MESA, Ariz. – Now that the Cubs have clarity on second baseman Nico Hoerner’s injury timeline, third baseman Matt Shaw’s outlook is the missing piece in their infield picture for the Tokyo Series.

Shaw, the Cubs’ top prospect, entered spring as the favorite to win the job at third base. But the team has taken a cautious approach to his ramp up after an oblique injury. They’re likely targeting Sunday for Shaw’s first spring training game, according to manager Craig Counsell.

“Nothing is off the table with Matt,” Counsell said. “… We’re not at a point to make any decisions on Matt yet.”

Scheduling Shaw’s first Cactus League game is a promising sign. But the Cubs still have to decide if the at-bats available over the next couple weeks are enough for the team to feel comfortable putting him on the 40-man roster to make his major-league debut in the Tokyo Series on March 18-19.

Both Shaw’s status and Hoerner’s absence – he’s ruled out for the Tokyo Series but on track to play in the domestic opener – will factor into upcoming roster decisions and affect the list of 31 players making the trip to Japan.

The Tokyo Series has special rules so that the teams participating aren’t disadvantaged by having to make 40-man and injured-list decisions early. In addition to the normal 26-man active roster, teams can fill roster spots No. 27-29 with inactive players.

The Cubs therefore have a way to avoid putting Hoerner on the 10-day IL, ensuring he’s eligible for domestic opening day, without using an active roster spot on him.

With Hoerner out, utility players Jon Berti, Vidal Brujan and Nicky Lopez (non-roster invitee) are options at second base. But those three also provide depth at third base, along with Rule 5 draft pick Gage Workman.

Alcántara bulks up

Cubs outfield prospect Kevin Alcántara has a strong sense of his personal expectations.

“If I prepare my body in a good spot, I’m a superstar,” he said.

Alcántara, who made his major-league debut late last season, has been a Cactus League star so far this spring, with a 1.038 OPS. Cubs hitting coach Dustin Kelly estimated that Alcántara, 22, had put on 18 pounds.

“With Kevin before, he was long and lanky and had these long levers, and he wasn’t quite strong enough yet,” Kelly said. “So his swing was kind of long. He’d take out a lot of slack and then try to create more. But with the bulkiness that he’s put on, from what we’ve seen, his swing had really tightened up.”

The tighter swing path also will help him let the pitch travel further before making a swing decision.

“So that’s been a huge positive for him,” Kelly said, “just adding that strength, not only for strength, but it actually helped clean up some of the mechanics of his swing.”

Wicks takes second turn

In his second Cactus League start of the year, left-hander Jordan Wicks threw 2 ⅔ innings Thursday against the Angels, focusing on landing his secondary pitches in the strike zone.

“Spring training is weird,” he said after giving up four hits and two runs. “You can’t put a whole lot of stock in the results one way or another. And for me, it’s just getting the pitches to where I want them to be. And I felt like it was a good day today.”

Cubs 4, Angels 4

Former White Sox star Tim Anderson got the scoring started with a solo homer off Cubs starter Jordan Wicks in the first inning. “I fell behind 1-0 and tried to throw a fastball to get back in the count, and he took advantage of it,” Wicks said.

• Kyle Tucker, after serving as the designated hitter for his first two spring training games, made his first Cactus League start in right field.
• Not only have the Cubs finished two straight games in a tie, but both ended in a 4-4 knot against a California team. The Cubs’ tie Thursday with the Angles came the day after they tied the Giants. They’re still undefeated through eight games.
• On deck: Cubs at Rangers, 2:05 p.m. Friday, Surprise, 670-AM, Justin Steele vs. Caden Dana.