SS Starlin Castro was 1-for-4 Sunday as he completed a 3-for-17 homestand. Manager Dale Sveum said that with the entire offense struggling to score runs, he might shake up the top of the order. That could mean Castro moving from the third spot to leadoff, where he prospered last year. “I might think about changing things at the top of the order, not that anybody’s doing anything wrong, just to change things. We aren’t producing any runs that way so we might change things up there.”
C Welington Castillo has a mild sprain of the MCL in his right knee. He suffered the injury last Friday and is expected to miss a total of four to seven days. With the Cubs being in a bind at catcher, they traded for C Koyie Hill, who played with them from 2007-11. The Cubs sent cash to the Reds for Hill, who was at Class AA Pensacola. Hill’s backup is rookie Blake Lalli, who was brought up from Class AAA (Des Moines) Iowa last Friday.
C Steve Clevenger and RHP Carlos Marmol will begin minor league rehab stints at Iowa Monday. Marmol is recovering from a right-hamstring strain. Clevenger is on the DL with a right-oblique strain. Both could return for the Memorial Day series opener at home against San Diego.
C Koyie Hill will take over as No. 1 catcher until the injury situation behind the plate begins to resolve itself. Hill, 33, said he certainly pondered retirement at Class AA Pensacola in the Reds system. He was a member of the Cubs organization from 2007-11.
LHP Paul Maholm had his four-game winning streak snapped. He gave up home runs to Gordon Beckham, Adam Dunn and Tyler Flowers over 6 1/3 innings of nine-hit, five run ball.
RHP Carlos Marmol and C Steve Clevenger will begin minor league rehab stints at Iowa Monday. Marmol is recovering from a right-hamstring strain. Clevenger is on the DL with a right-oblique strain. Both could return for the Memorial Day series opener at home against San Diego.
C Geovany Soto underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Friday and returned to Wrigley Field Sunday to begin rehabbing. Soto is expected to be out three to four weeks.
