Cubs outfielder Kyle Schwarber is available in emergency for Wednesday's game against Cleveland but manager David Ross will try to avoid using him.
Schwarber sustained a right knee contusion after getting hit by a pitch in the sixth inning on Tuesday. He initially stayed in the game before Albert Almora Jr. pinch hit for him in the seventh.
"I don't want to push that. You start messing with a bruised knee and where that got him, a pretty good spot, that ball that hit him," Ross said Wednesday.
Schwarber was originally listed in Wednesday's starting lineup, batting cleanup and playing left field, before getting scratched. Ross discussed the potential problems Schwarber could encounter by trying to play through the ailment.
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"You just don't want to create a lot of bad habits with swinging and getting into your legs and being tender or gentle within your legs and hitting," Ross said. "It can create a lot of bad habits really fast and he's been having some of our best at-bats."
Schwarber is fifth on the team in on-base percentage (.357) and tied with Ian Happ for the most walks (8).
Quintana update
Ross said there's still no timeline for José Quintana's return to the team but added the lefty's three-inning sim game in South Bend on Tuesday "went well."
In fact, Quintana - who hasn't pitched this season after slicing a nerve in his left thumb prior to Summer Camp - isn't think about his hand because "it's not an issue," Ross said.
"Talking to him, no real issues. I think he's just gotta continue to build [stamina]," Ross said of Quintana. "Feedback was good from the coaching staff down there yesterday. All the feedback was good."
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Cubs injury update: Latest on Kyle Schwarber's knee, Jos Quintana's thumb originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
