Worth noting

• While there's still no timetable for David DeJesus' return, the outfielder is swinging off a tee and can raise his arm over his head. The speedy leadoff man is recovering from a right shoulder sprain that landed him on the 15-day disabled list on June 15.

• The Cubs opened a 10-game stay in Chicago with Friday's series opener against the Pirates. They'll travel across town to play the White Sox for a makeup game on Monday. But after playing 16 of their last 19 games on the road, Sveum said he's looking forward to the extended stay at home and improving on the team's 17-22 record at Wrigley Field.

"We need to play better at home," Sveum said. "For what we got right now, we're doing pretty decent on the road. We've got to win these games at home. We've got a tough little stretch here with some of the teams coming in, but we've got to win these games."