Cubs’ Kris Bryant remains sidelined, under evaluation after collision in outfield

Kris Bryant leaves the field in Sunday’s sixth inning after his collision with teammate Jason Heyward.

Bryant might return to lineup by Wednesday; meanwhile, Jason Heyward also ‘sore’ and sidelined.

HOUSTON – Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, who left Sunday’s game after a sixth-inning collision with teammate Jason Heyward while playing right field, remained under evaluation and out of the lineup Monday in Houston.

He was scheduled for a followup exam on his head and neck area Monday with one of the Astros’ doctors after having been cleared after Sunday’s game to travel with the team. He is not in the league’s concussion protocol.

“I would say the best-case scenario would be a day or two,” manager Joe Maddon said.

Heyward, who unlike Bryant did not get hit near the head on the collision, was “pretty sore” Monday, said Maddon, and was out of the lineup.

Playing in an American League ballpark with the designated hitter and no double-switching needs helped mitigate the effects of the short bench, Maddon said.

“Chatwood’s actually an extra player today, too,” said Maddon of the pitcher who delivered a pinch double Thursday.

Meet Strop in St. Louis?

Reliever Pedro Strop, who went on the disabled list three weeks ago because of a hamstring injury, joined Class AAA Iowa to make a minor-league rehab appearance Tuesday.

Barring a setback or lingering soreness Wednesday, Strop might be ready to rejoin the team after the lone appearance, Maddon said.

That would put him in line to rejoin the bullpen after Thursday’s scheduled off day for Friday’s opener of the Cubs’ series in St. Louis.

“We’re going to go very much day-by-day with him,” said Maddon, whose closer-less bullpen has blown 11 of its 21 saves chances – with seven different pitchers blowing at least one.

Bryant and Heyward collide Sunday.

Strop had been the de facto closer since Brandon Morrow was sidelined by an elbow injury almost a year ago.

“The big thing I’d like to be able to do is get back to these guys pitching primarily one inning, maybe four outs at the most if their numbers are good,” said Maddon, who used workhorse Steve Cishek for a seven-out save in a recent game for lack of late-inning options.

Roster move

After Sunday’s game, the Cubs sent extra reliever Tim Collins back to Iowa and selected the contract of Iowa infielder/outfielder Jim Adduci – the 34-year-old journeyman from Evergreen Park High, who grew up a Cub fan.

Adduci, who doubled and homered in a six-RBI game for Iowa on Sunday, is a former Cubs minor-leaguer who eventually debuted with Texas and played for Detroit – with two years in Korean baseball in between.

“It’s just funny how the game works and how this business is,” said Adduci, who made his Cubs debut in right field Monday. “But as long as you’ve got a jersey on and you’re playing in AAA, you’ve got a chance. …

“Everyone’s paths are different.”