Cubs place CF Fowler on 15-day DL with hamstring injury

CHICAGO (AP) The Chicago Cubs placed center fielder Dexter Fowler on the 15-day disabled list on Monday with a right hamstring strain.

Fowler got hurt while running out a grounder to third in the first inning of Saturday night's 4-3 victory over Pittsburgh. Fowler, who re-signed with Chicago in late February, is batting .290 in 64 games this year and was leading the NL outfield voting for the All-Star Game in the last update on Wednesday.

''We just thought it was best to back off right now,'' manager Joe Maddon said after the Cubs' 3-2 loss to the Cardinals on Monday night. ''There was no sense in pushing him right now. There was a concern if we pushed it it could get worse, so let's just nip it in the bud right now.''

The DL stint for Fowler is retroactive to Sunday. The major league-leading Cubs also recalled right-hander Carl Edward Jr. from Triple-A Iowa before the series opener against St. Louis.

Rookie Albert Almora Jr. got the start in center against the Cardinals. The Cubs also can move Jason Heyward from right over to center.

''I think we've got some options in the outfield that we can play in the meantime,'' general manager Jed Hoyer said.

Hoyer also said outfielder Jorge Soler (left hamstring strain) and infielder Tommy La Stella (right hamstring strain) are running again and moving closer to minor league rehab stints.