CHICAGO -- Rather than push Kyle Tucker back into the lineup at the first sign of improvement, Cubs manager Craig Counsell has opted to give the star outfielder a little more time to continue to rest and heal from the left calf issue that flared earlier this week.

Tucker was out of the lineup for Friday’s series opener against the Nationals, but Counsell expressed optimism that the right fielder could return at some point this weekend. The manager also wanted to give Tucker Friday’s pregame period to do some running to gauge his potential availability off the bench.

“He’s improved, for sure. And I think I’d like to give him the day to just move around,” Counsell said Friday morning. “Really, we want to get him symptom-free. Wednesday was a good day, in terms of how he came into the par

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