Miles: Cubs slumping at the plate

Addison Russell certainly is not the only Cubs player struggling at the plate, but the 21-year-old second baseman is in a bona fide slump.

Russell went 0-for-3 in Sunday's 2-0 victory over the Marlins at Wrigley Field. He has begun July 1-for-14, and over his last 10 games, he is 2-for-31.

Manager Joe Maddon professes not to be worried.

"I really like his swing right now," Maddon said. "There's the disconnect. I think he looks good at the plate. He's been able to take some pitches that are borderline balls.

"From a technical perspective, watching from the side, he looks fine. I'm all about him. I think he's going to be fabulous in a very short period of time. He's going to get a couple of knocks. The confidence is going to soar and he's going to take off because he's learning on the fly right now, and I like a lot of the things he's doing otherwise."

Along with Russell, leadoff man Dexter Fowler is in a funk. He went 0-for-4 with a strikeout Sunday. His batting average has sunk to .228, and his on-base percentage is .305.

Rizzo takes a seat:

Sunday was a rare day off for first baseman Anthony Rizzo. Mike Baxter started at first and played the whole game.

One of the reasons for the day off is that Rizzo has been hit by 17 pitches. That leads the National League and has Rizzo tied for the franchise record in the modern era. Marlon Byrd was hit 17 times in 2010, and Frank Chance was hit by 17 pitches in 1905.

"That's part of today's day off, the ball-peening that's occurred during the course of the first half," Joe Maddon said. "It's incredible. I know he's on the plate. I know they want to pitch him inside. I know all that. It's part of who he is as a hitter and also, he doesn't wear any armor. I think he's a little bit beat up. I thought this was a good day to do it, doubleheader on Tuesday."

Here and there:

The Cubs activated right fielder Jorge Soler off the disabled list and optioned outfielder Matt Szczur to Class AAA Iowa. Soler, who was out since going on the DL June 3 with a left ankle sprain, went 0-for-3 Sunday.

The Cubs said left-handed pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada will make a minor-league rehab start Monday night for Class AA Tennessee. Wada has been on the DL since June 23 with a left deltoid strain.

Lefty Clayton Richard will go to the bullpen in the days leading up to the all-star break. Richard started and got the victory Saturday in his first major-league appearance since 2013. The Cubs will call up a pitcher from the minor leagues to start one of the doubleheader games Tuesday against the Cardinals.