April 29, 2016 Chicago Tribune Jake Arrieta extends winning streak but pulled early to preserve strength By Mark Gonzales Many of the 32,734 chilled fans applauded in appreciation of Jake Arrieta after the Wrigley Field scoreless streak of the Cubs' ace ended at 52 2/3 innings in the fifth inning. More people took note after Arrieta was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the fifth that ended Arrieta's streak of quality starts at 24 — two short of Bob Gibson's stretch in 1967-68. Manager Joe Maddon's reasoning in ending one of the most remarkable runs in the modern era was simple. "I saw 92 pitches," Maddon said of Arrieta's effort over five innings. "I saw Jake Arrieta, I saw the Cubs trying to win a World Series. I saw the next five years of his career. … All that stuff mattered much more than breaking Gibson's record right there." After a brief moment of disagreement, Arrieta quickly concurred that he and the Cubs have more than personal goals to achieve as they still coasted to a 7-2 victory over the Brewers. In winning their third consecutive game, the Cubs improved to 16-5, marking their best 21-game start since the 1907 team started 17-4. Thanks to a 5-0 lead after three innings and taking a season-high 11 walks, the Cubs won for the 18th straight time in games Arrieta has started to break the franchise mark Ed Reulbach (1906-07) and Pat Luby (1890-91) shared. And Arrieta improved to 16-0 with an 0.58 ERA in 17 starts dating back to Aug.1, 2015, with the 16 victories matching Rick Sutcliffe's club streak in 1984-85. Arrieta, making his first start since throwing a 119-pitch no-hitter at Cincinnati on April 21, wasn't extended because the Cubs wanted to ensure he will be strong for his next start — Tuesday night against the Pirates, whom he beat in the National League wild-card game last year. Arrieta lacked command from the outset, as his 31-pitch first inning indicated. But he broke the bat of Jonathan Villar (that resulted in a single to start the game) and struck out two with the bases loaded to get out of a jam in the first. With two out in the fifth, Arrieta's scoreless streak ended when Villar singled and scored on Alex Presley's double. Ray Herbert of the White Sox (1962-63) has the record for most consecutive scoreless innings at home with 54. "Just because I gave up a run and the streak ended doesn't mean that I'm going to put a whole lot of thought into it right now," said Arrieta, who became the first Cubs pitcher to start 5-0 in his first five starts since Greg Maddux in 2006. "I'll reserve that for later on. "We felt pretty good where we were in the ballgame. It had to end at some point. But we'll try to start another one."

Arrieta was blunt about his lack of command that led to four walks for his second straight start. Even though he had two extra days of rest because of Monday's off day and Wednesday's rainout, he agreed with Maddon's decision to lift him with a 5-1 lead and the chance to add more runs. "It was the right way to go," Arrieta said. "Our most important ballgames are still ahead of us. We're still lined up very well." -- Chicago Tribune Cubs take MRI on Kris Bryant's right ankle and call injury a mild sprain By Mark Gonzales Slugger Kris Bryant left the Cubs' 7-2 victory over the Brewers after the fourth inning Thursday with a "mild" right ankle sprain, the team said. Bryant later had an MRI on the ankle, and manager Joe Maddon wouldn't speculate on the potential severity of the injury, although the Cubs emphasized the test was precautionary. "I don't want to create conjecture," Maddon said. "Let's look at the tests." Bryant rolled his ankle while running from first to home on Anthony Rizzo's double in the third and played one more inning before Javier Baez replaced him in left field to start the fifth. Maddon said he watched Bryant hit the inside of the second base bag correctly and "didn't see any hitch in his giddy-up. I just saw a very good turn." Catching quandary: The Cubs will try not to tax 39-year-old catcher David Ross while Miguel Montero recovers from lower back stiffness that could cause some long-term ramifications if the discomfort persists. Montero, 32, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday, retroactive to Monday. Catcher Willson Contreras, 23, is one of the Cubs' top prospects, but the Cubs elected to promote Tim Federowicz from Triple-A Iowa so Contreras can continue his development uninterrupted. Maddon said Contreras, the second-ranked prospect in the organization, could join the majors as soon as the second half. But age and health behind the plate eventually could be a factor for the Cubs, especially with Kyle Schwarber lost for the season after left knee surgery. Ross had a stint on the seven-day disabled list because of a concussion in July, and Montero was sidelined for nearly four weeks because of a left thumb sprain. The Cubs stuck with Taylor Teagarden as their third-string catcher until they gained more confidence in Schwarber and Montero returned. Extra innings: Rizzo's 23 RBIs tie him for the most for the Cubs in April since Derrek Lee in 2008. … The Cubs walked seven batters, snapping a streak of 20 consecutive games of four walks or fewer to start a season. That was the longest streak for the club to open a season since 1913. -- Chicago Tribune Patience leads to production for Cubs By Mark Gonzales Manager Joe Maddon said earlier this week that if you want to get more walks, you most likely will buy them in the form of acquiring players through free agency or through trades.

The Cubs acquired free agents Ben Zobrist and Jason Heyward last winter to help with their on-base percentage and run production, but there’s improvement from within that’s helped ignite the offense. Thursday’s 7-2 over the Milwaukee Brewers marked the 11th time they’ve scored six runs or more. They’re 11-0 in those games. Also, the offense saw a season-high 199 pitches, surpassing their previous high of 198 against the Cincinnati Reds in a 16-0 win that was overshadowed by Jake Arrieta’s no-hitter. The Cubs drew a season-high 11 walks Thursday, surpassing their previous high of 10. “There’s a very talented lineup and a deep lineup,” David Ross said. “We force guys to throw strikes, and that’s a sign of a good ballclub that has a lot confidence in our ability. But it’s a long season, and we’re going to have ups and downs in our approach - some hot, some cold.” Ross hit the 98th home run of his career in the second, and he also drew a walk. Second-year shortstop Addison Russell has shown the most improvement. Russell, who drew only 42 walks while striking out 149 times in 2015, has 12 walks and 14 strikeouts. Ross drew a distinction between the Cubs’ patience and that of the Boston Red Sox teams he played on (including the 2013 World Series champions). “We want to hit strikes,” Ross said. “We feel like we’re not up there to take pitches just to take them. Guys are up there looking for their pitch. For a young group, that’s a very mature approach. “I see maturity in the approach from a young, talented group, which is completely different than Boston, which was more of an established veteran group that had been around the block. I’m seeing that kind of approach with this group.” -- Chicago Tribune Cubs' Jake Arrieta creature of habit as he goes about victory routine By Paul Sullivan Though Jake Arrieta's bid for second straight no-hitter and home scoreless inning streak ended early Thursday, anything seems possible when he's pitching. Wearing a blue Cubs hoodie that partially hid his face on a chilly afternoon at Wrigley Field, Jake Arrieta strode to the bullpen at 12:50 p.m. Thursday to continue his quest for perfection. Coming off a no-hit game at Cincinnati and with a 15-game regular-season winning streak on the line, Arrieta had become too dominant for his own good, sparking a national discussion over the possibility he somehow was cheating. Even laughing off the PED accusations brought criticism from ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith, leading Arrieta to shoot back on Twitter: "Laughing is exactly what I will do. You continue to do your thing though. No one will undercut my hard work." As Arrieta yanked off his hoodie at 12:51 p.m., fans sitting in the box seats down the left field line yanked out their smartphones and began Instagramming and Snapchatting the moment for posterity's sake. Paying no mind, Arrieta dropped down on the freshly mowed outfield grass and began doing pushups as pitching coach Chris Bosio and bullpen catcher Chad Noble casually tossed baseballs to fans in the bleachers.

By the time the balls were dispensed, Arrieta already had begun his pre-game routine with catcher David Ross, throwing from about 20-feet and then progressively moving back on every throw until he was in left-center field. Bleacherites erupted in cheers as Arrieta neared the wall where ivy is just starting to bloom. He briefly doffed his cap and continued throwing darts to Ross. As the clock hit 1 p.m. on the old school scoreboard in center, Arrieta moved back in to around 60-feet for a few final throws before heading to the bullpen mound. "Way to shut down Stephen Smith," a fan yelled as Arrieta began digging in front of the pitching rubber with his left foot. Bullpen coach Lester Strode, wearing a stocking cap, came out to stand behind the mound with Bosio and monitor the bullpen session, while Bill Murray's voice boomed out from the video board in left field, recalling his first visit to Wrigley as a boy. "This is where I'm supposed to be," Murray proclaimed as Arrieta began throwing off the mound. At 1:10 p.m., Arrieta stopped and stood next to Bosio while the national anthem was performed, looking down and fidgeting on the rubber with a towel wrapped around his right arm. Two minutes later, the session started up again and fans repeated the ritual of holding their phones in the air to chronicle the moment. When Arrieta finished at 1:14 p.m. he calmly handed the ball to Bosio and exchanged fist bumps with Bosio and Strode. Walking back to the dugout, Arrieta stopped and faced Noble. The two traded synchronized bows, Japanese-style, before Arrieta and coach Franklin Font went into a low-fiving routine that resembled two gorillas flexing their muscles. Arrieta was ready, and so was Wrigley. It had been 78 years since Johnny Vander Meer had thrown back-to-back no-hitters, and though the likelihood of Arrieta repeating the feat was almost nil, anything seemed possible with Arrieta pitching. "As a player, you don't go out there thinking that," said Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, who started in left field. "You just think you have a good chance of winning. I'm sure Jake doesn't care if he throws a no-hitter or gives up a couple of runs, as long as you win." Brewers manager Craig Counsell had played alongside five-time Cy Young winner Randy Johnson, who threw two no-hitters and frequently had no-hit stuff when he went out to the mound. Did he remember thinking a no-hitter was possible whenever the Big Unit started? "I don't know if you thought he was going to throw one," Counsell said. "But you thought something cool could happen." Like Johnson, Arrieta has become one of the great performers in the game. Every outing is turning into must-see TV, and Arrieta is so self-assured he wouldn't rule out the possibility of throwing more no-hitters after his second gem last week against the Reds. "But you have to realize," he warned, "It takes one broken bat (hit) or a guy taking a very good swing and hitting a gapper …" On his fifth pitch of the day, Arrieta broke the bat of leadoff man Jonathan Villar. The ball flared into short left field for an opposite-field single, and just like that, Arrieta's bid for history was over. Arrieta's scoreless innings streak at Wrigley eventually would end at 52 2/3 innings, second longest at home in major-league history. He would have to be satisfied with five innings of work and his 16th straight victory in a 7-2 victory before a crowd of 32,734. Perfection would have to wait.

Five more days, and start all over again. "It had to end at some point," Arrieta said. "But we'll try to start another one." -- Chicago Tribune Cubs place Miguel Montero on DL; Willson Contreras remains in Iowa By Mark Gonzales The Willson Contreras era will have to wait until likely the second half of the 2016 season. The Chicago Cubs elected to promote veteran catcher Tim Federowicz from Triple-A Iowa instead of Contreras to take the place of Miguel Montero on the 25-man roster. Montero was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Monday, after Federowicz arrived at Wrigley Field. Montero, 32, is suffering from back tightness. Meanwhile, Federowicz, 28, who played parts of four seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2011-14) and batted .194, was promoted instead of Contreras, 23, who is batting .375 in 56 at-bats for Iowa and is ranked as the Cubs' second-best prospect in the organization by Baseball America. “We just had a to make a choice there, and Fed is here for a reason," manager Joe Maddon said. "Fed had a great spring training, and you're looking at the overall development of Contreras. So in your mind’s eye, if you’re putting this whole thing together, a guy like Willson, you’re going to wait until the second half, hopefully, to get him involved here or the latter part of the season, to get him here and get his feet on the ground and do well and all that other kind of good stuff. "You bring in Fed for a specific reason and here’s the specific reason that just popped up. It's early in the season. One of your two guys just got hurt. He’s a veteran. He understands the major leagues. He understands veteran pitchers. So there are a lot of different reasons why you sign Fed in the first place, and then you don’t run away from him when the opportunity jumps up there. Contreras’ time will come." Federowicz, 28, was batting .303 in 33 at-bats at Iowa. Federowicz batted .324 with two home runs in 34 at-bats in spring training. Montero felt back discomfort last weekend but couldn't get loose prior to Tuesday's game and was replaced by David Ross. Maddon said he could tell from the look in Montero's eyes in the clubhouse dining room that he was in plenty of discomfort. "It's just not right," Maddon said. "If we needed him, he was going to get loose and attempt to get back out there and play, and I think he would have. But he would have done that under duress, and it’s not good for him and us. "We'll give him a chance to get this thing settled down and get back to normal. But I could tell just by talking to him that he is hurting." Montero, who is batting .208, will miss the Cubs series at Pittsburgh starting Monday and a four-game series against the Washington Nationals starting May 5. He will be eligible to return May 10. Maddon remains mindful not to wear down Ross, 39, who is expected to start Thursday and Friday. "We'll just bounce it back and forth and not beat anyone up," Maddon said. In March, Montero was impressed with the talents of Contreras.

"He's going to be a beast," Montero said. -- Chicago Sun-Times Montero (back) to DL; Federowicz to join club today from Iowa By Gordon Wittenmyer Three weeks after Kyle Schwarber suffered a season-ending knee injury, the Cubs’ catching corps took another hit when the Cubs decided Thursday to place starter Miguel Montero on the disabled list because of persistent back soreness. Tim Federowicz, a veteran of 89 big-league games who was signed over the winter for big-league depth, was to be added to the roster and join the team at some point Thursday, the Cubs said. Backup David Ross, who was in the starting lineup Thursday and is scheduled to catch Jon Lester on Friday, will share starting duties with Federowicz until Montero returns, manager Joe Maddon said. Montero, who spent four weeks on the disable list in 2013 with a similar injury, hasn’t played since Sunday. He said he felt the back start to tighten during his two starts over the weekend in Cincinnati. Montero said he had an MRI but did not have the results back Thursday morning. “I’m pretty sure it’s maybe a couple bulging disks that I’ve had there in the past,” he said, “which is nothing crazy, but it’s there. It gets inflamed, and that’s when it starts to spasm in your back, and we need to get the inflammation down and go from there. “I did have this before but it was even worse before. So I don’t want it to get to that point. I’d much rather take it easy for a couple of days, and see how it goes. AT this point it’s been four days, and it’s still pretty tight.” Montero, whose DL move would be backdated to Monday, said he could have pushed it and played if the team needed him off the bench. “But what if I aggravate it even more?” he said. “It’s early in the year. I’d much rather it be 15 days than a month or month and a half on the DL.” Federowicz, 28, originally a seventh-round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox, spent parts of four seasons in the majors with the Dodgers, hitting .194 with five home runs (247 at-bats). He spent all of last season in the minors. -- Chicago Sun-Times Arrieta’s Superman act takes day off, but Cubs ace still wins By Gordon Wittenmyer The kind of things Jake Arrieta has been able to do from a pitcher’s mound over the last 10 months have stretched the bounds of plausibility and credibility to such degrees that he spent much of the last week addressing steroid speculation from rival players and talk-show screaming heads. So when his Superman pitching act took on a more Clark Kent appearance Thursday on the heels of throwing a second no-hitter in eight months, it seemed almost newsworthy when catcher David Ross pointed out: “He is human.” To be clear, Arrieta’s version of Clark Kent throws 94 mph with diving breaking stuff.

And the National League’s reigning Cy Young winner allowed only one run and earned his fifth victory of the season in Thursday’s 7-2 win over the Brewers at Wrigley Field. But that one run, which scored with two out in the fifth, was the first he gave up in a regular-season game at Wrigley Field since July 25 – the last time he lost a regular-season game. His 52 2/3-inning home scoreless streak is a franchise record and second in major-league history (post 1900) only to Ray Herbert of the White Sox (54 in 1962-63). Thanks to a “slightly erratic” sinker and 31-pitch first inning, Arrieta also saw his franchise-record streak of 24 consecutive quality starts snapped two short of Bob Gibson’s five-decade-old record. He was pulled from the game after five innings with his pitch count at 92 on a blustery, 45-degree afternoon. “It wasn’t really worth it,” manager Joe Maddon said of the thought of leaving him in the game to hit in the bottom of the fifth with the Cubs leading 5-1. “Different game? Like 1-0, 0-0? Probably, yeah. “I saw 92 pitches,” Maddon added. “I saw Jake Arrieta. I saw the Cubs trying to win a World Series. I saw the next five years of his career. I know his kids really well. All that stuff matter much more than breaking Gibson’s record right there.” That didn’t mean Arrieta (5-0) wanted to leave the game at that point. There was a brief discussion with the manager. “In this position last year, I might have been a little more frustrated with that decision,” said Arrieta, who then cited the weather, extra days between starts (one caused by Wednesday’s rainout) and 92-pitch grind. “It is the right way to go, and, obviously, our most important ballgames are still ahead of us.” Even on this Kryptonite-tinged day, Arrieta allowed only two hits – only one until he was two outs deep in the fifth. That one quickly put to rest any thoughts of matching Johnny Vander Meer’s feat of back-to-back no-hitters as Jonathan Villar led off the game with a broken-bat flare over the left side of the infield for a single. “He got the ‘W,’ he’s 5-0, and I don’t think anybody’s worried about it around here,” said Ross – whose career-defying start included his second homer of the season, a Waveland Avenue shot leading off the second. Ross, by the way, hit one homer all of last season. He added a walk in the sixth – one of a season-high 11 for the Cubs’ lineup – before being lifted for pinch-hitter Jason Hammel (seriously) in the eighth. Arrieta, who played catch inside Wednesday night to help compensate for going six days between starts, didn’t truly struggle by most standards. “It wasn’t sharp, but we got the job done,” said Arrieta, who matched Rick Sutcliffe’s 1984-85 franchise record by winning his 16th consecutive decision (0.58 ERA in that 17-start span). The Cubs have won his last 18 regular-season starts, another franchise record. And he’s still 21-1 with a 0.89 ERA in his last 25 starts. “Just because I gave up a run or the streak ended doesn’t mean I’m going to put a whole lot of thought into it right now,” he said. “It had to end at some point. But we’ll try and start another one.” If anything, watching Arrieta handle Thursday’s bumps and divots after a week of scrutiny and social media trolling related to the performance-enhancer questions, Maddon has a right to feel even better about Arrieta’s season moving forward than if he’d cruised to another no-hitter. “I think he handles those moments when he’s confronted really well,” said Maddon, whose ace also waged a Twitter duel with Pirates fans last fall before a dominant performance in Pittsburgh to win the wild-card playoff game.

“He’s very matter-of-fact. He’s very self-confident,” Maddon said. “He knows who he is. So when he answers the questions, he can answer them in a genuine manner and feel really good about himself. It’s a pretty good way to live. “I think he’s got it down.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Montero to DL, but Cubs not ready to embrace Contreras debut yet By Gordon Wittenmyer Why not Willson Contreras? That might have been the most popular question trending on Cubs-related social media after the Cubs decided Thursday to place catcher Miguel Montero on the disabled list and called up journeyman depth guy Tim Federowicz to take Montero’s spot. Federowicz, who had six catching starts at AAA Iowa, was mostly a backup to Contreras – last year’s Southern League batting champ and one of the Cubs’ top two prospects. “Contreras’s time will come,” manager Joe Maddon said when the move was announced after Montero’s back soreness persisted into a fourth day. Contreras, who impressed the big-league staff during his first big-league spring training, is considered the Cubs’ potential catcher of the future, a strong-armed converted third baseman with maybe the best catch-and-throw skills in the organization. But the Cubs don’t need a debuting, on the-job-trainee as they play under the highest expectations for the team in years, trying to build on the best record in the majors in the early going. “You’re looking at the overall development of Contreras,” Maddon said. “In your mind’s eye, with a guy like Willson, you’re probably going to wait till the second half hopefully to get him involved here – second half or latter part of the season.” Federowicz, 28, who has played 89 games in the majors over the past five years, was signed over the winter for this kind of short-term, emergency fill-in duty. “He’s a veteran. He understands the major leagues. He understands veteran pitchers,” said Maddon, who plans to split starts between Federowicz and David Ross until Montero’s back. “There’s a lot of different reasons why you signed Fed in the first place, and then you don’t run away from him when the opportunity jumps up there.” Montero, who spent four weeks on the disabled list in 2013 with a similar injury, said that was much worse than this time around and expects to return when eligible May 10. His injury comes just three weeks after the Cubs lost catcher/left fielder Kyle Schwarber for the season with a knee injury. Montero said he had an MRI but did not have the results back Thursday. “I’m pretty sure it’s maybe a couple bulging disks that I’ve had there in the past,” he said, “which is nothing crazy, but it’s there. It gets inflamed, and that’s when it starts to spasm in your back, and we need to get the inflammation down and go from there. “I did have this before but it was even worse before. So I don’t want it to get to that point. I’d much rather take it easy for a couple of days, and see how it goes. At this point it’s been four days, and it’s still pretty tight.”

Meanwhile, even Contreras seemed to wonder about Thursday’s move, tweeting just before game time: “I’ll keep playing hard and working hard. That’s all I can control.” Montero, a mentor and big supporter of Contreras in spring training, gets the decision. “When I came up to the big leagues my first year I thought it was going to be easier. Sometimes I wondered the same question for myself: `Man, how difficult can it be?’ “ said Montero, who added it took close to two years in the majors to fully get it. “Especially when you have these kinds of pitchers who have pretty much all been around for a long time, and you put a lot of pressure on yourself trying to call a perfect game for these guys. It’s a lot of weight on your shoulders. “I guess they’re trying to avoid that. Obviously, the time will come for him.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Ankle sprain sidelines Cubs’ Kris Bryant By Gordon Wittenmyer The Cubs are calling the injury that forced Kris Bryant out of Thursday’s game a “mild” ankle sprain, pending results of a precautionary MRI and another evaluation Friday morning. The 2015 National League Rookie of the Year is expected to be sidelined at least a day or two, and manager Joe Maddon said he wanted to wait for updates from the medical staff before speculating on a timeline. Bryant, who started in left field on Thursday, rolled his right ankle while scoring from first on Anthony Rizzo’s double in the third inning. He stayed in the game for one more defensive inning and one more plate appearance – during which he was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game – before exiting after starting to take the field in the top of the fifth. Javy Baez took over in left at that point and finished the game. Bryant has started all 21 games for the Cubs this season, splitting time between the third spot in the batting order and fifth. He’s hitting .289 with four homers, 15 RBIs and a .372 on-base percentage. He has a six-game hitting streak. Before the game, the Cubs placed catcher Miguel Montero on the disabled list because of a sore back and called up Tim Federowicz from AAA Iowa. -- Daily Herald Chicago Cubs Montero to DL; Bryant rolls ankle By Bruce Miles The Chicago Cubs have a couple of new injury situations. Before Thursday's 7-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, they placed catcher Miguel Montero on the 15-day disabled list because of lower-back tightness. During the game, left fielder Kris Bryant exited after the fourth inning with what the Cubs termed a mild sprain of his right ankle. The team said Bryant "rolled" the ankle running the bases in the third inning, when he singled. Bryant, the 2015 Rookie of the Year in the National League, went for an MRI, which the Cubs said was precautionary.

"I saw him jog back in," said manager Joe Maddon. "I don't even want to create conjecture. Let's see what happens. Let's look at the test." With Montero, Maddon said he could see trouble in the catcher's eyes. "Even if you just talk to him, look in his eyes," Maddon said. "I said, 'Man, I can see in your eyes it's just not right.' He would have gone. If we needed him, he was definitely going to attempt to get loose and go out there and play, and I think he would have. But he would definitely done it under duress, and it's not really good for him and for us. "Just give him a chance to get this thing settled down and get back to normal. I could absolutely just tell by talking to him that he was hurt." To fill Montero's spot, the Cubs selected the contract of veteran catcher Tim Federowicz from Class AAA Iowa. Federowicz, 28, went to spring training with the Cubs as a nonroster player. Montero has had a history of back problems. While with the Diamondbacks in 2013, a similar ailment put him on the DL for close to a month. "It was pretty bad; I couldn't even walk," he said. "They had to take me in a wheelchair to my car." This time, Montero didn't want to take a chance. "It's not fair for me to go out there and kind of push it," he said. "I did have this before. It was even worse before. I don't want to get to that point. I just want to take it easy for a couple days and see how it goes. At this point, after four days, it's still pretty tight. I could have played, but what if I aggravated it more? It's early in the year, so I don't feel like it's necessary." Not yet for Contreras: The Cubs chose a veteran catcher in Tim Federowicz over prospect Willson Contreras, who also is at Iowa, to replace Miguel Montero. "We just had to make a choice right there," Joe Maddon said. "Obviously, Fed was here for a reason. Fed had a great spring training. You're looking at the overall development of Contreras. In your mind's eye, if you're putting this whole thing together, a guy like Willson, you're probably going to wait until the second half, hopefully, to get him here the second half or the latter part of the season." Montero provided some perspective. "When I came up to the big leagues my first year, I thought it was going to be easier," he said. "Sometimes I wondered the same question for myself: How difficult could it be? To be honest, I didn't realize until I had a couple years in that it is harder than you think it is, especially when you have these kinds of pitchers, who are older and have been around a long time. "You put a lot of pressure on yourself, trying to call a perfect game for these guys. It's a lot of weight on your shoulders. Time will come for him." This and that: The Cubs have won Jake Arrieta's last 18 regular-season starts, a franchise record. They've outscored opponents 99-22 in those games. Arrieta became the first Cubs pitcher to go 5-0 in his first 5 starts since Greg Maddux in 2006 … The Cubs' 16-5 record is their best 21-game start since the 1907 club went 17-4 … Cubs batters saw a season-high 199 pitches. They saw 198 last week in Cincinnati. --

Daily Herald Arrieta moves to 5-0 as Chicago Cubs sweep Brewers By Bruce Miles Neither Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon nor ace pitcher Jake Arrieta seemed worried about streaks of any kind Thursday. Consecutive scoreless innings? Quality starts? Forget it. The Cubs and Arrieta got what they needed -- if not totally what they wanted -- in Thursday's 7-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers at chilly Wrigley Field. Coming off the previous Thursday's no-hitter at Cincinnati, Arrieta pitched 5 innings against the Brewers, giving up a hit to the first batter he faced. He allowed 1 run while walking four and striking out six. Arrieta will end April with a record of 5-0 and an ERA of 1.00. His consecutive-innings scoreless streak at home ended at 52⅔, and his franchise-record string of quality starts ended at 24. The major-league record since 1914 is 26, set by the Cardinals' Bob Gibson from 1967-68. Arrieta has won his last 16 decisions, tied for the longest streak by a Cub since Rick Sutcliffe's 16-game winning streak over 1984-85. In the end, the Cubs improved their record to 16-5, and Arrieta got a bit of a breather. "I saw 92 pitches," Maddon said, referring to Arrieta's pitch count. "I saw Jake Arrieta. I saw the Cubs trying to win a World Series. I saw the next five years of his career. I know his kids really well. All that stuff mattered much more than breaking Gibson's record right there." Arrieta has never been one to think about streaks and records as they're happening. He gave up his first run at home since July 25 of last year in Thursday's fifth inning on Alex Presley's two-out RBI double. "Just because I gave up a run and the streak ended doesn't mean I'm going to put a whole lot of thought into it right now," he said. "I'll kind of reserve that for later on." Arrieta admitted it was a struggle early. He threw 31 of his 92 pitches in the first inning, when he stranded three Brewers on the bases. "That's all I can say, is that he is human," said catcher David Ross. "Tough elements out there today. Tough winds. Hard to get a grip. He did a great job today, I thought." At issue early on was too much movement on Arrieta's sinking, two-seam fastball. After the first couple of innings, Arrieta and Ross went to an easier-to-command four-seam fastball to get ahead in counts. "I was just a little flat today," Arrieta said. "Stuff was OK. I just didn't establish everything early enough in the ballgame and got into some spots where counts got extended, pitch counts got up." Arrieta also had to prepare for a start two days in a row. His Wednesday night start was rained out. "Turning it off mentally after a rainout like that, where it's so close to game time, it's tough to wind down," he said. "To fire it back up early, it's something you have to deal with, especially early in the season. We know there's the potential for rain delays in April-May. After that point, it's fairly consistent. It's just a variable we just have to deal with and deal with the best way we can."

The offense helped Arrieta early and often, scoring twice in the first, once in the second and twice more in the third. Ben Zobrist's 2-run single off Taylor Jungmann in the first gave the Cubs the lead. Ross crushed a homer to the back of the left-field bleachers leading off the second. RBI doubles by Anthony Rizzo and Tommy La Stella made it 5-0 in the third. Cubs batters drew 11 walks against Milwaukee pitching. "It's a very talented lineup and a deep lineup, for sure," Ross said. "We force guys to throw strikes, and that's the sign of a good ballclub that has a lot of confidence in their ability." -- Daily Herald Former Cubs, Sox stars to play charity game in Schaumburg By Staff Former Chicago Cubs and White Sox stars including Ozzie Guillen, Jermaine Dye, Lee Smith and Bill Madlock, will take the field at Boomers Stadium in Schaumburg later this year for a charity softball event. The Larry A. Pogofsky All-Star Softball Challenge presented by Cumulus Radio Chicago returns to Schaumburg after a one-year hiatus at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, to benefit local charities. Tickets for the event start at $20 for a box seat, with VIP tickets available for $50, and include a postgame picnic and gift. Prior to the game, kids will have the opportunity to take part in an on-field baseball skills clinic hosted by the Bulls/Sox Academy. The clinic will begin at noon and includes instruction in batting, fielding and baserunning. A spot in the Kids Clinic can be purchased in conjunction with either a box seat ($75) or a VIP ticket ($105). Space is limited. Other former Cubs players scheduled to attend include Carlos Zambrano, Jon Lieber, Gary Matthews Jr., Brian McRae, Jerome Walton, Cliff Floyd, Adam Greenberg, Corey Patterson and Mike Remlinger. Ex-South Siders expected include Jon Garland, Freddy Garcia, Joe Crede, Greg Walker, Carlos Lee, Ray Durham, Scott Podsednik, Carl Everett, Mike Huff, Dan Pasqua and Timo Perez. Tickets can be purchased online, over the phone at (847) 461-3695, or by visiting the Boomers box office at 1999 S. Springinsguth Road in Schaumburg from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information on the 2016 LAP Chicago All-Star Softball Challenge, including details on how to become a sponsor of the event, contact lapallstar@gmail.com. -- Daily Herald Constable: No Arrieta fans in Spanish town of Arrieta By Burt Constable Since everything started clicking for him last summer, Cubs ace Jake Arrieta continues to rack up eye-popping statistics that separate him from the rest of the pitchers in Major League Baseball. The pitcher has opposing batters wasting away in Arrietaville. In his previous 24 starts, Arrieta has a 20-1 record with a minuscule 0.86 ERA. He's gotten so good that he has had to deny suspicions that he's using performance-enhancing drugs.

The only thing that could stop Arrieta from no-hitting the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night was a long stretch of rain that postponed the game. Arrieta, still 4-0 this season, is on a pitching island all by himself. But that's not the case in the tiny fishing hamlet of Arrieta, on the island of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands of Spain, just off the northwest coast of Africa. The village barely has more residents (550) than Arrieta has strikeouts (466) in his four years with the Cubs. None of them is a Cubs fan. "Unfortunately, prior to your email, I'd not heard of Jake," emails Michael Roberts, a travel writer for Islas Travel Guides. Islas does a wonderful job of helping tourists find Arrieta the village. But as Arrieta the Cub continues to venture into uncharted territory with his pitching dominance, he remains lost to the populace of the tourist spot. "I've never heard any American voices in the village," Roberts admits. "The few tourists that do visit the village are either English or Germans … I once spoke to a young girl on holiday in Lanzarote and asked which part of the U.S. she came from. She took great offense and told me in no uncertain terms that she was Canadian." The rare Americans who make it to Lanzarote arrive by cruise ship. They step off the deck and into the capital city of Arrecife, "and only spend a short time ashore," Roberts says. "Arrieta still has a small working harbor from where the local fishermen unload their catch each morning," says the Islas.co.uk webpage about Arrieta. "The main attraction of the fishing village of Arrieta is the small beach Playa de la Garita, a combination of volcanic rock and sand with a congenial beach bar and restaurant where you can relax with a beer and tapas," reads a description from LonelyPlanet.com. In recognition of its cleanliness and water quality, the beach won a European Blue Flag, which is sort of a Cy Young Award for sand. Born in Farmington, Missouri, Jake Arrieta grew up in Plano, Texas. But he might have a link to the village of Arrieta. His paternal grandmother is of Italian ancestry, but his paternal grandfather has roots in Puerto Rico, where Spanish explorer Miguel Arrieta sailed in 1865. If Arrieta continues to mow down hitters and leads the Cubs to win the World Series for the first time since 1908, maybe Arrieta can make a name for himself in Arrieta. -- Cubs.com Cubs cruise over Brewers behind Arrieta By Carrie Muskat and Cody Stavenhagen CHICAGO -- Johnny Vander Meer's record is safe. Jake Arrieta did not throw another no-hitter and his scoreless-innings streak at home ended, but the right-hander did get the win in the Cubs' 7-2 victory over the Brewers on Thursday at Wrigley Field. "All I can say is he's human," catcher David Ross said of Arrieta, who is the first Cubs pitcher to go 5-0 in his first five starts since Greg Maddux in 2006. Ross hit a solo home run, Ben Zobrist smacked a two-run single and Anthony Rizzo and Tommy La Stella each hit RBI doubles for the Cubs, now 16-5 and off to their best start since going 17-4 in 1907.

Brewers leadoff man Jonathan Villar spoiled any no-no drama by hitting a 2-2 slider from Arrieta to left field for a broken bat single to lead off the game. Vander Meer is the only Major League pitcher to throw back-to-back no-hitters, doing so in June 1938. Arrieta (5-0, 1.00 ERA) shut down the Reds on April 21 in his second career no-no, and was pitching on extra rest because of an off-day and a rainout. "They were patient early to either get my pitch count up or make me come into their zone," Arrieta said of the Brewers. "It wasn't sharp, but we got the job done." Villar scored on Alex Presley's double in the fifth to end Arrieta's home shutout streak at 52 2/3 innings, second longest ever in the regular season in the Major Leagues. The White Sox Ray Herbert threw 54 straight scoreless innings at Comiskey Park, spanning 1962-63. "You can't expect a guy to be perfect every time," manager Joe Maddon said of Arrieta. MOMENTS THAT MATTERED First things first: The Brewers loaded the bases against Arrieta in the first, but the right-hander escaped without giving up a run. Milwaukee starter Taylor Jungmann wasn't as fortunate in the home half. Dexter Fowler singled, and one out later, Jungmann hit Kris Bryant with a pitch before walking Rizzo to load the bases and set up Zobrist's two-run single. Zobrist had fouled a ball toward the Cubs' dugout that Aaron Hill chased but couldn't secure while leaning over the railing of the dugout. "We force guys to throw strikes, and that's the sign of a good ballclub that has confidence in its ability," Ross said. Villar stars: Villar reached base three times against Arrieta with two singles and a walk. Villar was in the leadoff spot for the second time this season and set the tone well, stealing second after both of his base hits and scoring the Brewers' lone run while tallying three thefts. Villar also doubled in the ninth. "He threw a no-hitter, so I knew I had to be ready for every pitch," Villar said. "My concentration had to be at home plate every pitch." Backstop: With Miguel Montero going on the disabled list with lower back stiffness, Ross will be a little busier than the normal backup catcher. Ross' hitting has justified it. He launched his second homer of the season and No. 98 of his career leading off the second, sending a 3-2 pitch from Jungmann onto Waveland Avenue behind the left-field bleachers. This is Ross' last season, and his goal is to reach 100 homers before he retires. "Two more," Ross said. "I'm trying not to think about it. I'm a lot happier with my approach this year and feel so much better in the box. At least I'm contributing and working at-bats and making guys throw more than three pitches to get me out. [My teammates] pride themselves in going out there and being tough outs, I just want to be in the mix." Damage control: Jungmann walked Jason Heyward and Rizzo and hit Bryant to load the bases before he left the game in the fourth inning. Jungmann finished with five earned runs and six hits surrendered in his 3 2/3 frames. He is 0-4 with a 9.15 season ERA -- and his numbers could have been worse if not for Chris Capuano getting Zobrist to fly out and strand the bases loaded. Jungmann walked three, and the Brewers' staff combined for a season-high 11 walks. Jungmann is 0-7 with a 9.35 ERA in his past nine starts. "I would say 'searching' is an accurate word," Jungmann said. "On the mound, when I'm struggling, I tend to search rather than just compete, and I think I still haven't got past that." QUOTABLE "We got to play clean games to win. … We didn't play well today. You add in there going up against a pitcher like Arrieta, it's not going to go well. You have to be pretty perfect to beat those guys, those top-of-the-rotation guys. You've got to be perfect. Not perfect, but do good things in all areas of the game."

-- Brewers manager Craig Counsell, on his team's walks and two errors "I haven't seen him change a bit. I think he really handles those particular moments when he's confronted really well because he's very matter of fact, he's very self-confident, he knows who he is. So when he answers the questions, he answers them in a genuine manner and feels really good about himself. Wouldn't we all like to be like that? It's a pretty good way to live, and I think he's got it down. I'm all about Jake, we all are. I support everything he does and says. I think he handles all those moments really well." -- Maddon, on Arrieta, who has had to deal with accusations of PED use SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Rizzo notched his 23rd RBI when he hit a run-scoring double in the third. It's the most RBIs by a Cubs player in April since Derrek Lee drove in 28 in 2008. Rizzo also has eight home runs this month; only Alfonso Soriano has hit more, with 10 in April 2011. Arrieta was pulled after five innings and his streak of consecutive quality starts ended at 24. That's the second-longest stretch since Bob Gibson established the MLB record when he threw 26 straight quality starts from September 1967 to July 1968. INJURY REPORT Bryant underwent a precautionary MRI on his right ankle after the game. He suffered a mild sprain after rolling his ankle while running the bases in the third inning. Bryant also was hit by a pitch twice -- getting plunked on the left elbow in the first and again on the left leg in the fourth. He singled in the third. Maddon wasn't sure if Bryant would be sidelined. "I don't want to create conjecture," Maddon said. "Let's just see what happens and look at the tests." WHAT'S NEXT Brewers: Zach Davies (0-2, 9.72 ERA) starts for the Brewers to open a three-game series against the Marlins on Friday at 7:10 p.m. CT. Davies went seven innings and surrendered one run and four hits in his only career outing against Miami. Cubs: Jon Lester will open a three-game series against the Braves on Friday at Wrigley Field. Lester is searching for his first win at home this season. First pitch will be 1:20 CT. -- Cubs.com Bryant sustains mild ankle sprain on bases By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- Cubs left fielder Kris Bryant left Thursday's game vs. the Brewers with a mild right ankle sprain. He underwent an MRI as a precaution, and manager Joe Maddon was not certain if Bryant would miss any playing time. "You saw him jog off the field when I pulled him off," Maddon said of Bryant, who was lifted after four innings in the Cubs' 7-2 win over the Brewers. "I wanted to get him when he went back on [for the fourth], but I got him too late. I saw him jog back in. I don't want to create conjecture. Let's just see what happens and look at the tests." Bryant also was hit by a pitch on the left elbow in the first inning, singled in the third and then was plunked again on the left leg in the fourth. Maddon said he saw Bryant step on the inside edge of the bag at second, but added he "did not see any hitch in his giddy-up." The 2015 National League Rookie of the Year, Bryant is batting .289 with four home runs and 15 RBIs this season.

Earlier in the day, the Cubs placed catcher Miguel Montero on the disabled list with a stiff lower back, and they are also missing Kyle Schwarber, who tore two ligaments in his left knee on April 7. -- Cubs.com Arrieta's home scoreless streak ends at 52 2/3 By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- For the first time in what seems like forever, Jake Arrieta didn't look sharp, yet he still got a win and became the first Cubs pitcher to open a season 5-0 since Hall of Famer Greg Maddux in 2006. "All I can say is he's human," Cubs catcher David Ross said. Arrieta's record scoreless streak at home ended in the fifth inning of the Cubs' 7-2 win over the Brewers. Alex Presley smacked an RBI double with two outs to drive in Jonathan Villar and end the Cubs pitcher's streak at 52 2/3 scoreless innings. It's the longest stretch in Wrigley Field history and the second longest in Major League history. Only the White Sox Ray Herbert had a longer streak at 54 scoreless innings at Comiskey Park, spanning 1962-63. "It had to end at some point, but we'll try to start another one," Arrieta said. Arrieta was coming off his second career no-hitter, and Villar led off the game with a single to end any bid for consecutive no-no's, something only Johnny Vander Meer has done in Major League history. The Brewers made Arrieta work in the first, loading the bases on Villar's single and two walks. Ross then went out for a chat. The problem was that Arrieta's two-seam fastball was hard to control, so Ross asked him to throw a cutter to try to get Arrieta's hand on top of the ball. It worked, and the right-hander struck out both Chris Carter and Kirk Nieuwenhuis. Arrieta's streak of consecutive quality starts ended at 24 when manager Joe Maddon pulled him after five innings. The Cubs led, 6-1, at that point and the bullpen was fresh. Plus, Maddon is looking ahead. "I saw 92 pitches, I saw Jake Arrieta, I saw the Cubs trying to win a World Series, I saw the next five years of his career," Maddon said. "I know his kids really well. All that stuff mattered more than breaking [Bob] Gibson's record." Gibson holds the Major League mark of 26 quality starts set during the 1967-68 seasons. Arrieta understood Maddon's thinking. "In this position last year, I might have been a little more frustrated with that decision," Arrieta said. "I think it was 92 pitches after five, and I really had to work through that outing. You take everything into consideration and the extra off-days and the rainout [Wednesday], cold weather, extended pitch counts, long first inning -- it is the right way to go. Our most important ballgames are still ahead of us. From this point moving forward, we're still lined up well." It's tough to say Arrieta had a bad outing. He gave up one run, kept the Cubs in the game. Expectations are high for the right-hander. "You can't expect a guy to be perfect every time," Maddon said. -- Cubs.com Montero placed on DL; Cubs add Federowicz By Carrie Muskat

CHICAGO -- Miguel Montero has had back problems before that were so painful he couldn't walk. The Cubs catcher has been bothered by lower back stiffness since the weekend, and on Thursday, he was placed on the disabled list, retroactive to Monday. "It's a little tight," Montero said on Thursday. "It's not fair for me to go out there and try to push it harder and be even worse for the rest of the year." The Cubs called up Tim Federowicz from Triple-A Iowa to take Montero's spot. Montero, 32, did undergo an MRI exam on his back. He was surprised it had not loosened up after he rested for four days. As a result, the DL move is intended to reduce the inflammation in his back. "I wish I had the right answer for why it happens -- I guess it's age," Montero said. "It's something that's there, it's been there. I've been able to control it and do my core exercises. Sometimes I play the whole year without any problems, and sometimes it gets a little bit annoying because it's a really uncomfortable feeling. "The good thing is it's gradually getting better," Montero said. "I decided to tell the trainers that maybe it's better if I go on the [DL]. It's already been four days on the DL. For another 10 days, it'll be better for me, better for the team." David Ross, 39, was to catch Jake Arrieta on Thursday, and Ross will be matched up with Jon Lester on Friday afternoon against the Braves. Federowicz would likely catch John Lackey on Saturday. Montero was on the disabled list in 2013 because of back problems. "It was really bad then," Montero said. "I couldn't even walk. They had to take me in a wheelchair to my car." Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he could tell just by talking to Montero that the catcher was in pain. -- Cubs.com Arrieta, Bryant, Maddon earn Esurance Awards By Alyson Footer CHICAGO -- The Cubs' series with the Brewers at Wrigley Field this week included anticipation and impatience, mixed with a slew of accolades for one nearly unhittable pitcher. Anticipation stemmed from Jake Arrieta's pending encore performance following his no-hitter against the Reds last week in Cincinnati. Impatience likely crept in for Cubs fans who had to wait an extra day to watch Arrieta pitch after his scheduled outing against the Brewers on Wednesday was washed away by rain. And the accolades, which by now are not a new thing for these emerging Cubs, poured in all week. On Tuesday, Arrieta was honored by the organization for his latest no-hitter. On Thursday, he was presented with the MLB Esurance Awards as the Best Starting Pitcher and Best Breakout Player of 2015. The Cubs received a total of four Esurance MLB Awards. Kris Bryant was honored as Best Rookie, and Joe Maddon as Best Manager. Arrieta's awards reflected an historic 2015 season during which he went 12-1 with a 0.75 ERA in 15 starts after the All-Star break and finished the year at 22-6 with a 1.77 ERA. The National League Cy Young winner's second-half sprint included an Aug. 30 no-hitter at Dodger Stadium, helping to give Arrieta the lowest second-half ERA since the All-Star Game was instituted in 1933. Speaking before a throng of reporters about a number of topics before the start of the Brewers series, Arrieta expressed a desire to keep the focus on what's happening in the present and reflect on awards and honors later.

"The end of the season is the time to reflect on the individual things and accomplishments that I was able to have," he said when asked to reflect on his recent no-hitter. "We've got bigger goals in store for us, especially now being only around 20 games into the season. We still have a long way to go." Bryant, the unanimous choice last year as the NL Rookie of the Year, beat out fellow finalists Carlos Correa and Francisco Lindor for the Esurance MLB Award for the best rookie in either league. After he was called up in the middle of April last year, Bryant led all Major League rookies in RBIs (99), doubles (31) and runs scored (87). He played in 151 games and was a key member of a Cubs team that beat the Cardinals to advance to the NL Championship Series. Being in the midst of a postseason run and playing in October were invaluable experiences for Bryant, not just for the enjoyment of the experiences as they were happening, but for how much they figure to help him as his career continues. "I think we played eight games in the playoffs [nine including the NL Wild Card Game] and we made it pretty far," he said. "Just to get in that atmosphere, playing in the Wild Card Game -- a one-and-done-game -- to get the nerves out and just play in the first game, it's only going to help. Hopefully we can go even further this year and use that experience to our benefit." Bryant's manager, whose Esurance Award reflected his well-known knack for getting the most out of his players, lauded Bryant's ability to perform at an elevated level even through tough stretches. "There's something to be said about working through a difficult moment on the Major League level and coming out at the other end of the tunnel here," said Maddon, who guided last year's Cubs to 97 wins. "That really matters. When you have that first real struggle -- and guys like that, they don't struggle a lot. KB didn't really struggle in the Minor Leagues. Whenever you ride through the big league struggle and get them out successfully on the other side, that's the one lesson that's going to carry them a lot longer if you do it that way." The Esurance MLB Awards annually honor Major League Baseball's greatest achievements as part of an industry-wide balloting process that includes five components, each of which accounts for 20 percent of the overall vote: media, front-office personnel, retired MLB players, fans at MLB.com and Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) voters. Individual awards were presented for 24 separate categories, including Best Major Leaguer, Everyday Player, Bounceback Player, Social Media Personality and Postseason Performer. Winners were also recognized for the year's Best Offensive Play, Defensive Play, Moment, Single-Game Performance, Social Media Post, Celebrity Fan and Fan Catch. -- Cubs.com Cubs opt to keep prospect Contreras in Minors By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- With Miguel Montero going on the disabled list because of lower back stiffness, the Cubs could have promoted Willson Contreras, but manager Joe Maddon said he hoped to see the highly touted prospect later in the season. The Cubs opted to call up Tim Federowicz, 28, from Triple-A Iowa to take Montero's spot on the active roster. Contreras, 23, ranked No. 2 on MLB.com's list of Top 30 Cubs Prospects, was batting .375 in 14 games at Iowa. "We had to make a choice right there and 'Fed' was here for a reason," Maddon said. "Fed had a great Spring Training. Looking at the overall development of Contreras, in your mind's eye, if you're putting this whole thing together with a guy like Willson, you're going to wait until the second half or the latter part of the season to get him here. You bring in a guy like Fed for a specific reason, and here's the reason."

Federowicz has appeared in 89 big league games -- all with the Dodgers -- over four seasons. "He understands the Major Leagues, he understands veteran pitchers," Maddon said. "There's a lot of different reasons why you sign Fed in the first place, and you don't run away from him when the opportunity jumps up. Contreras' time will come." Montero agreed that Contreras, who was the Cubs' Minor League Player of the Year last season, will get his opportunity. "To be honest, I didn't realize until I had a couple years in the big leagues that it's harder than you think it is, especially when you have these kind of pitchers who have been around a long time," Montero said. "You put a lot of pressure on yourself trying to call a perfect game for these guys and there's a lot of weight on your shoulders. I guess [the Cubs] are trying to avoid that. "The time will come for him," Montero said of Contreras. • Cubs batters entered Thursday leading the Majors in walks, which has resulted in the second-best on-base percentage in the Majors. Maddon credited the maturation of some of the young hitters with the patient approach. "You talk philosophy or theory with the group, and everybody listens, but do they really hear what you're saying? Our guys did," Maddon said. "We had those different meetings in Spring Training. Right now, you're seeing a group of guys playing the game today who will have one thought, and that is to wear this pitcher down collectively. You see it in the past -- I saw it in the 2000s with the Red Sox and the Yankees in the American League East. They would definitely wear you down. They'd get to your 'pen and bludgeon you at that point. You have to get a buy-in from everybody." • According to Elias, only one other Cubs pitcher has posted an ERA lower than Jason Hammel (3-0, 0.75 ERA) in the first four starts of the season since the live-ball era. In 1976, Steve Stone had a 0.51 ERA through his first four starts with the Cubs. -- Cubs.com Lester seeking first Wrigley win as Cubs host Braves By Carrie Muskat Anyone who has been around Jon Lester this season can tell that the left-hander seems more relaxed. This is Year 2 of his mega-contract with the Cubs, he knows his way around Wrigley Field better and knows his teammates. Cubs manager Joe Maddon has noticed. "He said I'm a lot looser, too," Maddon said. Lester will try for his first win at home this season when the Cubs welcome the Braves on Friday in the first of a three-game series at Wrigley Field. Atlanta will counter with right-handed rookie Aaron Blair (0-1, 5.06 ERA). Lester has posted quality starts in his two previous outings at Wrigley so far, giving up four earned runs over 13 1/3 innings while striking out 15. In his last outing against the Reds, he gave up one run over seven innings in the Cubs' 8-1 win. Maddon has been impressed by Lester's delivery this season, saying he looks as if he's back on track. It also helps that Lester is reunited with former Red Sox teammate John Lackey. "It's just different in all the best ways," Maddon said of Lester.

Three things to know about this game • Cubs slugger Anthony Rizzo hit more home runs in a six-game stretch (five) culminating Tuesday than the entire Braves team totaled in its first 21 games. • Blair will be making his second start for the Braves. In his Major League debut, he gave up three runs over 5 1/3 innings against the Mets and took the loss. A first-round pick by the D-backs in 2013, he was dealt to the Braves last December in the Shelby Miller trade. On Monday, Blair was named the International League's Pitcher of the Week for April 18-24. On April 19 while pitching for Triple-A Gwinnett against Durham, he earned his third Minors win of the season, going seven innings without allowing a hit or a run and striking out 10. • Catcher David Ross, who homered on Thursday, will be paired with Lester and catch his third straight game. With Miguel Montero going on the disabled list with a sore back, the Cubs called up Tim Federowicz from Triple-A Iowa. -- Cubs.com Baez fine with part-time role for Cubs By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- Cubs manager Joe Maddon has told Javier Baez that someday he'll be in the lineup every day in the big leagues. But right now, Baez has accepted his role as a pinch-hitter and defensive sub, something he might not have been able to do a year ago. "He understands his role," Maddon said Wednesday. "He knows he'll be an everyday player at some point, but for right now, he knows this is his way to be in the Major Leagues and how valuable he is to us." On Tuesday, Baez came off the bench and delivered a pinch-hit single in the seventh, then stole second with a nifty slide and eventually scored. The Cubs are working with Baez to get him to cut down on his swing. "He still comes out of his shoes once in a while, but he's able to get back in his shoes with two strikes and he looks better," Maddon said. "He cannot handle it any better than he is right now. He's smiling, he's chirpy, he's ready. His face is good before the game, his eyes are good. I think that's the difference. He could not be the same guy last year." • Miguel Montero, who was scratched from Tuesday's lineup, was not listed in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game that was postponed, but the catcher was available to pinch-hit, Maddon said. Montero had some stiffness in his back over the weekend in Cincinnati. Backup catcher David Ross had been in the starting lineup for the ninth game this season. • If the Cubs need a spot starter, Adam Warren may be their man out of the bullpen. Maddon likes the right-hander's ability to get both righties and lefties out, effectively using his fastball and changeup. "He's got a lot of confidence," Maddon said. "The role he played in New York probably built a lot of inbred confidence for him. He just needs opportunity." Acquired from the Yankees for Starlin Castro, Warren said he's ready for whatever the Cubs need. "I felt I did about every kind of role there was from starting to closing to everything in between," Warren said of his time with the Yankees. "Just understanding the pressure that was in New York to perform -- and there's pressure here to perform as well, and I think it's similar. My demeanor as far as not trying to show emotion, and trying to keep everything contained, I think it helps portraying calmness and not letting anybody in on what's going on in my head."

• Both the Cubs and the White Sox are enjoying success at the start of the season, and Maddon says he's "digging it." "I'm happy for [manager Robin Ventura] and their success," Maddon said of the White Sox skipper. "I think it's great for the city. If we could both sustain this kind of play, it could make for a very interesting summer." -- ESPNChicago.com Pressed into service, Cubs' David Ross comes through By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- It’s rare that a major league baseball player doesn’t believe he can be an every-day player, but Chicago Cubs catcher David Ross is kind of a rarity. “I know I can’t catch every day,” Ross said after homering in the Cubs' 7-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday. “I’ll tell you that. I’m not an every-day catcher. Nope. Not that guy.” Ross, 39, has been pressed into near-every-day duty due to injuries to two catchers who began the season on the 25-man roster. Miguel Montero (back) has joined Kyle Schwarber (knee) on the disabled list, though the Cubs believe Montero's stint will be short. The team called up Tim Federowicz to take Montero’s spot on the roster, but with Federowicz having just 89 career big league games under his belt and a career .194 batting average, Ross will have to carry the load. Ross did just fine on a chilly afternoon, hitting a 3-2 pitch from Brewers starter Taylor Jungmann onto the street beyond the left-field bleachers in the bottom of the second inning. Considering the hitting conditions, it was an absolute blast -- and Ross knew it. “I was going to keep running out the gate in right if that thing didn’t go out, because that’s all I got,” Ross joked after the game. “There are things that tell you throughout your career it’s time to go home. [If] that one didn’t go out, it may have been that time, because that’s all I had.” It was Ross’ 98th career home run, and with more playing time looming, he’ll have a chance to get to 100 sooner rather than later. It’s a milestone his teammates have been anticipating. “I have a good approach,” Ross said. “I’ve had it since spring. ... If I’m in there I’m going to play hard. If not I’m going to cheer the guys.” Ross joked a day earlier -- during some of the discussion of performance-enhancing drugs surrounding Thursday’s starter, Jake Arrieta -- that no one wanted to test him even though he’s off to a good start at the plate. His re-worked swing has provided some memorable moments already in his final season in the big leagues. Thursday’s home run is one of them. “I’ll take my shirt off, you’ll see these love handles,” Ross laughed in regard to his less-than-perfect physique. “I was thinking if that doesn’t go out I got problems. We have serious problems.” -- ESPNChicago.com Joe Maddon, Jake Arrieta keep Cubs' long-term goals in mind By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- He looked human. Sort of.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta won his fifth game of the month but he didn’t earn a no-hitter (that ended on the first batter) nor did he throw a 25th consecutive quality start (he left after 5 innings) and he actually gave up a run at Wrigley Field (his first in 52.2 innings). Did any of it matter -- besides that win? Not according to his manager who pulled him earlier than he had in any regular season game since last June 16. “I saw 92 pitches,” Joe Maddon said after the 7-2 win against Milwaukee on Thursday. “I saw Jake Arrieta. I saw the Cubs trying to win a World Series. I saw the next five years of his career. I know his kids really well. All that stuff mattered more than breaking [Bob] Gibson’s record right there.” Gibson happens to be Maddon’s favorite player who threw 26 consecutive quality starts in 1967-68 to set the modern day record. A quality start for a pitcher is defined as lasting at least six innings and giving up three or fewer runs. So we know how Maddon felt but what about the pitcher? Is he still onboard for the pre-season plan of backing off to save him for later? “Our most important ballgames are still ahead of us,” Arrieta said. “In this position last year I might have been frustrated with that decision but it was 92 pitches after five. I really had to work through that outing.” Maddon said Arrieta was frustrated -- but only with himself. It took him 31 pitches to get out of the first inning, dooming his chances at a long day, especially coming off his 119 pitch no-hitter a full week ago. He walked four, gave up three hits and finally a run at Wrigley Field. “It wasn’t sharp but we got the job done,” Arrieta stated. Maddon added: “You can’t expect the guy to be perfect every time. And the extra rest. Sometimes you think it’s good sometimes you think it’s not as good as you think it is when it comes down to being sharp.” Arrieta didn’t make excuses except to say he didn’t have a feel for his two-seam fastball. Once he went to the four-seam his outing began to improve but the die was cast. As for that home scoreless streak which ended as the second longest in the modern era Arrieta waved that off. No big deal. “It had to end at some point,” he said. “We’ll try to start another one.” -- ESPNChicago.com Cubs take advantage of free passes as Jake Arrieta wins again By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- If a walk is as good as a hit then the Chicago Cubs are hitting a ton this month. In reality, their batting average is in the middle of the pack but after their third game of April in which they collected 11 walks, they’re doing just fine at the plate. The Milwaukee Brewers pitchers didn’t do their fielders any favors on Thursday as they stood in 45-degree temperatures as the Cubs took their free passes. Kris Bryant was also hit twice by pitches. That’s a lot of jogging to first base as the Cubs coasted to a 7-2 victory. It’s been the story of Chicago's offense this month, even overshadowing a Jake Arrieta start. The Cubs have walked 113 times, by far the most of any team in baseball and in one less game played than the next most walked team, the Pittsburgh Pirates. Whereas the Cubs took advantage as early as the first inning when Ben Zobrist delivered a 2-run, bases loaded single the Brewers could not do the same in the top half of the first. Arrieta walked two himself but struck out the final two batters leaving the bases full of runners. Arrieta’s quality start streak ended at 24 games. A lengthy first inning in which he threw 31 pitches shortened his day. He also finally gave up a run at home after 52.2 innings pitched going back to last season. And the first hitter of the game, Jonathan Villar, ended any hopes of back-to-back no-hitters as he singled to left just a minute or so after the first pitch.

Arrieta still got the win and the Cubs won for the 18th consecutive time when he took the mound. He walked four while reliever Trevor Cahill walked three making it a long afternoon for everyone. But it was the Cubs who took advantage of their chances moving to 16-5 after their 7-2 victory. -- ESPNChicago.com Kris Bryant dealing with mild ankle sprain, Cubs say By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- Cubs second-year player Kris Bryant will have a precautionary MRI on his right ankle after he rolled it as he rounded the bases Thursday in Chicago's 7-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Jake Arrieta's bid for a second straight no-hitter ended after five pitches, but the Cubs ace went on to win his 16th straight decision and lead Chicago over the Milwaukee Brewers 7-2 Thursday. The Cubs called the injury a mild sprain. "I don't know," Maddon said when asked if Bryant will miss time. "I honestly don't know. You saw him jog off the field. I don't want to create conjecture. Let's see what happens with the test." Bryant was hit by pitches twice Thursday, though it was an awkward step on a base that forced Maddon to pull him from the game. Bryant is hitting .289 with a .372 on-base percentage, four home runs and 15 RBIs this season. -- ESPNChicago.com Cubs president Theo Epstein: Comments linking Jake Arrieta, PEDs 'ridiculous' By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- Cubs president Theo Epstein came to the defense of Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta on Thursday regarding "accusations" of potential performance-enhancing drug use. "I saw the clip of essentially an accusation on the ESPN morning show [First Take]," Epstein told the Kap & Co. Show on ESPN 1000 in Chicago. "I found it to be completely reckless. It's someone who has never met Jake, as far as I know, has never been in our clubhouse. I don't know if he's ever watched him pitch. [He] would make that type of accusation without talking to anyone who knows Jake and anyone who understands his work ethic and changes that he's made." Epstein spoke publicly on the matter for the first time, calling it his "job" to defend his star pitcher. The controversy began after Arrieta mentioned that other "star" players in the league had questioned whether he was cheating. Arrieta said he laughed off those whispers, but a First Take segment Wednesday included commentary indicating that it was no laughing matter. "This is not someone who used to throw 88 mph and all of sudden is throwing 95 mph," Epstein continued. "Jake's stuff is essentially exactly the same as it was when he was in Baltimore and struggling. He's tweaked his delivery, added a lot of deception, added a lot of life and commands the baseball, which he couldn't do previously. And then this TV personality started to question Jake's endurance, which is directly tied to Jake's workout regime, which is the most aggressive in baseball." First Take revisited the topic on Thursday's show, before Epstein's comments. During the Thursday segment, co-commentator Stephen A. Smith said: "I was just saying it's not a laughing matter when we're talking about the history of baseball. I wasn't convicting him of anything because I don't know. I barely get to see him all the time."

Smith also addressed a statistical discrepancy made during the original segment: "By the way, I made an error yesterday when I was talking about when he got traded. ... I apologize." Since being traded to the Cubs in 2013, Arrieta has readjusted his delivery. It now resembles how he threw when he first was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles. He also discovered Pilates, which has changed his conditioning program. "Jake works harder than anyone in baseball," Epstein said. "That's a fact, and anyone who's around Jake understands that, so maybe he should come try to do Jake's workout for a week before he questions his integrity or questions his livelihood, essentially. I just found it to be completely reckless and an unfortunate reflection of certain elements of the media age we live in where it's more important to attract attention and attract ratings than it is be intellectually honest. I thought it was ridiculous." Arrieta is 20-1 over his past 24 regular-season starts with a 0.86 ERA including two no-hitters. -- ESPNChicago.com Rainout gives Cubs' Jake Arrieta another day off By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- Jake Arrieta will have to wait one more day before he tries to become the second pitcher in history to throw consecutive no-hitters. Rain washed out the Chicago Cubs' game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night, giving Arrieta a sixth day of rest since throwing 119 pitches in no-hitting the Cincinnati Reds last week. Cubs manager Joe Maddon doesn’t skip starters and the Cubs were off Monday, hence the extra time for the reigning Cy Young winner. The washout also helps the Cubs' catching situation as Miguel Montero is headed to the disabled list with a bad back, forcing David Ross into extra duty. Had Wednesday’s game been played, Ross would've been scheduled to catch all three games in the series, including Thursday’s day game, when Jon Lester throws. Now Ross gets a day between games. “I don’t want to beat him up,” Maddon said. Tim Federowicz was summoned from Triple-A Iowa to replace Montero on the roster instead of highly regarded prospect Willson Contreras. Maddon won’t change the rest of the rotation, as Lester will open the series against the Atlanta Braves, with John Lackey and Jason Hammel following him. That means fifth starter Kyle Hendricks will pitch in Pittsburgh on Monday in the first meeting between the teams since the Cubs beat the Pirates in the wild-card game behind Arrieta’s complete-game shutout. -- CSNChicago.com Not another no-hitter, but Cubs getting Jake Arrieta ready for bigger and better things By Patrick Mooney The no-hitter drama lasted about two minutes on Thursday afternoon at Wrigley Field. Milwaukee Brewers leadoff guy Jonathan Villar reached out and made contact with Jake Arrieta’s fifth pitch, knocking that 95-mph two-seam fastball into shallow left field for a soft broken-bat single. The Cubs wouldn’t have any Johnny Vander Meer flashbacks.

Arrieta wanted to jam Villar inside but missed his spot with a pitch that tailed down and away – and he still shattered the bat into pieces. As veteran catcher David Ross had to remind reporters in the clubhouse after a 7-2 win: “He is human.” And not some cyborg that had to be rewired and rebooted after that franchise-altering trade with the Baltimore Orioles in the middle of the 2013 season. What a week for Arrieta after no-hitting the Cincinnati Reds. Speaking in full paragraphs at his locker for almost 15 minutes on Tuesday, he had already answered and dismissed the questions about performance-enhancing drugs and his metamorphosis into one of the game’s best pitchers. The clubhouse TVs turned to ESPN and MLB Network on mute showed the talking heads running with that chemistry debate for the next two days. To be honest, on some level it felt like Arrieta didn’t mind attention and getting it off his chest. Arrieta could be a repeat Cy Young Award winner, a Game 1 starter in the playoffs and the recipient of a seven-year megadeal worth somewhere north of $200 million. But so much can happen between now and the end of the 2017 season, which means the Cubs have to maximize this two-year window to win a World Series with Arrieta. The front office and coaching staff obviously won’t root against a no-hitter, but that 16-0 victory at Great American Ball Park was exactly the kind of situation the Cubs outlined in spring training, how they didn’t need to ride Arrieta so hard and could keep him fresh for October after throwing almost 250 innings last year. Arrieta – who gave up one run, three hits and four walks across five innings – saw the end of his consecutive quality-starts streak (24) and scoreless-innings run at Wrigley Field (52.2). That was the longest stretch since Hall of Famer Bob Gibson’s 26 quality starts across the 1967-68 seasons. Ray Herbert – who put together 54 straight scoreless innings at home for the 1962-63 White Sox – still holds the modern-era record. This felt like a total mismatch, Arrieta (5-0, 1.00 ERA) vs. a rebuilding Milwaukee team (8-13) that is so much closer to the beginning of a five-year rebuilding plan than the end. So the Cubs pulled Arrieta for pinch-hitter Jorge Soler with a four-run lead and runners on the corners in the fifth inning, trying to play the long game. “Under the circumstances, I thought that was plenty for him,” manager Joe Maddon said. “I saw 92 pitches. I saw Jake Arrieta. I saw the Cubs trying to win a World Series. I saw the next five years of his career. I know his kids really well. All that stuff mattered much more than breaking Gibson’s record right there.” “In this position last year, I might have been a little more frustrated with that decision,” Arrieta said. “It’s a spot where you take everything into consideration – the extra off-days, the rainout last night, cold weather, extended pitch counts, a long first inning – it is the right way to go. “Obviously, our most important ballgames are still ahead of us. From this point moving forward, we’re still lined up pretty well.” Arrieta wasn’t perfect, but the Cubs have now won his last 18 regular-season starts. The PED references were Cubs fans booing admitted juicer Ryan Braun before each one of his at-bats, right up to the final out in the ninth inning of a game that lasted three hours and 45 minutes. The Brewers made Arrieta throw 31 pitches in the first inning, trying to disrupt his rhythm with three stolen bases before he struck out Chris Carter and Kirk Nieuwenhuis swinging. That’s what the Cubs expect at this point – their ace never looking nervous or rattled. Arrieta got ready for the biggest start of his life – last year’s National League wild-card game – by trolling Pittsburgh Pirates fans on Twitter and telling them the blackout atmosphere at PNC Park “doesn’t matter.” It got real quiet during that complete-game shutout.

Arrieta has become a fashion model, signing endorsement deals with SAXX underwear and the Mizzen+Main clothing line. He even says he finds the PED accusations to be “flattering.” “I haven’t seen him change a bit,” said Maddon, who last year compared Arrieta to a male Jane Fonda. “He really handles those particular moments when he’s confronted really well, because he’s very matter of fact. “He’s very self-confident. He knows who he is. So when he answers the questions, he can answer them in a genuine manner and feel really good about himself. “Wouldn’t we all like to be like that? It’s a pretty good way to live. And I think he’s got it down. He takes care of everything about himself. So I’m all about Jake. We all are. We support everything he does and says.” Which sometimes means telling Arrieta what he doesn’t want to hear, because if the Cubs keep up this best-in-baseball pace (16-5), then Jake will become a legend in Chicago. “At the end of the day, I’m pretty realistic,” Arrieta said. “I understand that the guys on the other side are really good as well. Even on your best days, you’re going to give up runs. We’re going to make mistakes. That’s just part of this game. That’s why we get to play 162. That’s why we get 30 to 34 starts, because it all evens out in the end.” -- CSNChicago.com Cubs getting precautionary MRI on Kris Bryant’s ankle By Patrick Mooney While the big-picture injury concerns revolved around the pitching staff heading into this World Series-or-bust season, the Cubs have already lost one of their best hitters for the year (Kyle Schwarber) and just placed a two-time All-Star catcher on the disabled list (Miguel Montero). The 162-game schedule is a war of attrition. The Cubs framed the MRI on Kris Bryant’s right ankle as a precautionary move after pulling the National League’s reigning Rookie of the Year from Thursday’s 7-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. Manager Joe Maddon said “I honestly don’t know” if Bryant will miss more time with what the Cubs initially described as a mild sprain. “I don’t even want to create conjecture. Let’s just see what happens. Let’s look at the test.” Brewers starter Taylor Jungmann (0-4, 9.15 ERA) drilled Bryant with two pitches that didn't appear to bother him that much. Bryant rolled his ankle while running the bases after a third-inning single and got replaced by Javier Baez in the fifth. Bryant is hitting .289 and is second on the team in homers (four) and runs scored (17) and tied for second in RBI (15). He played in 151 out of 154 possible games after his Triple-A Iowa service-time detour to begin last season, delaying his free agency by a year. Beyond the power, Maddon views Bryant as one of the game’s best baserunners and a versatile defender who can move from third base to anywhere in the outfield. -- CSNChicago.com Cubs’ timeline for Willson Contreras with Miguel Montero on DL By Patrick Mooney Willson Contreras isn’t walking through that door – at least not yet – but the Cubs still envision their catcher of the future making his mark at some point this season.

It won’t be an immediate impact since the Cubs placed Miguel Montero on the disabled list with lower back tightness before Thursday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers, promoting Triple-A Iowa catcher Tim Federowicz to Wrigley Field and having David Ross catch Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta. That’s the biggest concern now, how Contreras would handle a veteran pitching staff with strong personalities and how much he still has to develop defensively at the Triple-A level. Because last year’s Southern League batting champion is hitting .375 through his first 14 games with Iowa and has all the physical tools that essentially made him an untouchable prospect during trade talks over the winter. “When I came up to the big leagues my first year, I thought it was going to be easier,” Montero said. “I wondered the same question for myself: ‘Man, how difficult could it be?’ To be honest, I didn’t realize until I had a couple years in the big leagues that it was harder than you think. “Especially when you have these kinds of pitchers that have been around for a long time. You’re putting a lot of pressure on yourself, trying to call the perfect game for this guy. It’s a lot of weight on your shoulders. “I guess they’re trying to avoid that. Obviously, the time will come for (Contreras). But the only way to figure it out is to let him catch out here with them. I think that’s the only way to prove (yourself) and learn. “If you keep saying he’s not ready to catch a major-league staff yet, when is he going to be ready, right?” Montero didn’t know what triggered this injury – “I guess it’s age, right?” he said with a smile – but he felt something similar with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2013 and missed almost a month while recovering from a lower back strain. Montero – who will turn 33 this summer and earn $14 million in the final guaranteed season of his contract next year – had been awaiting the results of an MRI and mentioned a couple of bulging discs in his back. The Cubs need short- and long-term insurance policies and succession plans because “Grandpa Rossy” intends to retire after this season and Kyle Schwarber will have to prove he can still catch at the major-league level after undergoing surgery on his left knee to reconstruct his ACL and repair his LCL. It’s not realistic to think Ross can catch 100-something games at the age of 39. Federowicz looks like a decent backup option after playing parts of four seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. “We just had to make a choice right there,” manager Joe Maddon said. “‘Fed’ was here for a reason. ‘Fed’ had a great spring training and you’re looking at the overall development of Contreras. “In your mind’s eye, if you’re putting this whole thing together, with a guy like Willson, you’re probably going to wait until the second half, hopefully, to get him involved here. Or the latter part of the season to really get him here (and) get his feet on the ground.” It’s probably not fair to drop Contreras into the clubhouse of a World Series contender before his 24th birthday and expect him to take charge of one of the best pitching staffs in baseball. Remember, the Cubs left Contreras exposed in the Rule 5 draft after the 2014 season and didn’t add him to the 40-man roster, partially because the infielder signed out of Venezuela hadn’t played above the A-ball level at that point. “You bring in a guy like ‘Fed’ for a specific reason and here the specific reason just popped up,” Maddon said. “He’s a veteran. He understands the major leagues. He understands veteran pitchers. “There’s a lot of different reasons why you sign ‘Fed’ in the first place – and then you don’t run away from him when the opportunity jumps up there. Contreras’ time will come.” --