Sticking to maintenance program key to Addison Russell's shoulder pain

Sticking to maintenance program key to Addison Russell’s shoulder pain

By Gordon Wittenmyer

WASHINGTON — Shortstop Addison Russell, who left Sunday’s game because of recurring soreness in his shoulder, was cleared to play Monday. He wanted in the lineup, but manager Joe Maddon sat him as a precaution.

“Any time you have to take a guy out of a game because he says he’s hurting a little bit, I don’t want to just push him back out there,” Maddon said. “[The trainer] feels good about it. We’ve just got to get him on a steady diet of rehab, like a maintenance program. We’ll just play it a little cautious right now.”

Russell has a prescribed shoulder maintenance program but doesn’t always follow it.

“I need to be more self-aware and take responsibility,” Russell said Sunday, “and get some things that I need to work on taken care of.”

Injury updates

World Series MVP Ben Zobrist tested his ailing left wrist Monday by swinging a bat for the first time since going on the disabled list. He said it felt fine. He’s expected to test it again Tuesday and, barring a setback, make a decision on a brief minor-league rehab stint at that point.

Outfielder Jason Heyward (hand) continues to make progress as he swings a bat lightly, with nagging tenderness in a freshly healed cut that had trouble closing because of skin torn away in the area.

“You don’t want to tear stuff and then need a surgery or something like that,” said Heyward, who was told by medical staff that the injury was the equivalent of a third-degree burn. “That defeats the purpose of being on the DL now to let it heal.”

Heyward was injured attempting to catch a foul pop on the warning track June 18 in Pittsburgh.

This and that

The Cubs promoted infielder Jeimer Candelario from Class AAA Iowa and started him at third base. Right-hander Dylan Floro was sent down to make room.

— Heyward dropped from third to fourth among outfielders in the latest All-Star voting. Only Kris Bryant holds a starting spot in the fan voting, which ends this week.

— The Cubs traded left-hander Zac Rosscup to the Rockies for Class AAA right-hander Matt Carasiti. Rosscup was designated for assignment.

Follow me on Twitter @GDubCub.

Email: gwittenmyer@suntimes.com