Montero is not in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Cardinals.

EDGE Analysis

This is the third time in four games that Montero has ceded the start behind the plate to David Ross. Despite what may seem like favoritism toward Ross, this is likely just another normal day of rest. The 32-year-old will likely be back in the lineup Wednesday to be the battery-mate for ace Jake Arrieta.

Montero is out of the lineup Sunday against the Giants.

EDGE Analysis

Montero will be on bench for the second straight game. No injuries have been reported so it is expected the 32-year-old is simply getting some extra rest this weekend. He seems to be a likely candidate to pinch hit on Sunday night. David Ross will get the start behind the plate and will bat in the eighth spot as the Cubs face Madison Bumgarner.

Montero is not in the lineup for Saturday's tilt with the Giants.

EDGE Analysis

Montero will get the day off Saturday, and be replaced behind the plate by veteran catcher David Ross. After going seven consecutive games without a hit, Montero has gone 3-for-7 in his last two games. Expect him to return to the lineup Sunday.

Montero went 2-for-3 with a walk, triple, RBI and a run in a losing effort Thursday against the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

Montero ended and 0-for-20 slide, dating back to April 19, with a RBI single in the second. His seventh-inning triple was his first since 2012 and it was Montero's first extra-base hit since April 10. The catcher was supposedly going to be eased back into his role as a starter after coming off the DL (back), but manager Joe Maddon seems to be moving the process along quicker than expected. In the team's five games since Montero returned, the 10-year veteran has made three-plus plate appearance in four of them.

Montero is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

The Cubs seem to be easing Montero back into action, as this is the second time he's sat in four games since he's come off the disabled list. David Ross will once again fill in for him behind the plate.

Montero is out of the lineup Sunday against the Pirates.

EDGE Analysis

Montero was activated from the DL and started Saturday, but will get the day off Sunday, as the Cubs will go back to Jon Lester's personal catcher, David Ross, who had been seeing extra starts with Montero on the shelf. Look for Montero, who was 0-for-3 Saturday, to return to action when the Cubs open up a three-game set with the Brewers on Tuesday.

Montero has been activated from the DL and is in the lineup Saturday against the Pirates.

EDGE Analysis

After appearing in a pair of rehab games earlier in the week, Montero will return to action for the first time since hitting the DL in late-April. He'll start at his usual spot behind the plate and will bat eighth against Pittsburgh's Jeff Locke.

Montero (back) is close to returning to action, Jesse Rogers of ESPNChicago.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Montero will not rejoin the Cubs on Friday, but he did appear in rehab games Tuesday through Thursday and is eligible to be be activated from the disabled list at any point, so it will likely be only a matter of days before he is back on the big league roster.

Montero (back) will begin his rehab assignment Tuesday at Triple-A Iowa, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran Montero will get the start behind the plate for the first game of his rehab assignment Tuesday. Montero has been on the shelf since April 28 due to back tightness and although he is technically eligible to return as of Tuesday, the Cubs will have him get in a game or two at the minor league level before activating him. Once Montero returns, Tim Federowicz would be the likely candidate to be optioned in a corresponding move.

Montero (back) took batting practice and ran the bases Monday, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports. Afterward, the Cubs' athletic trainer relayed that the catcher should start a rehab assignment in the near future.

EDGE Analysis

Montero can be activated from the disabled list as early as Tuesday, but any rehab assignment would push back those plans. If the stint with one of the Cubs' affiliates proceeds as planned, though, he could return during the weekend series against the Pirates that kicks off Friday.