Luis Valbuena (pinkie) is not in the Cubs' starting lineup on Monday night against the Rockies. Valbuena jammed his right pinkie Saturday while sliding into third base. He was able to play catch and hit in the batting cage on Sunday but remains day-to-day.

Luis Valbuena (pinkie) was able to play catch and hit in the batting cage on Sunday afternoon. Valbuena jammed his right pinkie finger Saturday when he slid hard into the third base bag. It's not thought to be a serious injury. X-rays showed no fracture.

Luis Valbuena is being considered day-to-day after X-rays on his jammed right pinkie came back negative Saturday. Valbuena suffered the injury when he slid hard into third base during Saturday's game. He may sit out on Sunday as a precautionary measure, but he isn't expected to miss any significant amount of time.

Luis Valbuena left Saturday's game against the Nationals after jamming his right pinkie. Valbunea suffered the injury when he slid hard into the third base bag. He will undergo precautionary X-rays.

Luis Valbuena homered off Steve Cishek in the top of the ninth to lead the Cubs to a 4-3 win over the Marlins on Thursday. It was Valbuena's fourth homer in 59 at-bats, matching his total from 265 at-bats for the Cubs last year. He's not exactly tearing the cover off the ball with his .237 average, but he's in position to remain the Cubs' primary third baseman even once Ian Stewart is healthy.

Luis Valbuena went 2-for-6 and hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the 13th Monday against the Reds. Valbuena would have been the hero tonight if only Michael Bowden had held the lead in the bottom of the 13th. It was his third homer in 52 at-bats this season. Last year, he hit four in 265 at-bats for the Cubs.

Cubs manager Dale Sveum said Wednesday that Luis Valbuena is a candidate to hit leadoff some against left-handed pitching. David DeJesus will be the normal leadoff hitter, and Ian Stewart is expected to receive most of the time at third base. But it sounds like Valbuena could hit at the top of the order when he gets some starts against southpaws, as he he's hit better against them in his career even though he swings from the left side of the plate. "[He's a possibility] because he gives you great at-bats, he sees a lot of pitches, he can score first with a home run once in a while, he drives the ball," Sveum said. "He's got all the things you want in a leadoff hitter."

Luis Valbuena hit a solo home run and scored two runs in the Cubs' 11-2 victory over the Angels Saturday. Valbuena, 27, made a strong first impression in his bid to open the season as the Cubs' starting third baseman. He hit just .219 with four home runs in 303 plate appearances in 2012 but he's got a little bit of pop, as he showed Saturday. With Ian Stewart sidelined by a quad injury, Valbuena will continue to receive chances to impress.

With the recent injury to Ian Stewart, Luis Valbuena has the opportunity to supplant him as the Cubs Opening Day third baseman. The versatile Valbuena hit a meager .219/.310/.340 in 303 plate appearances in 2012, but is a virtual lock to make the Opening Day roster. With Stewart's history of health problems, and recent quad injury, Valbuena could very easily find himself with a full-time gig. Even so, he's a poor option in most fantasy formats.

Cubs and INF Luis Valbuena avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $930,000 contract. Valbuena, who hit .219/.310/.340 in 303 plate appearances last season for the Cubs, was arbitration-eligible for the first time. He has three more arbitration years.