CHICAGO _ Ben Zobrist remains on schedule to return to the Cubs Sunday when rosters expand, though when he'll start a game is up in the air.
The Cubs are set to face a left-hander in Brewers starter Gio Gonzalez on Sunday and then two left-handers in Justus Sheffield and Felix Hernandez Monday and Tuesday in the upcoming series against the Mariners.
"It's not a really groovy time for him, the way he's coming back, regarding the pitching matchups," manager Joe Maddon said. "So we'll see."
The Cubs already have said the switch-hitting Zobrist will not play every day.
Maddon didn't know whether Zobrist would want to address his teammates as a unit Sunday, but said: "I'm hoping it's a normal day."
Zobrist hasn't spoken since leaving the team in May for family reasons after he and his wife, Julianna, filed for divorce. He declined to do interviews while rehabbing in the minors, and has been working at his home in Nashville, Tenn., this week while preparing for his return to the Cubs.
There likely will be a lot of focus on Zobrist's return from Cubs fans and the media. How the Cubs plan on handling the moment is uncertain.
"I trust Zo in a moment like that," Maddon said. "How could you not? I'm sure he's going to handle it really, really well. And I don't think the players are going to be that impacted just because of who he is and how he comports. They'll support him. We'll support him. We understand the fact people are going to want to hear from him a bit.
"But I have so much faith literally in how he's going to handle the whole thing. I'm sure he'll talk, and it will be over."
