Even an extra day off won't help Cubs star first baseman Anthony Rizzo get ready to rejoin the lineup.
The Cubs have placed Rizzo on the disabled list, retroactive to April 6.
In a corresponding move, the Cubs called up Efren Navarro, a 31-year-old first baseman who has 153 big-league games under his belt with the Angels and Tigers.
Joe Maddon had Ben Zobrist playing first base in the Wrigley opener Tuesday after Victor Caratini manned the position the final three games in Milwaukee. Kris Bryant could also see time over there if the Cubs opt to insert Tommy La Stella into the lineup at some point over the next six games.
Rizzo has been dealing with a low back issue over the last week. It tightened up on him in Cincinnati last Monday, then the Cubs had two days off, so he tried to play through it Thursday in Milwaukee. His back tightened up again on Friday and he sat all three days over the weekend.
The cold weather is not a factor, as Rizzo said even if it was 80 degrees out, he didn't think he'd be ready go to. He did confirm, however, it is something he could've battled through if the season was in August or September instead of the first couple weeks of April.
With the retroactive time, Rizzo could be eligible to return from the disabled list on Monday, April 16, when the Cubs begin a three-day series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field.
MLB
Rizzo has only spent time on the DL once before in his career, missing the last few weeks of the 2014 season with a back issue.
He's had lingering back problems every year since then, usually missing only a day or two. He said the previous issues have been mostly upper back, whereas this current problem is in the low back.