

"He's still coming along," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said of Jackson before Friday's opener vs. the Pirates. "We'll continue to monitor him. We're still looking forward. The goal is to get him back before the season ends."

First baseman Anthony Rizzo (lower back strain) and shortstop Starlin Castro (left ankle sprain) also were continuing to rehab their injuries.