Kyle Hendricks says injury ‘nothing traumatizing’

Kyle Hendricks is out, but he’s not down.

The Cubs right-hander said Friday he expects to miss one start after he was put on the 10-day disabled list Thursday with tendinitis in his right middle finger.

He added he could have started Friday against the Rockies, “if we really, really had to,” but said he likely will return for next weekend’s series in Pittsburgh.

He attributed the injury to normal “wear and tear” and said it kind of came out of nowhere.

“Nothing traumatizing,” he said. “I really felt it Tuesday in my bullpen. Wednesday it was worse, so I had to say something.

“It could have been from hitting (or) catching a ball wrong or something, even in (batting practice).”

Hendricks said he expects to start throwing again within a few days, once the inflammation subsides.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon said the added rest could be a benefit.

“Maybe the velocity’s been down a click,” Maddon said. “This may actually be a good thing, just putting him on a different pattern.”

Hendricks, who led baseball with a 2.13 ERA and a 192 ERA-plus last season, is 4-3 with a 4.09 ERA and a 102 ERA-plus in 61 2/3 innings spanning 11 starts this year.

Homer away from home: Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu had never hit a home run at Wrigley Field until his three-run shot against Jon Lester Thursday. The former Cub had gone 72 at-bats at there without long ball, tied for second-most with the Cardinals’ Matt Adams among active position players behind the Marlins’ Martin Prado, who has no home runs in 95 at-bats there, according to Elias.

Stop, thief! When Rockies left fielder Ian Desmond stole second base in the second inning Friday, he became the 22nd consecutive runner to do so against Cubs catcher Miguel Montero this season.

Montero hasn’t caught a runner trying to steal since last season, when he nabbed just seven of 66, or 11 percent.

pskrbina@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @ChiTribSkrbina

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