Cubs notebook: Extent of Fowler’s hamstring injury uncertain

Dexter Fowler missed Sunday night’s game against the Pirates as he continues to experience soreness in his right hamstring.

Fowler left Saturday night’s game after he injured his hamstring while running out a ground ball.

How long the Cubs could be without their starting centerfielder remains unknown. Fowler underwent an MRI exam Sunday morning, but manager Joe Maddon said the Cubs are waiting for a more definitive prognosis. Maddon planned to speak with president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, general manager Jed Hoyer and trainers before making a final determination.

“I don’t know the overall plan yet,” Maddon said. “If he has to be (placed on the disabled list) we want to get someone else in here. As of right now, we haven’t jumped to any conclusions.”

Fowler is hitting .298 with seven home runs and 28 RBI. Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler is also on the disabled list with a hamstring injury.

Asked what it would mean to lose Fowler, Maddon spoke to Fowler’s importance at the top of his lineup.

“Pretty much, I think, he sets the offensive tone,” Maddon said. “If you look at the run differential, he’s the guy that pretty much set that him – him and (Ben Zobrist).

“This first part of the season really took on the tone it did because of him. When I say, ‘You go, we go,’ it’s pretty much true. When he’s making things happen at the top, the rest of the group seems to fall in order.”

Slick glove

Javier Baez again started at third base Sunday as Maddon played Kris Bryant in right field. Baez made a couple of sparkling plays in Saturday’s 4-3 win, including a gem when he ranged to his left, spun and threw out Pittsburgh’s Sean Rodriguez.

“I kind of like that stuff,” Maddon said.”

For Baez, who has played third base, shortstop and second base, said he doesn’t care where he plays.

“I just follow the ball,” Baez said. “I just react to the contact off the bat and follow the ball…When I’m playing, I want the ball.”

Baez said he enjoys seeing replays of the kind of sparkling defense Maddon said played a major role on Saturday. Even though Baez has worked a great deal on his defense, seeing video evidence of his skills after the fact can, at times, take him by surprise.

“I just react to the moment and then when I see the play again, it’s like, that’s pretty good,” he said.

Contreras to start Monday

Top catching prospect Willson Contreras will start Monday’s game against the Cardinals when John Lackey starts against his former team. Contreras was called up from Class AAA Iowa Friday and entered the game as a defensive replacement. Maddon, who said Friday he didn’t know how long Contreras will remain at the big-league level, inferred Monday’s start likely won’t be his last.

“We’ll see how it plays out,” Maddon said. “You’ll see him more often. I promise you that.”

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