https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/ben-zobrist-missed-in-cubs-lineup
Maddon announced that Yu Darvish (Friday), Jon Lester (July 13) and Jose Quintana (July 14) will start the first three games of the second half. Both Maddon and Epstein noted that rookie Adbert Alzolay (currently with Triple-A Iowa) is under discussion for a rotation spot after the break.
"We haven't concluded anything," Maddon said. "He's going to attend the Futures Game [on Sunday], but we haven't popped him in yet at this particular time. We're still considering some other items other than that first three starting the second half."
• Maddon described his decision to flip Javier Baez and Kris Bryant in the batting order on Thursday -- moving Baez to the No. 2 slot and Bryant to third -- as just "rearranging of the chairs on the deck" in an effort to spark the offense. The Cubs stuck with that on Saturday and expect to see it again on Sunday.
• Lefty Cole Hamels (10-day injured list, left oblique strain) will continue to receive treatment over the next week before being re-evaluated after the All-Star break. Epstein said the Cubs will not build a throwing program schedule for Hamels until the pitcher is "100 percent symptom free."
• Reliever Brandon Morrow (60-day IL, right elbow) has continued to throw bullpen sessions in Arizona, but will take a step back over the All-Star break. Epstein said there remains no target date for Morrow to begin a Minor League rehab assignment.
Cubs 'proactive' in trade talks
The All-Star break is often a time for general managers to step away from their cell phones for a few days before the frantic few weeks leading up to the July 31 Trade Deadline. Epstein said that has led to a lot of texts and calls in the days leading up to the season's intermission.
"There's been a lot of teams checking in with each other," Epstein said, "sharing information, talking about where they are, if the next couple weeks changes anything for them, that type of thing."
The Cubs are definitely one of those teams who will be using the next few weeks to help establish a course of action. While Epstein said nothing is imminent, the Cubs' inconsistent play of late has led the front office to cast a wide net in talks.
"We're in a proactive stance right now," Epstein said. "We're looking for things we can make happen, just because we haven't been playing that well for a while now. ... Not that you're going to make deals that don't make sense, but we're kind of in that mindset, we're just looking to try to find ways to help the group, if we can."
