CINCINNATI _ The Cubs may not need a replacement closer for Brandon Morrow before he returns from the disabled list Wednesday in Los Angeles.
The logical choice would be Carl Edwards Jr., but Edwards has been on the DL with shoulder inflammation since the end of May.
So manager Joe Maddon plans to mix and match in the late innings, sharing the load and avoiding the anointment of a Plan B closer.
Without Morrow and Edwards, Maddon figures to pick from among Pedro Strop, Steve Cishek, Justin Wilson, Anthony Bass and perhaps even rookie Randy Rosario, who has a 0.60 ERA in 12 games.
Wilson, his first choice in Tuesday's opener of the doubleheader, blew a one-run, ninth-inning lead in a loss to the Dodgers. Maddon didn't have to choose one in the second game, when the Cubs won in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the ninth or in Wednesday's 4-0 win that had Bass pitching the final two innings of a combined shutout with Jon Lester.
But as the Cubs begin a four-game series against the Reds on Thursday night at Great America Ball Park, weather permitting, all eyes will be on Maddon if he has a late-inning lead in a tight game.
Morrow was quietly effective without getting a ton of opportunities, ranking second in the league by saving 94.1 percent of his chances in 26 appearances.
"Obviously we've got two of our best guys out, so other guys are going to have to step up," general manager Jed Hoyer said. "But I think already we've already seen guys step up, most notably Rosario, who's really stepped up for us and pitched great. We have to have that.
"Other teams have certainly lost their closer _ (the Cardinals' Greg) Holland was on the DL, (the Brewers' Corey) Knebel was on the DL. This stuff happens and we've got to get through it."
