March 15--MESA, Ariz. -- Despite his insistence that he would be ready to play Sunday, slugger Kris Bryant isn't in the Chicago Cubs' starting lineup against Cincinnati.
Bryant, who came off the bench Saturday to hit two home runs and holds the spring training lead with six homers, has been nagged by right shoulder fatigue dating back to at least Thursday.
The ailment was deemed serious enough to scratch Bryant from the lineup Saturday against the A's at Las Vegas.
"We're going to be a little cautious and careful with this kind of thing," manager Joe Maddon said Sunday. "Right now we totally believe it's not anything serious. We just want to be cautious. That's all."
Mike Olt, who has the most experience of any Cubs third baseman and is batting .278 with two home runs and five RBIs, also isn't in the lineup.
Left-handed hitter Tommy La Stella, who had four hits in two games at Las Vegas, will start at third.
In pitching news, Kyle Hendricks will pitch in a B game Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels, with Edwin Jackson facing the Diamondbacks Thursday night in Scottsdale.
Jon Lester will pitch Monday against the San Diego Padres in Peoria, followed by Jason Hammel on Tuesday against Kansas City and Jake Arrieta on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch.
Reliever Daniel Bard will pitch in a simulated game Monday.
Here's the Cubs' lineup Sunday against Johnny Cueto:
Fowler CF
Denorfia LF
Rizzo 1B
Montero DH
Baez 2B
Baxter RF
Ross C
La Stella 3B
Russell SS
Wood P
