Levine: Cubs Will Be Cautious With Kyle Schwarber Injury

By Bruce Levine--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The timetable for Cubs rookie catcher/outfielder Kyle Schwarber's return to the field from a strained right rib cage is unknown ant this at this point. Schwarber injured himself before Wednesday's game while taking swings in the batting cage and was scratched.

"It was on a check swing," Schwarber said Friday. "I felt it on a check swing, and then again I felt something. The guys that were there with me said I better check it out, so I did."

Schwarber said he hopes to be back soon and that he felt really good at the present time, but he'll miss the weekend series against the Diamondbacks.

"We just don't know, you really don't know," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "You just have to let it calm down, like we are doing. Once it calms down, you get a better read on it. Our (medical staff) has a lot of experience with this. The best thing was (Schwarber) shut it down immediately. When he felt something, heknew that was a good thing to do. We hope, we think he is going to be fine."

When he comes back, Schwarber won't be permitted to catch, even in an emergency. This is because the ailment's on his right side and there'd be a chance of sustaining a more severe injury.

"I want to get back as soon as possible," Schwarber said. "We are in a race for the playoffs, so I don't want to risk anything for the team or myself."

No one will project when he will return, but Schwarber is hopeful he can play next week when the Cubs start an important three-game series against the Cardinals on Monday in St. Louis.

Schwarber is has 13 homers -- including 12 since the All-Star break -- and 38 RBIs this season. He's made 29 starts in left field and 14 at catcher.

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.