9/15 Castro update

Starlin Castro did not start for the third straight game Wednesday to give his left hip time to heal but substitute Darwin Barney has made it easy to keep Castro on the bench. Barney was batting .406 with eight runs scored, two doubles and two RBIs in his last 11 games, and collected his first Major League three-hit game on Tuesday against the Cardinals.

“Barney’s playing well and I don’t think ‘Cassie’ is 100 percent yet,” Cubs manager Mike Quade said. “We have the luxury of a guy playing well. Let’s give [Castro] another day with the off day and get him back to 100 percent when we get to Florida. I’d be shocked if he wasn’t ready to go on Friday.”

The Cubs open a three-game series against the Marlins on Friday. Castro has been nursing a bruised left hip, injured one week ago in a collision at first base with the Astros’ Brett Wallace. Castro did play in the weekend series against the Brewers but was visibly limping.

Barney batted .297 in 113 games for Triple-A Iowa this season and primarily played shortstop.

“I think he’ll be a real nice Major League player,” Quade said of the infielder. “Whether he’s an everyday player or a versatile guy, that I don’t know. His bat will probably determine that because all the intangibles, the defense and the other stuff you’re looking for, he does well. He’s a very interesting kid.”

– Carrie Muskat