Cubs center fielder Marlon Byrd said after the game Sunday he hoped to play again “sometime this season.”
But the Cubs probably will have to get by without him for several weeks because Byrd suffered multiple facial fractures after getting hit by a pitch Saturday.
Manager Mike Quade appears content to go with Reed Johnson as his regular center fielder despite having kept Johnson on the bench for most of the season. Johnson had only seven starts — one in center — before Byrd’s injury. Johnson is hitting .370 with 15 RBIs in only 54 at-bats.
The Cubs have three other options in center.
Tony Campana is available, but Quade appears to prefer the speedy rookie as his late-inning weapon off the bench, available to pinch-run in close games. The Cubs also could bring back Tyler Colvin from Triple-A Iowa, hoping that everyday playing time in the majors would cure his swing.
A third, less likely, option is bringing up Double-A Tennessee outfielder Brett Jackson, the Cubs’ 2009 first-round draft pick. The left-handed batter is hitting .295 with 13 steals. But Jackson has been sidelined since May 11 after straining a ligament in his left pinkie during a slide, and the Cubs might not want to rush him anyway.
The Cubs will add a position player Tuesday, though it doesn’t need to be a center fielder because Johnson, Campana and Kosuke Fukudome can play the position.
Extra innings: With Monday’s off day, Quade has moved
Doug Davis
back in the rotation so
Carlos Zambrano
can pitch on regular rest Thursday against the Mets. Davis is slated to start Friday against the Pirates, and
Randy Wells
might be called up Saturday from Iowa if
Matt Garza
(elbow) is still unavailable. …
Geovany Soto
is due off the disabled list Thursday.
