Cubs: Contreras (thigh) with day-to-day status

Chicago Cubs manager David Ross praised the catcher Willson Contreras Sunday for speaking out after he felt a strain on his right hamstring.

Contreras left Saturday’s 7-6 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks after being injured running the bases in the third inning. Contreras is out of the lineup for the series finale against the Diamondbacks, but he is seen day-to-day and Ross said he could have been worse.

“I thought that was smart of him yesterday, with some of the stuff he’s had on his lower body,” Ross said. “I mean, that’s a veteran move. Hey, something doesn’t feel right, let us know. It probably saved us there.”

The 30-year-old Contreras, who is eligible for free agency after this season, is hitting .258 with five home runs and 14 RBI in 34 games.

With Contreras’ injury, the Cubs brought in catcher PJ Higgins from Triple-A Iowa and designated infielder Ildemaro Vargas for assignment. Higgins was in the starting lineup for Sunday’s game against Arizona.

Higgins, 29, made his major league debut last year, going 1-for-23 in nine games with Chicago. He is hitting .417 with a home run and 17 RBIs in 22 games for Iowa this season.

Higgins’ 2021 season was cut short by a right forearm strain.

“It’s been a crazy 12 months,” Higgins said. “Honestly, after getting hurt last year and being injured, I’ve been happy to be able to play baseball. That was my first real injury that took me out of the game for six months basically.”