While Cubs closer Kevin Gregg checked out OK after getting hit by a line drive off the right shoulder Saturday against the Cardinals, manager Dale Sveum said Sunday he will use setup man Pedro Strop in save situations when Gregg is unavailable.
"There's no plans to put [Strop] there just to see him," Sveum said, per MLB.com.
Sveum said Strop could be a candidate to close games in 2014 since Gregg is only signed through this year, and Kyuji Fujikawa will be coming off Tommy John surgery and might not be available until the second half of the season. However, Sveum warned it's too soon to be looking at closer candidates for next year.
"He seems to be able to handle the eighth inning just fine," Sveum said Sunday. "[Naming the closer next year] is a long way away. Hopefully, you have seven closers out there."