HOUSTON -- Dale Sveum will not manage the Cubs on Wednesday as he attends the high school graduation of his son in Arizona.

“Almost an empty-nester,” Sveum said. “Nothing at home.”

With the Cubs on a seven-game losing streak, Sveum hoped for a convincing victory Tuesday so he can leave on a positive note and not have the worry of the slide while he is supposed to be enjoying a festive occasion.

“It’s hard,” Sveum said about leaving the club. “He’ll be graduating (at game time) so most of that part I’m going to have to be looking on my phone and won’t be able to watch the game because I’ll be at the graduation.”


If guys like Bryan LaHair can get a game off for a “mental health day” then so can a manager.

“You can call it that I guess,” Sveum said. “Hopefully we can play a really good game tonight and I won’t have to sit at home and hope to (end) this streak.”

Sveum was asked about the oddity of a Wednesday evening graduation.

“Yeah, I guess … it’s tomorrow … I hope,” he said. “I’m going.”

Bench coach Jamie Quirk will serve as manager in Sveum’s absence. The Cubs are off Thursday and Sveum will be back on the bench for Friday's series opener at Pittsburgh.