Bryant on injury: 'It could have been a lot worse'

Kris Bryant was back at third base for the Cubs Tuesday, one day after getting a scare in left field.

Bryant suffered a lower-leg bruise in Monday's 10-4 victory over the Reds after he and center fielder Albert Almora Jr. collided as Bryant caught a fly ball.

"I was just scared about the knee," he said. "That's what I felt first. Thinking, with my foot on the ground, about what Kyle (Schwarber) had. It could have been a lot worse."

Schwarber suffered a season-ending knee injury during the first week of the season when he and center fielder Dexter Fowler collided hard on a ball during a game at Arizona.

Almora took the blame for Monday's collision, saying that Bryant was in position to make the catch. However, manager Joe Maddon said Bryant could be more vocal in calling for the ball. Bryant didn't disagree.

"It was my first time ever playing with Albert in the outfield," he said. "I think we were both calling it at the same time. Anytime you hear yourself calling it and he's calling for it at the same time, it's tough, especially out in the outfield with the fans out there. They're loud.

"I'm not a veteran out there by any means, but I think I learn something new every day. I'm getting better out there."

Ready to start:

Right-hander Adam Warren has been at Wrigley Field in preparation for Wednesday's spot start in the series finale against the Reds. Warren will be recalled from Class AAA Iowa, where he was getting stretched out to start.

The idea is to add a sixth man to the rotation before the all-star break to give the rest of the starting pitchers a break during a busy stretch of games.

"I've always wanted to be a starter," Warren said. I'm excited about it."

The Cubs obtained Warren from the Yankees last December in exchange for infielder Starlin Castro. Warren began the season in the Cubs bullpen. He sees his versatility as a strength.

"It's helped my value, I think," he said. "People see that I can be in the bullpen. I can start. So it does add value to my career. I do take pride in being able to do both. I think it's more of a good thing than a bad thing. I just want to be able to help the team in whatever role so I do take pride in it."

No derby:

Kris Bryant says he won't participate in the All-Star Game Home Run Derby next week.

"I don't want to do it," he said. "Too tiring. I really want to enjoy it. I would love to be able to watch it. Swinging a bat doesn't look like it's tiring, but when you do it for five straight minutes trying to hit the ball as far as you can, it gets tiring."

All-star notes:

The seven players the Cubs are sending to the All-Star Game are the most since the 2008 division winners sent eight: Ryan Dempster, Kosuke Fukudome, Carlos Marmol, Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano, Geovany Soto, Kerry Wood and Carlos Zambrano.