David Ross called Javier Báez into the manager's office at Wrigley Field on Thursday following the Cubs’ win over the Reds. After another tough night in the batter's box for Báez, Ross let the shortstop know that he would be given a day off.

Báez was out of the lineup Friday for the weekend series opener against the Brewers.

"I just think, mentally, he needed a day," Ross said. "He was fine with it. I trust him. We're still going to need him, still going to lean on him. But it's one of those things. I got to thinking about the many times that I struggled in my career and how sometimes you can just spiral mentally, and I just wanted to give him a breather. That's all."

In the 8-5 victory Thursday, Báez went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts, giving him 21 strikeouts against two walks over his past 14 games. The shortstop hit .145 with a .430 OPS in that stretch, dropping his season slash line to .196/.235/.357 with six homers, 19 RBIs, 60 strikeouts and seven walks in 44 games.

Overall, Báez entered Friday with a 52 wRC+, indicating that he has been 48 percent below MLB average as a hitter.

Báez, who wound up playing one-third of an inning as part of a five-man infield in the Cubs' 1-0 loss to the Brewers on Friday, has always been a free swinger, but his 33.5 percent strikeout rate and 3.9 percent walk rate are extreme for his typical production. Earlier this week, the shortstop expressed frustration over the fact that watching in-game video is not allowed this season as part of MLB's 2020 protocols.

"I make my adjustments during the game," Báez said on Monday. "I watch my swing. I watch where the ball was, where the contact was. And I'm mad. I'm really mad that we don't have it. ... A lot of stars are struggling. I'm just one more."

Asked about Báez's comments on Thursday, Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein pointed out that it is a "level playing field" for everyone right now.

"I'm sympathetic to the players," Epstein said. "I think it's legitimate that guys really rely on that, so it's asking a lot of them to make adjustments. But, team-wide, I don't look at it as an excuse or anything, because the guys across the field from us are going through the exact same thing."

Worth noting
• David Bote got the start at second base on Friday, making it three straight games without Jason Kipnis on the field. Without getting into specifics, Ross acknowledged on Friday that Kipnis has been dealing with a minor injury.

"Protecting him is important to me," Ross said. "We've talked. We've talked multiple times. He's dealing with a little something, and I just want to make sure he's healthy. He's going to be a big part of this group, so he'll be in there soon."

• With all the moves involving the Cubs' pitching staff this season, it is fair to wonder if Brailyn Marquez and his 100-mph fastball might get a look in the big leagues before the end of this year. The left-hander is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Cubs’ top prospect and No. 69 overall.

"He's another guy that's getting close. Still developing," Ross said. "[The staff at the South Bend alternate training site] talk about Brailyn continuing to get to a point where they think he might be able to impact us, or have the opportunity to come up and maybe impact us. So, it's a wait-and-see game, really."

• Ross said the early feedback on righty Pedro Strop (training in South Bend) is that "some of the pitch data is still just a little bit down on him." That said, the manager added that Strop is "getting close" to potentially being in a position to help Chicago.

• The Cubs optioned starting pitcher Adbert Alzolay to the South Bend alternate training site and recalled lefty Rex Brothers. With two off-days next week, Chicago does not require a fifth starter until Sept. 22.