Worth noting

• The Cubs haven't had manager Dale Sveum watching videos of the international prospects the team has reportedly signed, including Dominican outfielder Eloy Jimenez, considered the top prospect in this year's class. Sveum did check out the top picks in the June First-Year Player Draft.

"It's like a whole [separate] Draft," Sveum said of the international signings. "Supposedly there is some really special talent out there now. To be able to spend the money and get those guys is like what we went through in the Draft. The difference is [with the international signings], you can take 16-year-old kids."

When Sveum was 16 years old, he quarterbacked Pinole Valley High in a championship game at O.co Coliseum, throwing four touchdown passes. On Thursday, he was tossing a football in the visiting manager's office.

"How things have changed," Sveum said. "I was a first-round pick and got [$100,000] and had all kinds of bargaining power."

• Friday's game against the Pirates will be the first of four games rescheduled for 3:05 p.m. CT as part of the team's agreement with the city of Chicago.

"Two more hours [of sleep] is better than a 1:20 [start]," Sveum said.

• When newcomers Matt Guerrier and Pedro Strop get in a game, they will be the 40th and 41st players to play for the Cubs this season. That would match the team record for players utilized prior to the All-Star break (41) set in 2000. Last year, the Cubs used 40 players prior to the break.

The Cubs have set a new franchise mark with 21 pitchers prior to the break. They had previously used 20 pitchers prior to the All-Star break in 2012, '11, '08 and '05.