Cubs closer Strop expects to miss 2 weeks

Strop, who has 13 saves this season and has allowed just one run since a two-run outing on Aug. 3, was allowed to bat in the 10th inning in Washington because the Cubs had taken a 4-3 lead and manager Joe Maddon wanted Strop to finish the game.

Chicago Cubs closer Pedro Strop, who appeared to suffer a hamstring injury while trying unsuccessfully to beat out an inning-ending, double play grounder on Thursday, says he expects to be out at least two weeks.

Strop, who has 13 saves this season and has allowed just one run since a two-run outing on Aug. 3, was allowed to bat in the 10th inning in Washington because the Cubs had taken a 4-3 lead and manager Joe Maddon wanted Strop to finish the game.

Instead, Strop said he hurt his leg just as he made his final lunge for first base.

"Right now it's sore," Strop told reporters after the game. "It's obviously, it's going to take, maybe, two weeks at least to really get back. Hopefully, you know. We're not sure what's going on until we get an MRI tomorrow."

The Cubs, who traveled back to Washington to face the Nationals to make up a game that was rained out Sunday, had already used seven pitchers before Strop (6-1) entered the game. He went 1 2/3 innings in picking up the win.

Randy Rosario pitched a scoreless 10th inning to get his first save.

The Chicago Tribune's Paul Sullivan indicated in a tweet that Maddon also expects to be without Strop.

Maddon did not say who would take over as closer.

In 15 appearances going back to Aug. 4, Strop has worked 15 2/3 innings while allowing only one run. His ERA fell to 2.26 after Thursday's game.