Cubs won't rule anything out (or in) as Bryant misses another game

The Cubs are not ruling out or ruling in another stint on the disabled list for third baseman Kris Bryant.

Bryant missed his second straight game Wednesday as his troublesome left shoulder continues to ail him.

"Another day and I can't promise you tomorrow yet, either," said manager Joe Maddon, referring to Thursday's day game and series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks. "We're just going to try to go day-by-day and try to figure this whole thing out.

"We're satisfied with definition. It's just a matter of controlling it. I just have to listen to him and the docs right now, and we'll try to make our determination. I don't have anything long term either positively or negatively right now. It's more of a day-by-day thing."

Bryant was on the DL from June 23-July 10 with inflammation in the left shoulder. The Cubs have David Bote waiting in the wings at Class AAA Iowa if Bryant has to go back onto the DL.

"It's not impossible," Maddon said of Bryant going to the DL. "I can't tell you that it's impossible. I don't know that. Everything's in play right now. We've just got to wait to hear from him and the docs.

"I don't know that this is something you can necessarily rush right now."

Maddon does not want to ponder life without Bryant.

"I've always been of that ilk that you can make things work in other ways," he said. "That's how I've been trained. That's what we would have to do. But of course it's going to be a lot more fun with him."

Morrow not close yet:

Closer Brandon Morrow said he will not be able to come off the disabled list when he is eligible to do so on Saturday in St. Louis. Morrow has been on the DL since July 18 with right-biceps inflammation.

"I'm hoping to pick up a baseball by then," Morrow said Wednesday. "I haven't been throwing. There's a little bit of soreness left, but it's going in the right direction. Each day has been better.

"There's a little bit of soreness, but it's going the right way. It's a fraction of what it was. I'm hoping to not feel anything in the next couple of days."

Hey, Yu, what's new?

Yu Darvish played catch Wednesday, one day after throwing a short bullpen session. Darvish has not pitched since May 20 because of right-triceps tendinitis. Joe Maddon said it's likely Darvish will throw a bullpen session this weekend in St. Louis.