Cubs shut down Schwarber with rib soreness

Chicago Cubs rookie Kyle Schwarber will remain sidelined through the weekend after tests showed a strain in the slugger's right rib cage.

Schwarber, who leads all NL rookies with 12 second-half home runs, is sitting for the second straight game Friday after straining his rib-cage area on a check swing in batting practice earlier this week.

Newly acquired outfielder Austin Jackson will receive another start in Schwarber's place for the Cubs' opener of a three-game set with Arizona.

"We're going to let it rest for a couple days and go from there," Schwarber told reporters Friday morning. "I don't want to hurt the team if I get reinjured. I'm going to try and get back out there as soon as I can."

Schwarber, who said he's aiming to return for next week's showdown with St. Louis, won't play until he's re-evaluated in three to five days.

"When it calms down, you get a good read and take it from there," manager Joe Maddon said. "Our trainers have a lot of experience with this. The big thing is Schwarber shut it down immediately when he felt something, so that was a good thing."