August 26, 2017

Cubs.com, 'Schwarbs' homer all Cubs get in Philly http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/250565104/rhys-hoskins-homers-as-phillies-top-cubs/

Cubs.com, 'Carl's Jr.' letting colorful cleats do talking http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/250577202/cubs-carl-edwards-jr-open-players-weekend/

Cubs.com, Quintana scuffles in shakiest start with Cubs http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/250616676/jose-quintana-has-roughest-start-with-cubs/

Cubs.com, Lester does 'really well' in 1st 'pen session http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/250578884/cubs-jon-lester-throws-1st-bullpen-session/

Cubs.com, Rolling 'Hendo' called for Philly showdown http://atmlb.com/2xBKHCO

ESPNChicago.com, Cubs wondering what to expect from Jose Quintana http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/45518/cubs-wondering-what-to-expect-from-jose-quintana

Chicago Tribune, Jose Quintana struggles, Cubs strike out 14 times in 7-1 loss to Phillies http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-phillies-spt-0826-20170825-story.html#nt=oft03a-1la1

Chicago Tribune, Kris Bryant's cleats call attention to spinal cord injuries http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-kris-bryant-cleats-chicago-inc-20170825-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Joe Maddon confirms he's on deep-rooted hair mission: 'It's going to get darker' http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-joe-maddon-20170825-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs manager Joe Maddon hopes for playoff showdown with Dodgers http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-notes-joe-maddon-takes-blame-spt-0826-20170825-story.html

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs’ injury updates make Joe Maddon feel good http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-injury-updates-make-joe-maddon-feel-good/

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs manager Joe Maddon to historically hot Dodgers: Bring it on http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-manager-joe-maddon-to-historically-hot-dodgers-bring-it-on/

Chicago Sun-Times, The story behind Carl Edwards Jr.’s food-themed Players Weekend cleats http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/the-story-behind-carl-edwards-jr-food-themed-players-weekend-cleats/

-- Cubs.com 'Schwarbs' homer all Cubs get in Philly By Stephen Pianovich and Todd Zolecki

PHILADELPHIA -- Kyle Schwarber's moon shot to right field in the first inning had Cubs fans roaring Friday night at Citizens Bank Park. But the Phillies kept them quiet the rest of the way in a 7-1 victory, though the Cubs maintained a three-game lead over the Brewers in the National League Central after Milwaukee lost to the Dodgers on Friday. Phillies left fielder Rhys Hoskins hit a two-run home run to left field in the first inning. He is the fastest player in baseball history to hit nine home runs, needing only 54 at-bats to do it, according to Elias Sports Bureau. "You get into the zones, you know?" Hoskins said. "You can't really explain it. There's a lot of just bliss I guess, no thinking involved. It's just one of those things. I'm not missing." Added Cubs manager Joe Maddon: "That took the win out of our sails quickly after the Schwarber homer." Phillies right-hander Jerad Eickhoff allowed one run in five innings to improve to 4-7. Cubs lefty Jose Quintana surrendered six earned runs on nine hits and four walks (one intentional) in five innings. Acquired in mid-July from the White Sox, Quintana has a 5.31 ERA in his last seven starts. Maikel Franco (aka "Compa F") hit his 18th home run in the eighth inning to provide the final margin. MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Eickhoff escapes jam: Eickhoff, who sported the nickname "Eick" on the back of his Players Weekend jersey, retired the first two batters he faced in the fifth, but loaded the bases with a single to Schwarber (aka "Schwarbs") and walks to Kris Bryant (aka "KB") and Anthony Rizzo (aka "Tony"). Ian Happ (aka "Happer") had a chance to get the Cubs back in the game, but he struck out swinging on a 2-2 curveball to end the inning. "Just trying to make him miss hit something, force some contact, try to make it look like strikes but not be strikes," Eickhoff said of his at-bat against Happ. "That was the biggest thing. Got him out front. I knew he struggles with breaking balls. I was able to do that and execute where I wanted to." Hail, Cesar: Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez (aka "Cesita") broke open the game in the second inning when he tripled to left-center field with the bases loaded to hand the Phillies a 5-1 lead. Freddy Galvis (aka "Toco") followed with a single to score Hernandez to make it 6-1. "The big hit was Cesar's three-run triple," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "That was huge." QUOTABLE "The strikeout was our enemy." -- Maddon, whose team struck out 14 times in the loss "I don't even want to talk about it. I asked Freddy 'What do you want me to tell the press?' He said he was timing it and thought he had a chance to steal. He got carried away. I told him he had the hottest hitter in baseball with a 3-and-1 count. Pick another time. Anyway, Freddy is embarrassed." -- Mackanin, on Galvis getting caught stealing with Hoskins at the plate in the fourth inning SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Hoskins is the first Phillies rookie to hit nine homers in a month since Darin Ruf hit nine in Aug. 2013. Ryan Howard holds the franchise record with 10 homers in Sept. 2005. LEFTY, LEFTY Phillies left-handers Adam Morgan and Hoby Milner continue to pitch well. Morgan pitched two scoreless innings with his fastball topping out at 97.9 mph. He has a 0.73 ERA (one earned run in 12 1/3 innings) this month. Milner has not surrendered a run in 12 appearances since July 29.

"One thing that I'm starting to get excited about is Milner and Morgan, the way they've been effective, especially against left-handers for a couple weeks now," Mackanin said. "That's really good to see." WHAT'S NEXT Cubs: Kyle Hendricks, aka "Hendo," will take the mound for the Cubs at 6:05 p.m. CT in the middle game of the Players Weekend set in Philadelphia. Hendricks (4-4, 3.52) has a 2.61 ERA and 0.82 WHIP in three career starts against the Phillies. Phillies: Right-hander Ben Lively (1-4, 3.70 ERA) pitches the second game of this three-game series against the Cubs on Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park at 7:05 p.m. ET. Lively allowed two runs in six innings last week against the Giants at AT&T Park, his first start back in the rotation since being optioned in early July. -- Cubs.com 'Carl's Jr.' letting colorful cleats do talking By Stephen Pianovich PHILADELPHIA -- Carl Edwards Jr. has had his nickname his whole life. There was no escaping Carl's Jr. The Cubs reliever is proudly sporting it on the back of his uniform during Players Weekend. He's making a louder statement with his footwear. Edwards has a pair of mustard yellow Carl's Jr. cleats with ketchup red laces. The logo of the fast food burger chain is on the inside of Edwards' right cleat with a tagline -- "Eat like you mean it" -- on his left. "I just laughed," Edwards said of his first reaction to the cleats, which were given to him by his agent via Carl's Jr. The cleats could not be missed as Edwards tracked down fly balls during the Cubs' batting practice Friday and brought cheeseburgers to mind in the city known for cheesesteaks. Edwards had another pair of cleats made for the weekend. It's a blue pair featuring faux spray paint and Carl Jr. written on the right cleat and "The Kid" on the left. This pair much better matches the Cubs' Players Weekend uniforms, which were greeted with smiles in the visitor's clubhouse at Citizens Bank Park. Shouts of "El Mago!" (Javier Baez) and "Ricardon!" (Felix Pena) were heard as players inspected their new duds. "It's always good to do something different," Edwards said. "Those cleats and those jerseys, it's something for us to wear with passion and something else for the fans to get a kick, a laugh out of and enjoy." Cubs manager Joe Maddon is celebrating Players Weekend just two hours south of where he played Little League. The Hazleton, Pa., native kept his nickname simple, going with "Joey" on the back of his jersey. But there are more nicknames on Maddon's sleeve. Maddon thanked his parents on his Players Weekend tribute patch. They're listed as Beanie, a nickname for Maddon's mother, Albina, and Howie, a nickname for Maddon's father that started as an inside joke. The moniker comes from Maddon's father, Joe Sr., too often repeating legendary broadcaster Howard Cosell as he called games. "Whatever Howard would say, my dad would say 32 seconds later," Maddon said. "Back home, when you talk about Howie, that's my dad." --

Cubs.com Quintana scuffles in shakiest start with Cubs By Stephen Pianovich PHILADELPHIA -- Jose Quintana looked like an ace in his Cubs debut on July 16. In his seven starts since, however, he's looked like the pitcher he was in the first half of 2017 for the White Sox. Quintana allowed six runs on nine hits over five innings in Friday's 7-1 loss to the Phillies. Quintana's ERA is 5.31 in his past seven outings, and his ERA for the season is back up to 4.50 -- just one-hundredth of a point higher than it was when the White Sox traded him to the North Side of Chicago. "There's not a thing wrong with him physically," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "The stuff is good. I think it's more execution and location." Quintana's tough night Friday started in the first inning, when he left a 2-1 fastball over the plate for red-hot rookie Rhys Hoskins. Hoskins sent the ball a projected 403 feet, according to Statcast™, putting the Phillies ahead 2-1. The rest of the damage against Quintana came in the second inning. Again in a 2-1 count, Cesar Hernandez smoked a three-run triple to center field. Hernandez was driven in by Freddy Galvis, the next batter, to make it 6-1. "I was spending too much time behind in counts," Quintana said. "That's the big thing. When that happens, everything can happen behind you." It was the second time in a Cubs uniform Quintana has allowed six runs, and the nine hits he allowed were the most since the trade. The lefty did strike out seven, but he also issued four walks (one intentional). Despite needing 53 pitches to get through two innings, Quintana made it through five on 88 pitches. But he still has not pitched into the seventh inning since his first Cubs start, when he tossed seven scoreless innings and struck out 12 Orioles. The biggest difference since Quintana's gem is his curveball, according to Maddon. "I just haven't seen the breaking ball being as relevant as it was in that first game," Maddon said. "I think he just needs to regain a touch or feel for that pitch, because otherwise they're just sitting fastball most of the time. Even if it's not a strike, it's just a pitch he's probably going to probably have to get into the mix a little more consistently to keep the other team from just sitting one pitch." In the midst of a postseason push, Quintana will have more opportunities to iron out his kinks and replicate his Cubs opener. He knows that's why he was acquired by the defending World Series champs. "Tonight was a battle for me," Quintana said. "We have a lot of games ahead, a lot of outings. I need to do what I do best: stay in and put my team in a good position. That's why I'm here." -- Cubs.com Lester does 'really well' in 1st 'pen session By Stephen Pianovich PHILADELPHIA -- Jon Lester threw a bullpen session Friday for the first time since going on the disabled list. Cubs manager Joe Maddon said "everything is pointing in the right direction" for Lester, who threw 42 pitches in the Citizens Bank Park bullpen and is set to throw a simulated game Monday.

"He did really well. He had a normal workout, threw 42 pitches," Maddon said. "That's what he always does, that's his number. So now he's in line for Monday to do a sim game, and we'll see how he does after that." Lester went on the disabled list on Monday due to left shoulder fatigue. He has a 4.37 ERA in 148 1/3 innings this season. Lester was pulled after only 1 2/3 innings in his last start, when he gave up nine runs (seven earned) on seven hits against the Reds on Aug. 17. -- Cubs.com Rolling 'Hendo' called for Philly showdown By Stephen Pianovich PHILADELPHIA -- Ben Lively provided six strong innings in his return to the Phillies' rotation during his last start. He's hoping for more of the same Saturday. Lively will face the Cubs and Kyle Hendricks at in the second of a three-game set over Players Weekend. Lively (aka "Bebo" this weekend) gave up just two runs on six hits as the Phillies topped the Giants on Sunday. It was the right-handed rookie's eighth start of the season, but his first since July 5. Hendricks is looking to continue a stretch of solid outings that started when he returned from a hand injury. Hendricks (aka "Hendo" this weekend) has a 2.45 ERA in his six starts since coming off the disabled list on July 24, though he doesn't have a win to show for it. Three things to know • Hendricks has had success against the Phillies in three career starts. He has a 2.61 ERA and 0.823 WHIP while registering 18 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings. Hendricks has not faced the Phillies in 2017. • Phillies rookie outfielder Rhys Hoskins hit his ninth career homer on Friday -- his 16th game -- becoming the fastest player in baseball history to reach to reach that mark. • Entering the weekend, the Cubs had won two of their last three series at Citizens Bank Park. They are the only two series victories for the Cubs in Philadelphia since the stadium opened in 2004. -- ESPNChicago.com Cubs wondering what to expect from Jose Quintana By Jesse Rogers PHILADELPHIA -- The 'Q' on the back of Chicago Cubs lefty Jose Quintana's jersey during Players Weekend shouldn't be mistaken for a '0' -- though that pretty much sums up how he pitched in Friday's 7-1 loss to the team with the worst record in baseball. Quintana gave up six runs in the first two innings, forcing the Cubs' lineup to potentially press at the plate trying to catch up. The result was 14 strikeouts on offense and a bad defeat for the Cubs one day after they gave away a game in Cincinnati. "First inning, I threw more fastballs than breaking balls," Quintana said after the loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. "Too much behind [in] the count. When that happens, everything [bad] can happen behind you." The numbers say Quintana has been OK since being acquired in a blockbuster trade with the White Sox at the All-Star break, but since his dominant first outing with the Cubs, he simply hasn't passed the eye test.

"The biggest difference is that curveball was really pertinent," manager Joe Maddon said of that first start as a Cub. "I just haven't seen the breaking ball as relevant as it was in that first game. He needs to regain the feel for that pitch because otherwise they're just sitting fastball most of the time." Actually, it's not that the curveball has been all that bad, but it seems Quintana has lost confidence in it. As he said after the game, he's relying on his fastball too much. According to ESPN Stats & Information, seven of nine hits off him Friday came against his fastball, including a long home run by rookie Rhys Hoskins. The Phillies were 2-for-5 off his curve -- so not much was fooling them. "The last two starts were good and [we] got results," Quintana said. "Tonight was a battle for me. That's not good. We have lot of games ahead and a lot of outings and I'll try to do my best. Try to put my team in a good position. That's the reason I'm here." In his debut for the Cubs on July 16, Quintana set the bar pretty high as he struck out 12 while shutting out the Orioles over seven innings. But in seven starts since then, his ERA is 5.31 over 39 innings. Considering those numbers, some will already declare the trade, one in which the Cubs sent the White Sox their top two prospects, a bust. That's premature considering Eloy Jimenez hasn't sniffed the majors yet, and it isn’t as if Quintana is a rental to be judged on three months. However, there are those in baseball still unsure what exactly the pitcher is long term. Some believe he's a No. 3 or even just a No. 4 in a contender's rotation. It's one thing to overspend on an elite arm -- Theo Epstein admitted as much on the day of the trade -- but if Quintana is just a semi-good innings eater, the Cubs can't be counting on him the way many thought they could. Then again he has proven he can be dominant, and using that curveball more efficiently might help. Only nine of 20 curves he threw Friday were in the strike zone, though that's not all bad news if he's ahead in the count and it has some bite. Philadelphia hitters chased it just once. "It got better as the game went on," catcher Alex Avila said. "It's something we've been working on the past few starts, getting more consistent with that breaking pitch. Usually it's one of his bread and butters." Maybe it's the pennant race. The last time Quintana was in one, with the White Sox in 2012, he also faltered down the stretch, but he was a rookie just learning his craft. Since then he has gobbled up innings, which is a nice trait. It's also how someone might describe John Lackey these days. There has to be more. If all Quintana can be is a nice, quality-start type of pitcher, then perhaps the Cubs did give up too much in the deal. Time will tell, but for right now Quintana isn't the reliable arm Maddon saw on day one. "The execution of the pitches just wasn't as clean as it was that first game," Maddon said. That's where the Cubs are now: asking themselves where has that Quintana gone? -- Chicago Tribune Jose Quintana struggles, Cubs strike out 14 times in 7-1 loss to Phillies By Mark Gonzales With September less than a week away, manager Joe Maddon envisions his Cubs returning to full strength for a run at a second consecutive National League Central title. But they still need to take care of their immediate business, which eluded them Friday night in a frustrating 7-1 loss to the lowly Phillies on the first night of Players Weekend.

The Phillies, who at 47-80 are in the lead for the first pick in the 2018 draft, smacked left-hander Jose Quintana for six runs in the first two innings. That was plenty of offense against a Cubs team that struck out 14 times and is 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position over the last two games. The Cubs were 0-for-7 Friday after going 21-for-50 (.420) during their five-game winning streak. "The strikeout was our enemy," Maddon said. "I don't want to fall back into that trap of just trying to hit home runs." The Cubs are 7-4 during a 13-game stretch against last-place teams. It's essential for them to regain the momentum they had at the start of the second half and during their recent five-game winning streak while Addison Russell, Jon Lester and Willson Contreras recover from injuries. A daunting stretch drive next month features 14 games against the rival Brewers and Cardinals. The Cubs remained 3 games ahead of the Brewers, who lost the Dodgers 3-1 on Friday in Los Angeles, and 41/2 in front of the Cardinals, who lost to the Rays 7-3. The only solace in Quintana's performance was that he managed to last five innings despite his early struggles, allowing Maddon to give Justin Wilson and Koji Uehara work in a non-pressure situation. But after winning his last two starts, Quintana's troubles resurfaced. He allowed nine hits, the most in his eight Cubs starts since a July 13 trade with the White Sox. His ERA swelled to 4.50. The biggest difference in Quintana, Maddon said, is that his curve hasn't been as sharp or used as frequently as it was in his Cubs debut, when he struck out 12 in seven scoreless innings against the Orioles. "Physically, he's fine, and his stuff is good," Maddon said. "It's more execution and location." Catcher Alex Avila said Quintana's curve got sharper as the game progressed, but the damage already was done. "Usually (the curve) is one of his bread and butters," Avila said. "We've been going to the changeup as his other off-speed pitch, but usually it's fastball and curve, and he's good with those two." Phillies rookie sensation Rhys Hoskins hit his ninth homer in his last 12 games — a two-run shot in the first "that took the wind out of our sails" after Kyle Schwarber homered in the first, Maddon said. Quintana's problems grew deeper in the second inning when counterpart Jerad Eickhoff hit a line drive to right field that eluded the outstretched glove of a diving Jason Heyward to load the bases. Cesar Hernandez followed with a bases-clearing triple, and Freddy Galvis' single marked the second time in Quintana's last five starts that he allowed six runs. "Too many times behind in the count is the big point," Quintana said. -- Chicago Tribune Kris Bryant's cleats call attention to spinal cord injuries By Phil Thompson Kris Bryant plans to wear three pairs of customized cleats during the weekend series against the Phillies to call attention to spinal cord injuries.

Three Chicago street artists designed Bryant’s Adidas Energy Boost Icon 3’s with a wings theme to honor the Wings for Life Foundation, which raises money for spinal cord research. Each pair of cleats is named after a city where Bryant has lived and developed as a baseball player: Las Vegas, San Diego and Chicago. The cleats Bryant will wear Sunday, the "Chicago," were designed by Max Sansing, who helped paint Bryant's mural on HVAC Pub, a block south of Wrigley Field. “I had the idea of waves of blues representing the people of Chicago supporting Kris, layering waves of spray paint and masking out the wings and color rays,” Sansing told wingsforlifeworldrun.com. In August 2015, Bryant announced he'd stop making headfirst slidesafter he collided with Brewers shortstop Jean Segura and left the game after with dizziness. The incident reminded him of his friend Cory Hahn, a former Arizona State player who was left paralyzed after a headfirst slide in 2011. Bryant met with Hahn in March and notes his friend as part of his motivation for helping promote the Wings for Life campaign. -- Chicago Tribune Joe Maddon confirms he's on deep-rooted hair mission: 'It's going to get darker' By Mark Gonzales There’s no stopping Joe Maddon when it comes to changing his look. Maddon confirmed a report by Tribune baseball columnist Paul Sullivan that he indeed has changed the color of his air, with "Just For Men Control GX" shampoo. “It’s working,” Maddon said before Friday night’s game against the Phillies. "I’ve had four or five applications now. I’ll do it again tonight and see where it takes me." Maddon added that he plans to visit his Chicago-based hair stylist, known as "Fred," to consider getting his tips frosted. "We’ll see," Maddon said. Maddon has changed his glasses and bleached his hair during his 11-year managerial career, but he’s encouraged by the current colored coiffing of his hair. "It’s going to get darker," said Maddon, who is opting for the blue steel tone from the movie Zoolander. -- Chicago Tribune Cubs manager Joe Maddon hopes for playoff showdown with Dodgers By Mark Gonzales Bring on the Dodgers. That's the wish of manager Joe Maddon, who believes his Cubs have a chance to peak at the right time for the right to meet the prohibitive National League favorites in the playoffs.

"We totally want it," said Maddon, whose Cubs held a three-game lead in the NL Central with 36 games left entering play Friday. "Nothing would make me happier than that. That's not to denigrate other teams that potentially would get in there. "But for us, I've always been about you want to beat the best to be the best. They're the best right now, and you got to go through that group. I'm looking forward to that moment where I feel we're clicking on all cylinders like we had been last year, and we're getting closer to it. And when you get to that point, bring on all comers." The Cubs lost four of six games against the Dodgers this season and dropped four of seven to the Nationals, their likely first-round playoff opponent should they hold on to win the NL Central. Blame game: Maddon accepted blame for not calling off a steal sign to Jon Jay in the ninth inning of Thursday's 4-2 loss at Cincinnati. "It's really my fault," Maddon said. "Nobody else's. Jon does almost everything right every night." Maddon said he has the right to negate the steal sign from bench coach Dave Martinez but didn't do so. Jay was thrown out easily at second base for the second out. Injury update: Left-hander Jon Lester felt fine after a 42-pitch bullpen session and is lined up to pitch a simulated game Monday at Wrigley Field. The Cubs will determine afterward whether Lester will rejoin the rotation next weekend against the Braves or the following week against the Pirates. Shortstop Addison Russell said it was "a great day" after he fielded grounders and ran without y pain in his right foot. Russell will perform drills at a moderate pace Saturday and rest Sunday before being re-evaluated Monday with the possibility of starting a minor-league rehab assignment. Catcher Willson Contreras tested his right hamstring by performing throwing drills to second base. "The band could be back relatively sooner than anticipated, possibly," Maddon said. -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs’ injury updates make Joe Maddon feel good By Gordon Wittenmyer PHILADELPHIA — The Cubs got enough news of progress about their injured players Friday that manager Joe Maddon described a vision of September that begins with key players returning from the disabled list and finishes with a team at full strength. ‘‘In my mind’s eye, we have this chance to really have this come together properly at the exact right time,’’ Maddon said before the Cubs opened a three-game series against the Phillies. The updates included left-hander Jon Lester throwing from a mound for the first time since lat tightness and shoulder fatigue landed him on the DL last week. ‘‘He did really well,’’ Maddon said of a 42-pitch bullpen session that matched the duration and intensity of Lester’s typical between-starts sessions. Next up is a simulated game Monday at Wrigley Field, after which Lester might be able to set a timeline for a return to the rotation. ‘‘Everything’s pointing in the right direction right now, so hopefully he’ll be back relatively soon,’’ Maddon said.

Shortstop Addison Russell, who has missed a month with a foot injury, might be on a similar early-September timeline after looking good during intense pregame work Friday. He has a more moderate work schedule for Saturday and a rest day Sunday and might be scheduled for a brief minor-league rehab assignment by Monday. Reliever Justin Grimm (finger) is expected back during that same stretch in early September, and catcher Willson Contreras (hamstring), who was able to handle catching drills Friday, might be a week or so behind the rest. ‘‘Yeah, the band could be back together relatively [soon],’’ Maddon said. ‘‘Sooner than we anticipated, possibly.’’ All about that base Less than 24 hours after suggesting Jon Jay was running on his own when he was caught stealing in the ninth inning Thursday against the Reds, Maddon took the blame, saying Jay got a sign from the bench. ‘‘It’s my fault, nobody else’s,’’ said Maddon, who indicated he learned the ill-conceived steal attempt with the Cubs trailing by two runs came after a sign from bench coach Davey Martinez. Maddon said Martinez looked for cues and followed protocol for the situation (the runner wasn’t held at first, a chance to stay out of a double play, etc.), and he didn’t stop the process. ‘‘Don’t blame Jonny at all for this one, not at all,’’ Maddon said. ‘‘That was our fault. . . . It’s up to me to say not to do anything.’’ Jay declined to discuss the play, saying only that it didn’t matter because it was in the past. To dye for The mystery of Maddon’s increasingly darkening hair has been solved. ‘‘It’s actually shampoo that does this,’’ he said of the Just For Men product. ‘‘This is four or five applications now. I’m going to do it again tonight and see where it takes me.’’ Whispers about Maddon coloring his hair began during the last homestand, when some media members saw him without his hat and noticed his hair had gone from white to a shade of gray. ‘‘I’ve got to see my stylist, Fred, when I get back home,’’ a smiling Maddon said. ‘‘I was thinking about getting the tips frosted somehow.’’ -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs manager Joe Maddon to historically hot Dodgers: Bring it on By Gordon Wittenmyer PHILADELPHIA — Manager Joe Maddon is nothing if not fearless. Maybe that’s ultimately what it’ll take for the Cubs to get over the hump down the stretch and look like the postseason threat they were the last two seasons. It sure hasn’t been the pitching of left-hander Jose Quintana, especially not in a 7-1 loss Friday to the Phillies, who have the worst record in baseball. And it sure hasn’t been a lineup that regularly has beaten up subpar Reds and Orioles pitching staffs but has done little consistently against anyone else this season. The Cubs struck out 14 times against the Phillies, with only a solo home run by Kyle Schwarber to show for nine hits in the loss.

But none of that keeps Maddon from wanting a piece of the steamrolling Dodgers in October. The Dodgers have been on the kind of historic run that produced their 90th victory with a week left in August and makes them a prohibitive World Series favorite. ‘‘Love it, love it,’’ Maddon said before the reigning champion Cubs fell behind 6-1 in less than two innings to a team that fielded four players who spent time in the minors this season — and maybe two or three that the average fan has heard of. ‘‘Listen, I’m very confident playing against them. Absolutely. We need to finish this off strongly, which we’re very capable of doing, but I like the way we match up against them a lot, not a little bit.’’ For those scoring at home, that makes one very public challenge to a team playing as though it’s trying to earn a rarefied place in major-league history. Talk about fearless. The Cubs weren’t so much as 10 games above .500 until Tuesday. They haven’t led the moribund National League Central by more than 3½ games. But Maddon said he envisions a Quintana with better command of a breaking ball that made him dominant in his first start with the Cubs last month against the Orioles, not to mention a healthier roster by the time they face the Dodgers. Assuming they make the playoffs, that is. The Cubs played all their regular-season games against the Dodgers during their up-and-down first half, winning two of three in their first home series of the season before being swept in Los Angeles in late May. ‘‘We were just going through that malaise where we just weren’t playing good baseball,’’ Maddon said of the sweep. ‘‘We’re playing better baseball. We’re still not playing as good as we can right yet. I anticipate we’re going to get to that in September, once everybody gets well.’’ Opening Day starter Jon Lester (lat/shoulder) might return from the disabled list in early September, shortstop Addison Russell (foot) might be on a similar timeline and catcher Willson Contreras (hamstring) might be right behind them. ‘‘Once we get the band back together and out there playing our game, I’d be very, very happy to get that opportunity to play them,’’ Maddon said of the Dodgers, who were on a 55-11 run as they opened a home series Friday against the Brewers. ‘‘Nothing would make me happier than that. ‘‘That’s not to denigrate other teams that could potentially get in [the playoffs]. But for us, I’ve always been about, ‘You want to beat the best to be the best — or the best right now.’ And you’ve got to go through that group. ‘‘I’m looking forward to that moment where I’m feeling like we’re clicking on all cylinders again, like we had last year. We’re getting closer to it. And when you get to that point, bring on all comers.’’ Till then, they’ll see whether they can beat the Phillies on Saturday. -- Chicago Sun-Times The story behind Carl Edwards Jr.’s food-themed Players Weekend cleats By Madeline Kenny If there’s one thing we know about Cubs reliever Carl Edwards Jr., it’s that he likes food.

Edwards unveiled his food-themed cleats he’ll wear against the Philadelphia Phillies during the MLB Players Weekend. The cleats are yellow with red shoe laces and have the “Carl’s Jr.” logo on his right foot. On his left foot, it reads: “Eat like you mean it.” So, why is Edwards wearing Carl’s Jr. themed gear? This March during spring training, Edwards revealed his diet to Sun-Times columnist Steve Greenberg. Besides McDonalds, Edwards said he’s beens trying other fast food restaurants like the one he may or may not be named after. “I’ve actually been trying that Carl’s Jr.,” Edwards said in March. “First of all, because — hello — I’m Carl Jr. So I’ve been eating some Carl’s Jr. burgers. It’s been pretty good. “I eat fast food every day. All those other guys eat healthy. Everybody eats whatever they think is good for them, so I eat what I think is good for me.” Cubs manager Joe Maddon could only laugh and shake his head when Greenberg told him what Edwards said. “Right now, he’s as thin as a rail,” Maddon said in March. “He should eat all the ice cream, burritos and Carl’s Jr. he can. And I would be doing the exact same thing if I had his body style.” That fast food might be working for Edwards, who is 3-3 with a 3.44 ERA in his 58 appearances for the Cubs this season. --