Cubs to send Hart down, likely recall Stevens

The MRI on catcher Geovany Soto last night confirmed what the Cubs announced yesterday: Soto has a mild strain of the left oblique.

They'll look at him tomorrow before the start of the series with the Cardinals, but don't look for them to call up a catcher from the minor leagues. If Soto can't go for a couple of days, Jake Fox will back up Koyie Hill.

The team today will announce that it will option pitcher Kevin Hart to Class AAA Iowa. This will be done mainly to get Hart some work at Iowa and perhaps at Class AA Tennessee as the minor-league all-star breaks are at hand, too.

Hart is a good bet to start for the Cubs July 19 at Washington.

Read more on Bruce Miles' blog, Chicago's Inside Pitch.