Cubs' Ross stops trouble between Lester, umpire

Cubs catcher David Ross had to be peacemaker during Thursday's 4-0 loss to the Dodgers at Wrigley Field.

Starting pitcher Jon Lester didn't have good command as he lasted only 4 innings. He also had trouble with home-plate umpire Andy Fletcher.

After Lester walked A.J. Ellis to start the second inning, Fletcher started toward the mound, apparently to confront Lester. But the quick-thinking Ross quickly intercepted Fletcher. Cubs manager Joe Maddon took up the argument with Fletcher, and no one was thrown out of the game.

"I was just trying to calm Fletch down," Ross said. "We weren't arguing. It's the heat of battle and your voice is raised, but we weren't arguing at all. I was trying to keep Jon in the game. Joe did a great job of stepping right in. I was just trying to keep him away from Jon."

Lester was diplomatic.

"I think everything I throw up there is a strike," he said. "It's just like the hitters think everything close is a ball. I didn't say anything directed at him. I don't know why he was so upset. I had my head down. I was yelling. Nothing was directed at him. He went AWOL, so I don't know what was going on. No, it has nothing to do with umpire strike zone or anything like that. I got to execute better."

Said Maddon: "It was kind of heated. I just thought it was important to get out there and make sure everything was OK because I really wasn't upset. We got by that. Rossie did a great job of going out there and got between them. I was able to talk to Andy, and I think it settled down after that."

Making a good impression:

Addison Russell started at shortstop in place of Starlin Castro, who was at the hospital for the birth of his second child. Castro made it back to the ballpark and entered the game in the sixth inning.

Third baseman Kris Bryant left the game in the third inning with what the Cubs said were flu-like symptoms.

Russell is a natural shortstop who has played second base most of the year for the Cubs.

"That's what I'm really impressed about, what he's done there," Joe Maddon said. "You remember what he looked like there in the beginning, the mistakes he was making, how uncomfortable he looked, whether it was just covering the bag, whether it was turning the double play, whether it was getting the ball and feeding to second to the shortstop.

"There were so many uncomfortable moments, and now, it looks he's been doing it for several years. But he does have that potential and the ability to be a major-league shortstop, too."

Rotation roulette:

The Cubs will make a decision Friday about Saturday's starting pitcher. It would be Tsuyoshi Wada's turn to start, but he came down Monday with cramping in his deltoid muscle. It's possible Travis Wood could move from the bullpen to start, or the Cubs could call up a pitcher from Class AAA Iowa.

Minor matters:

Outfielder Donnie Dewees, the Cubs' second-round draft pick, has signed. Dewees is from the University of North Florida. The Cubs say they have signed 25 of their 40 draft picks. That includes top pick Ian Happ, an outfielder from the University of Cincinnati.

Catcher Kyle Schwarber and pitcher Carl Edwards Jr. have been chosen to represent Team USA at the Futures Game, to be played July 12 at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.