Cubs Place OF Dexter Fowler On DL

(CBS) The Cubs will be without starting center fielder Dexter Fowler for at least a couple weeks, as team general manager Jed Hoyer revealed that he would be placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain.

"We don't think it's a long-term injury," Hoyer said. "I hate to put timetables on this. But, ultimately, we knew it was going to be something that would sideline him for at least the next handful of games, week or so, and that's the case. Playing short-handed for what would be the significant part of a DL stint doesn't make a lot of sense."

Right-hander Carl Edwards Jr. will be recalled to replace Fowler, and the Cubs will move forward with 13 pitchers.

Fowler has been a key player for the Cubs this season, filling the lead-off role with a .398 on-base percentage that's tied for ninth in the National League. He also has a .290 average, seven homers, 28 RBIs, 41 runs and an .881 OPS.

At last check, Fowler also led all NL outfielders in All-Star voting. He leads the NL by seeing 4.32 pitches per at-bat.

"He has pretty much set the offensive tone for us along with (Ben Zobrist)," manager Joe Maddon said recently of Fowler's impact. "You look at our run differential, he is the one that pretty much set that up. The first part of the season really took on this tone that it did, because of him. When I say to him 'you go, we go,' it's pretty much true when he is making things happen at the top. When it happens, the rest of the group seems to fall in order. He has been playing really high-caliber baseball."

Rookie Albert Almora will likely get more time in center field in Fowler's absence, and regular right fielder Jason Heyward is plenty capable of shifting over there as well.