Communication in outfield important to Chicago Cubs' Maddon

The Chicago Cubs suffered a minor injury scare in Monday's 10-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

In the top of the fifth inning, Kris Bryant caught pinch hitter Tyler Holt's flyball in left field. But Bryant suffered a lower-left-leg bruise when he was run into by center fielder Albert Almora Jr., who also tried to make the play.

Manager Joe Maddon said Bryant is OK and should be ready to play Tuesday.

Almora admitted he was at fault for running into Bryant, who was well-positioned to make the play, even if he didn't yell loudly enough with 41,293 fans in the stands at Wrigley Field.

"We're both trying to catch the ball in that situation," Almora said. "It's my fault. I'll take full responsibility for that. It was toward his side. I can't hear anything, and I don't want to see a ball drop. I called it at the very end, but it was too late."

Maddon praised Almora for being a take-charge center fielder, but he said the play was Bryant's to make.

"Good center fielders tend to be that way," Maddon said. "But it truly was KB's ball. We have to iron that out. … We need some voice amplification for outfielders. That's what I heard, he (Bryant) did call it, but inaudibly. They couldn't hear each other in the white noise of Wrigley Field.

"I didn't like it at all. We have to avoid that. When a player is camped, there's no reason to run a player off the flyball to left field and also the one to left-central."

Fowler tests it:

Center fielder Dexter Fowler tested his right hamstring Monday by running. He expressed hope he could come off the disabled list soon, but before that happens, he likely will need a short minor-league rehab stint.

Fowler has been on the DL since June 19, meaning he could have come off it Monday.

"Kind of frustrated that I can't be out there playing, but I'm trying to get better each and every day," Fowler said. "It's getting better. That's all you can ask for right now. I don't know how fast it's getting better, if I can play or not. I'm definitely going to try."

Joe Maddon said it's not out of the question Fowler could be playing somewhere by the end of this week.

One big factor playing into the situation is that Fowler is likely to be voted into the starting lineup for next week's All-Star Game.

In Fowler's absence, Ben Zobrist has been the Cubs' primary leadoff man. As a leadoff hitter this year, Zobrist has a line of .286/.394/.500 with 3 home runs.

Maddon switched things up Monday, giving Zobrist a day off and inserting Javier Baez into the leadoff spot.

"Zo's done a great job in the 1-hole," Maddon said. "He's done a really good job. There's an argument to be made that it's been kind of equal. But then you don't have Zo somewhere else. That's the issue.

"Either one of those guys do a wonderful job. When you are unable to use Zobrist in a different spot, that's where the impact, I think, has been felt more than anything.

"Yes, getting Dexter back is important. I thought we could hold serve. We're not far below .500 since this has all been going on. We just had a bad series in New York. I'm fine. I don't think there's any reason to overestimate anything. But you definitely want to have Dexter back."

Draft-pick news:

Pitcher Thomas Hatch, the Cubs' top draft pick (third round) this year, is reported to have agreed to terms. Before the Cubs can make an announcement, Hatch must first pass a physical.

Hatch, 21, was a redshirt sophomore this past season at Oklahoma State.