Cubs’ Jason Heyward to sit out a few games because of a bruise near ribs

Chicago Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward will sit out three to five games because of a bruise on his right side near his ribs.

The injury happened Friday in the bottom of the first inning in the Cubs’ 8-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants. Heyward crashed into a padded section of the wall to the left of the 421-foot sign with a catch that robbed leadoff man Denard Span of extra bases.

Manager Joe Maddon was initially concerned that Heyward suffered a neck injury.

“You saw the way his head crunched into the wall,” Maddon said. “Three to five days isn’t awful. When I saw him walk off the bus this morning I felt good about it.”

Mets’ Lucas Duda has MRI exam on back

New York Mets first baseman Lucas Duda was out of the lineup again because of a bad back.

Manager Terry Collins said that Duda was examined by a doctor and had an MRI exam. He will have another test this weekend and sit out Sunday as well.

Asked whether Duda could be sidelined longer than that, Collins said it was too early to tell.

Also, struggling pitcher Matt Harvey threw on the main mound at Citi Field against hitters to simulate game conditions. Collins said the Mets wouldn’t decide which day Harvey will start next week at Washington until the right-hander completed his workout.

Yankees plan to activate Alex Rodriguez on Tuesday

The New York Yankees plan to activate designated hitter Alex Rodriguez from the disabled list Tuesday when the team begins a three-game homestand against Toronto.

There had been speculation that Rodriguez, out since May 4 because of a strained right hamstring, might be activated Saturday. But Manager Joe Girardi decided against that after Rodriguez went through a full day of rehab.

Rodriguez is batting .194 with five home runs and 12 runs batted in.