Quintana making progress in rehab

Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said injured starter Jose Quintana could be throwing off the mound in about a week. Quintana injured his throwing hand just before the start of summer training in a kitchen accident.

"All reports are he's feeling good," Hottovy told reporters Monday on a conference call. "I think anytime you're dealing with something in your hand, it's a lot about how it feels coming out of your hand and less about all the other things. It still doesn't look pretty, I think it's as expected in terms of the hand itself.

"We've got to get a couple of good long-toss days where his arm strength is built up. I think we're probably in the bullpen discussion maybe within a week or 10 days, kind of in that range. Again, it could speed up quickly if he gets out to 120 feet and has no issues or it could go the other way."

So there's no timetable for Quintana's return, but getting him back in late August is conceivable. Hottovy made reference to the Cubs getting Quintana from the White Sox at the trade deadline in 2017 for Eloy Jiminez, Dylan Cease and others, a deal that is looking really good for the Sox right now.

"We could potentially get Q at the trade deadline again this year and kind of give us that jolt we need," Hottovy said. "When you have a guy as consistent as him and can step up when the team needs you the most, those are the guys you love having back. We obviously understand the road he has to take to get back to that point."

Left-handed options:

Manager David Ross said he gave left-handed hitters Kyle Schwarber and Jason Heyward the option of whether or not to face White Sox lefty Dallas Keuchel on Monday.

Both accepted the challenge and Schwarber actually collected the only Cubs hit over five innings against Keuchel.

"They hadn't got to face a lot of those in the intrasquad games," Ross said before the game. "Dallas has great numbers against lefties, obviously. I think it's just important to see those at bats. I'm trying to think back to when I played. Sometimes the right-on-right (matchup) would actually lock me in and help mechanically my swing, staying closed a little bit longer, letting the ball travel.

"That's going to be really key for both of those guys against a guy like Dallas, who doesn't give in and has got a really deceptive delivery against lefties."

Rizzo on target:

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo did not play in either of the exhibition games against the White Sox, but seems to be on track to play in Friday's season opener against Milwaukee.

"(Rizzo is) doing well, doing really well," manager David Ross said. "(Monday) is a down day for him, going to maybe get some cage routine in and get out of here, take it easy on the body today. He'll face some live pitching tomorrow and then we'll see where he's at after that. Continue to move in the right direction, good positive feedback."

Cubs notes:

Pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said Tyler Chatwood would throw a simulated game Tuesday at Wrigley Field. He's expected to start Sunday against the Brewers, following Kyle Hendricks and Yu Darvish. "He's in a place he is now because of all the work he put in," Hottovy said. "He's similar to Kyle (Hendricks) during this downtime in that they stayed pretty active." ... Hottovy said he expects veteran Jon Lester to throw in Wednesday's third exhibition against Minnesota.

Nico Hoerner, who played at Stanford, on the shortened MLB season: "The 60-game season is literally just like a college baseball season. This three-week buildup is exactly what we do in college with intrasquads and stuff. And there's no one in the stands, just like college baseball."