June 27, 2017

Chicago Tribune, Javier Baez puts on fielding display as young Cubs hang on to beat Nationals http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-nationals-spt-0627-20170626-story.html#nt=oft03a-1gp3

Chicago Tribune, After crazy win, Cubs' next obstacle is Max Scherzer http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-max-scherzer-cubs-nationals-20170627-story.html#nt=simple-embed

Chicago Tribune, Cubs, Joe Maddon trying to arrange another White House visit http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-joe-maddon-white-house-20170626-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Kris Bryant might wind up as Cubs' lone All-Star representative http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-kris-bryant-all-star-voting-20170626-story.html#nt=simple-embed

Chicago Tribune, 'A demotion is a demotion:' Kyle Schwarber 1-for-4 with 3 strikeouts at Triple-A Iowa http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-kyle-schwarber-iowa-cubs-spt-0627-20170626-story.html

Chicago Tribune, What's on Kyle Schwarber's plate at Triple-A Iowa? Relaxation and fastballs http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-kyle-schwarber-iowa-cubs-demotion-20170626-story.html

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs win close one in Washington, without any help from the Russians http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-win-close-in-one-washington-and-dont-even-need-the-russians/

Chicago Sun-Times, Kyle Schwarber’s confidence still high: ‘I want to be one of the best’ http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/kyle-schwarbers-confidence-still-high-i-want-to-be-one-of-the-best/

Chicago Sun-Times, Predicting milestones: Can Anthony Rizzo reach 1,500 RBI? http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/predicting-milestones-can-anthony-rizzo-reach-1500-rbi/

Chicago Sun-Times, Sticking to maintenance program key to Addison Russell’s shoulder pain http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/sticking-to-maintenance-program-key-to-addison-russells-shoulder-pain/

Chicago Sun-Times, Another day, another Cubs’ leadoff man, another leadoff homer http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/another-day-another-cubs-leadoff-man-another-leadoff-homer/

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs scout’s son on life support after being hit by baseball http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-scouts-son-on-life-support-after-being-hit-by-baseball/

Chicago Sun-Times, Kyle Schwarber on demotion: ‘I’m not going to back down — trust me’ http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/schwarber-before-his-first-minor-league-start-it-is-what-it-is/

Daily Herald, Big series, and Chicago Cubs take opener http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170626/big-series-and-chicago-cubs-take-opener

Daily Herald, Chicago Cubs' Heyward not ready to return http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170626/chicago-cubs-heyward-not-ready-to-return

Cubs.com, You can Javy it all! Cubs dazzle on D, get W http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/238942138/cubs-javier-baez-robs-nationals-bryce-harper/

Cubs.com, Cubs withstand Nats' late rally to win opener http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/238902410/cubs-beat-rallying-nationals-in-series-opener/

Cubs.com, Arrieta starts in Cy Young clash vs. Scherzer http://atmlb.com/2siaPzE

Cubs.com, Schwarber singles in last AB in Triple-A debut http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/238981572/kyle-schwarber-struggles-in-triple-a-debut/

Cubs.com, Cut on Heyward's hand needs time to heal http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/238930616/cubs-jason-heyward-patient-with-hand-injury/

Cubs.com, Maddon feeling no pressure in ASG duties http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/238937488/cubs-joe-maddon-excited-to-manage-all-stars/

ESPNChicago.com, A brief history of Anthony Rizzo's magical leadoff run http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/44712/a-brief-history-of-anthony-rizzos-magical-leadoff-run

ESPNChicago.com, The best is finally here for Javier Baez http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/44721/the-best-is-finally-here-for-javier-baez

ESPNChicago.com, Cubs' Willson Contreras hits homer in first at-bat in No. 1 spot http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19744784/chicago-cubs-willson-contreras-hit-home-run-first-ever-bat-lead-hitter

CSNChicago.com, Cubs Show Why They Are Defending Champs While Nationals Still Have Something To Prove http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/cubs-show-why-they-are-defending-champs-while-nationals-still-have-something-prove

CSNChicago.com, Jason Heyward: Banged-Up Cubs Ready To Be Tested Vs. Nationals http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/jason-heyward-banged-cubs-ready-be-tested-vs-nationals

CSNChicago.com, Cubs Manager Joe Maddon Working On Another Potential White House Visit http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/cubs-manager-joe-maddon-working-another-potential-white-house-visit

-- Chicago Tribune Javier Baez puts on fielding display as young Cubs hang on to beat Nationals By Mark Gonzales The Cubs lineup Monday night featured only one player, Anthony Rizzo, with more than three years of major-league service.

"If this was a spring training lineup, we might get a call (from the league office)," manager Joe Maddon quipped. "So these guys are gaining experience now, so next year we go to camp and if we start this lineup, I don't expect any phone calls." The cast of youngsters gained some valuable experience in a 5-4 win over the NL East-leading Nationals that became more intense than expected. The Cubs (39-37) nearly blew a five-run lead in the ninth before Wade Davis struck out Ryan Zimmerman with the tying and winning runs on base. "Games like this is what we need right now," shortstop Javier Baez said. "The competition and playing tight games like this make us make adjustments better and be in the game." Baez made two of the best defensive plays of his promising career and overcame three strikeouts with key hits in the eighth and ninth. Maddon downplayed the significance of this series, stating he was merely curious how well his young players would respond to one of the National League's top teams. His curious decision to bat catcher Willson Contreras, 25, in the leadoff spot paid off immediately when Contreras homered on a 3-1 pitch from left-hander Gio Gonzalez to start the game. It was the first time in Contreras' career that he batted leadoff. Rizzo, who is 2-for-22 lifetime against Gonzalez, will return to the leadoff spot Tuesday night against Nationals ace Max Scherzer. But it was Baez, 24, who seized the moment at shortstop in place of injured Addison Russell. He made a diving catch of a line drive by Bryce Harper to end the third, then made a more dazzling and important play in the eighth. Baez ran at least 40 yards into foul territory before sliding near the wall to catch a foul pop by Adam Lind to open the inning. Cubs fans showed their appreciation by patting Baez on the back before he retreated to his position. "When the ball was coming down, I was kind of worried about the wall," Baez said. "I saw the ball at the last second, and it just went in my glove. I don't know how I caught it. But I just ran hard over there and never gave up." Said Maddon: "That was stupid good. I don't know who else makes that play. He did everything so perfectly on that — the glance at the wall, the slide, the catch." The catch became essential when Zimmerman came to the plate with two runners on and two out. Justin Grimm induced Zimmerman to ground to third to end the inning. After looking overmatched on curves by Gonzalez, Baez rebounded with a single in the eighth off Blake Treinen and scored on a squeeze bunt by Albert Almora Jr. He added an RBI double in the ninth that loomed larger when the Nationals rallied against Hector Rondon and Davis. "(Baez) has a Teflon finish about him," Maddon said. "He's really able to move along to the next moment. It doesn't stick. He's probably the epitome of staying in the moment." --

Chicago Tribune After crazy win, Cubs' next obstacle is Max Scherzer By Paul Sullivan Monday’s series opener between the Cubs and Nationals lived up to the hype with great plays, big moments and dueling bullpen implosions in the ninth inning. The Cubs wound up with a crazy 5-4 win when Wade Davis struck out Ryan Zimmerman in the ninth after a wild pitch pulled the Nationals to within a run and put the tying and winning runs on second and third. “The Nationals, like St. Louis, are always good competition, and before the game everybody was kind of into it,” said Javier Baez, who made a sensational running catch of a foul ball to rob Adam Lind and a leaping catch to snare a wicked liner off Bryce Harper’s bat. The Nationals nearly staged a comeback that would’ve put Chicago in full panic mode, only to fall just short at the end. “It’s tough to take, especially when you had a chance to come back, and come back all the way,” Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. A sigh of relief was heard afterwards in Joe Maddon's office, though it might've been the sound you hear after a big gulp of some fine wine. “Before you play (Max) Scherzer it’s always nice (to win),” Maddon said. “To play so well and not win that game, that would’ve been awful. That would’ve been tough.” Now it's time for an encore, and it’s only going to get tougher on Tuesday, when Scherzer faces Jake Arrieta in a matchup of the last two National League Cy Young winners. “I love going up against the best,” Scherzer said. Both pitchers have two no-hitters to their name, and each has something the other one wants. Scherzer is in search of his first World Series ring, after falling short in the playoffs with the Tigers and Nationals. Arrieta has a ring and two World Series wins to his name, and along with another ring he’s looking for a contract in the vicinity of Scherzer’s seven-year, $210 million deal. He’ll have to pick up the pace in the final three months to be deemed worthy of such a contract, but Arrieta has shown in the past he can be a dominant pitcher. Scherzer, of course, has been worth every dime of his deal, and more. He currently leads the league in earned-run average (2.09), strikeouts (145) opponents batting average (.167), WHIP (0.81) and strikeouts to walks percentage (29.4 percent). Another Cy Young is probable, depending on his second half, and he's having a more dominant season than 2016. Arrieta, of course, has been up-and-down, and isn’t among the league leaders in any major category. But he’s coming off a good start in Miami and has allowed two or fewer earned runs in five of his last six starts against the Nationals. Facing Scherzer in a game like this should bring out the best in Jake. No matter the Cubs’ record, Scherzer isn’t taking them lightly. “They can do a lot offensively,” he said. “They’ve seen me in the past and have had big games against me. I have to go out there with my ‘A’ game to have success.”

Last year at Wrigley Field the Cubs torched Scherzer for seven runs over five innings in an 8-6 win in May. But he came back to beat them in June at Nationals Park, allowing one run on two hits over seven innings, with 11 strikeouts. The Cubs hope to keep it close in the late innings, when the Nats bullpen comes in and typically starts folding like lawn chairs, as they did on Monday, allowing four runs in the eighth and ninth innings to give the Cubs a seemingly comfortable 5-0 lead. But that was just a mirage, as Hector Rondon and Davis struggled in the ninth, making things interesting. Rondon gave up two runs on two hits in 1/3 of an inning, while Davis allowed two runs on three hits and a walk before getting Zimmerman to end it. This series obviously is more important for the Cubs than the Nationals, who are so far ahead in the mediocre National League East they could win it blind-folded. Or maybe not. “It doesn’t matter,” Scherzer said. “Twenty games up, or twenty games down. If you watched last year, the Atlanta Braves were 20 games out of it but fought so hard in August and September, and you’ve seen teams 20 games up still pulling away. "This is life in the big leagues. Every single day you’ve got to bring it.” The Cubs brought it on Monday, and as Baez said, they were “into it" before the start. They need to keep that kind of intensity level the rest of the season to get back to their old selves, if that's possible. “I always say water seeks its level,” Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said. “They’re going to be there at the end. They have too much talent not to be. They’ve got too good of an organization and too good of a manager not to. It’s always good to play against those guys because it tests where you’re at.” Where are the Cubs at? We'll know more by Thursday night when the four-game series ends. -- Chicago Tribune Cubs, Joe Maddon trying to arrange another White House visit By Mark Gonzales Apparently a January visit to the White House wasn't enough for the Chicago Cubs. "Who knows?" manager Joe Maddon said. "We might go over there again." One of Maddon's best friends is Lou Barletta, a congressman who grew up in Maddon's hometown of Hazleton, Pa. "I’m staying in touch with my boy Louie," Maddon said. "He was part of the election committee in Pennsylvania that helped (President Donald Trump) win the state. "Whether you agree with that or not, that’s OK. But if Louie is on board with that, Louie did his job. Good for Louie." Maddon said he will join Barletta in talking to a group of Young Republicans at a luncheon on Wednesday. If the Cubs receive clearance to visit the White House, the trip will be informal.

-- Chicago Tribune Kris Bryant might wind up as Cubs' lone All-Star representative By Mark Gonzales From seven to one? That could be the difference in the Cubs' All-Star representation from 2016 to 2017. Third baseman Kris Bryant is the lone leader at his position entering the final days of voting. "It's reflective in our performance to this point," said manager Joe Maddon, who could be accompanied primarily by his coaching staff for the July 11 game in Miami. Bryant leads the Rockies' Nolan Arenado among National League third basemen by slightly more than 58,000 votes, with voting ending Thursday night. First baseman Anthony Rizzo trails the Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman by 127,000 votes, and injured Jason Heyward has fallen to fourth among outfielders behind the Marlins' Marcell Ozuna. The seven Cubs selected to last year's All-Star Game included their entire starting infield — Rizzo, second baseman Ben Zobrist, shortstop Addison Russell and Bryant — plus outfielder Dexter Fowler and pitchers Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta. "Last year was a different vibe, a different start," Maddon said. "Simultaneous career years; this year we're not. Part of it is we're just not (playing well). Part of it is impacted by injury. I'm not worried about that. I just want us to be well, back together, hopefully after the break going into August." Hold on Heyward: There's virtually no way Heyward will be ready to come off the 10-day disabled list by Thursday. "I'm not to the point where I can do everything swinging," said Heyward, who is recovering from a scrape on his left hand June 18 that was the equivalent of a third-degree burn. "I can't take full batting practice. It's getting better every day, but until it gets to the point where I can swing every day and take batting practice, I've got to do more waiting and healing." Maddon intimated that infielder Ben Zobrist might move up his schedule if his left wrist responds well Tuesday to treatment and work. Pitcher Kyle Hendricks (tendinitis in right hand) will resume playing catch Tuesday. Extra innings: Infielder Jeimer Candelario was promoted from Triple-A Iowa, started at third base and doubled in his second at-bat. Dylan Floro, who didn't pitch in the Marlins series, was optioned to Iowa. ... The Cubs traded left-hander Zac Rosscup, who was designated for assignment Thursday, to the Rockies for Triple-A right-hander Matt Carasiti. -- Chicago Tribune 'A demotion is a demotion:' Kyle Schwarber 1-for-4 with 3 strikeouts at Triple-A Iowa By Mark Gonzales Before Kyle Schwarber went 1-for-4 with three strikeouts in his Triple-A Iowa debut Monday night, Cubs manager Joe Maddon accepted responsibility for raising expectations for his struggling slugger.

"We should have not expected that much out of him," Maddon said of Schwarber, who was optioned to Iowa on Thursday after batting .171 with 75 strikeouts. "I'm guilty of that narrative or dialogue because I thought I was eager to watch him play a full season. I didn't have a chance to. "But the guy missed (nearly) the whole (2016) season and did well in a small window of time, so maybe my expectations exceeded what should have been also." The Cubs have placed no timetable on Schwarber, who team officials hope will regain his discipline at the plate and hit fastballs with more regularity. Schwarber took a called third strike from New Orleans pitcher Chris O'Grady on a 3-2 count in the first inning, then swung and missed a 1-2 pitch in the third. He struck out on another 1-2 pitch to end the fifth and singled to right in the eighth. "A demotion is a demotion. That's obviously something that you don't want to have, and it ticks you off a little bit," Schwarber said to the AP in his first public comments since being sent down. "You can't press, you can't do anything like that. But you try to make things happen. You've got to go back to what made you successful in the first place. "I'm not here to try to change everything. I want to stay myself. I want to get back to myself, and be confident while doing it," Schwarber said. "It's an opportunity to relax and get back to being myself and try and get back up there." Maddon cited the path of Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna, who was optioned to the minors but has rebounded to All-Star-caliber status. "I believe in him fully," Maddon said of Schwarber. "It's going to happen." -- Chicago Tribune What's on Kyle Schwarber's plate at Triple-A Iowa? Relaxation and fastballs By Mark Gonzales Kyle Schwarber missed a chance to play against the Marlins last weekend, but he’ll begin his mission toward a return to the Cubs starting Monday night against the Marlins’ Triple-A New Orleans team in Des Moines, Iowa. “I think being there and knowing he can relax and play and think on what he’s trying to work on, as opposed to trying to get a hit,” said Cubs hitting coach John Mallee on Sunday as Schwarber prepares for his debut for Triple-A Iowa. “It’s more just trying to get a good pitch to hit and putting on a good swing, and the hits will be a byproduct of his approach.” Mallee repeatedly stressed the need for Schwarber to relax after his batting average dipped to .171 with 75 strikeouts in 222 at-bats, leaving the Cubs’ patient front office with little choice but to option him Thursday to Iowa. Schwarber began the season as the Cubs leadoff batter but continually struggled, lost his hold on leadoff and full-time duties last month and was losing valuable playing time to regain his left-handed stroke. “He’s been working on making a few adjustments when he was here,” Mallee said. “The whole thing is gaining his confidence back, getting him back on the fastball. I don’t see why there would be a hiccup in him getting back to being on time with the fastball and working from there. That’s basically it.

“He’s going to get regular playing time, getting the at-bats without the pressure. He puts a lot of pressure on himself because he’s such a good teammate, and he’s such a winner. Sometimes if you don’t get the hits, you feel like you’re letting the team down. And that affects a lot of people.” Mallee will stay in contact with minor league hitting coordinator Andy Haines and Iowa hitting coach Desi Wilson. “They’re ready to get started,” Mallee said. “Kyle is excited, and we’re all excited for him because it’s going to turn around.” There is no timetable or prescribed number of at-bats for Schwarber’s return. -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs win close one in Washington, without any help from the Russians By Gordon Wittenmyer WASHINGTON — Just when you thought the Cubs didn’t have another White House trip in them anytime soon, manager Joe Maddon is pulling out his Trump card this week. Making their first trip to Washington since their visit to the Obama White House in January, the Cubs opened a four-game series Monday with a 5-4 victory over the National League East-leading Nationals. Next up for some of the traveling party? Another trip to the White House? “Who knows? We might be going over there again,” Maddon said. “The one thing I’ve got in my back pocket is Louie.” That’s Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Pa., a childhood friend of Maddon, supporter of Trump from early in the campaign, one-time candidate for the cabinet and a former mayor of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, where he became known nationally for hardline immigration politics. Barletta asked Maddon to meet Wednesday with a group of young Republicans. “And they’re still working on possibly something else,” Maddon said. “I’m staying in touch with my boy Louie.” That’s not exactly what Maddon meant in recent weeks when he talked about getting the Cubs right. This is: Five scoreless innings from seventh starter Eddie Butler, just enough relief pitching (despite allowing four runs in a harrowing ninth inning), exceptional fielding led by shortstop Javy Baez and center fielder Albert Almora Jr., and playing with the lead from the first batter of the game, when leadoff-man-for-a-day Willson Contreras homered. Eddie Butler starting? Contreras leading off? Ian Happ, Jeimer Candelario and Mark Zagunis all in the starting lineup? The Cubs fielded the youngest lineup in a major-league game this year. “If this was a spring-training lineup, we might get a call,” Maddon said of the rule requiring at least four regulars. Not exactly what the Cubs’ side of this otherwise marquee matchup figured to look like when the season started. “It’s just that we’re attending with a different group than we thought we would be attending this party with,” Maddon said. “That’s OK. These guys now are getting the kind of experience that is going to be very beneficial to us in August and September. In a perverse way, it may benefit us in the long run.”

The Cubs, who led 2-0 until a wild ninth, are now one game behind idle Milwaukee for the lead in the moribund NL Central. They’re still just two games over .500. And they’re still looking for their first pair of back-to-back wins on the road since April. And they’re still waiting for key players Ben Zobrist, Jason Heyward and Kyle Hendricks to return from the disabled list in the next few weeks. But they just beat likely All-Star Gio Gonzalez, and Butler’s scoreless outing dropped the rotation’s ERA to 2.27 over the last 13 games. “I think games like this are what we need right now,” said Baez, who robbed Bryce Harper of a hit with a diving catch of a line drive and made the play of the season with a sliding catch of Adam Lind’s foul popup near the left-field stands leading off the eighth. “I really don’t know how I caught it,” he said. “That was stupid good,” Maddon said. Before the game, Maddon called this a “curiosity series for me” because of the roster issues and the inconsistency. Afterwards, he called the game one of the Cubs’ best of the season and especially intense. “To play so well and not win that game, that would have been awful,” he said. Now it’s on to that next White House quest. Any Russians attending? “I have no idea,” Maddon said. “I stay in my lane.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Kyle Schwarber’s confidence still high: ‘I want to be one of the best’ By Steve Greenberg DES MOINES, Iowa — The big man waved and missed at a pitch as it swept low and across the plate. The next offering — a crush-me curveball in the heart of the hitting zone — settled into the catcher’s mitt for a strikeout looking. So began Kyle Schwarber’s second stint at the Class AAA level. The first one, in 2015, lasted all of 17 games during Schwarber’s rapid ascent to the major leagues. He got to Chicago that summer and made an instant splash, and his performance in that year’s postseason — a .333 average and five home runs — anointed him something akin to a superstar. Yet it was early — so early — for the outsized praise and expectations that have been heaped upon the 24-year-old Schwarber since then. All of it only kicked up a notch after Schwarber, coming off a major knee injury that cost him seven months on the field, suddenly appeared in the lineup for the 2016 World Series and hit .412. “Maybe we should not have expected that much,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Monday, while his team was in Washington D.C. to face the N.L. East-leading Nationals and Schwarber, wearing No. 22 instead of his customary

No. 12, was in Iowa getting ready to take on the New Orleans Baby Cakes. “Even me, I’m guilty of that kind of narrative and dialogue also.” Who among us can say that we aren’t? I figured I owed him a trip here to see him after all the ridiculous Babe Ruth comparisons I’d lazily made. How long will stint No. 2 at Iowa last for Schwarber? A handful of games? Dozens of them? Hundreds? Even he knows he can’t argue with the Cubs’ decision last week to send him down. A .171 batting average, .673 OPS and strikeout rate of 28.7 percent this season wasn’t going to the lefty slugger at the major league level forever. “The numbers spoke for themselves,” Schwarber said. “Obviously, you don’t ever want to come back down here. But it’s an opportunity to relax, get back to being myself and try to get back up [with the Cubs].” Schwarber met a small group of reporters, most of them locals, before Monday’s game. Seated on the upper row of the home dugout at Principal Park, he wore tinted sunglasses that at least provided him a buffer during a conversation that couldn’t have been enjoyable for him. What was hiding behind those shades? I couldn’t help but wonder in light of comments made the other day by Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer. “I do think a lot of the problems are mental, stem from that,” Hoyer said. “I think that these struggles have kind of beat him up a little bit. And I think like anyone would, he’s lost a little bit of his swagger and he needs to get that back.” That sure was a heavy dose of honesty. But does Schwarber feel that way, too? His jaw clenched when asked if the setbacks of this season — first the slump, then the demotion — had laid him low. “A demotion’s a demotion,” he said. “It’s something you don’t ever want to happen. It ticks you off a little bit, but you also can’t press [or] anything like that to try to make things happen. You’ve got to go back to what you successful.” Yet even Schwarber’s success in 2015 was mitigated by a prolonged slump; from August 1 through the end of that regular season, he hit just .216. Schwarber is a career .207 hitter in the big leagues. Is this about rediscovering himself or reinventing himself? “I want to be one of the best in the game,” he said. “This is just a step. This game is always a continuous learning curve. I learn something new every day in baseball. I want to be one of the best out there. I want to help the Cubs get back to the championship.” First, he’ll have to find his way back to them. It might take a while. Not to make too much of one minor-league game, but Schwarber followed that strikeout in his first at-bat with two more, flailing limply on breaking balls out of the zone. But hear this: “I ain’t a guy to back down from the challenge,” he said. “We saw it last year, being able to try to help my team win the World Series and everything like that. I’m not going to back down at all — trust me.” Cubdom is counting on it. --

Chicago Sun-Times Predicting milestones: Can Anthony Rizzo reach 1,500 RBI? By John Grochowski Every baseball season brings milestones big and small. The biggest this season came June 4, when the Angels’ Albert Pujols became the ninth player in major-league history to hit 600 home runs. Also this month, we’ve seen a couple of lower-level milestones: The Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw struck out his 2,000th batter and the Cubs’ Jon Lester won his 150th game. One coming attraction: The Rangers’ Adrian Beltre entered play Monday 35 hits away from 3,000. Milestones are more fun than meaningful. For example, you wouldn’t want to judge a career by whether a player has 3,000 hits or 2,999. But for those who enjoy speculating on who might reach those nice round numbers, the Favorite Toy can help. Bill James introduced the Favorite Toy calculation in his Baseball Abstracts in the 1980s. To see how it works, let’s take a young veteran, Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, and calculate where his chances stood entering 2017 of reaching 1,500 career RBI. Step 1: Find how many RBI Rizzo needed to reach the goal. He had 425 RBI through 2016, leaving him 1,075 away from 1,500. Step 2: Project how many seasons he has remaining in his career. The formula is 24-(.6 x age). Rizzo was 26 at the end of last season, so that’s 24-(.6 x 26) — or 24-15.6. That comes to 8.4 seasons, including 2017. Step 3: Calculate an established performance level, focusing on the last three seasons. Add three times his 2016 RBI total, twice his 2015 RBI total and once his 2014 RBI total, then divide the sum by six. In Rizzo’s case, that’s (3 x 109) + (2 x 101) + 78 — or 607 — divided by six for an established level of 101.16 RBI per season. We can round down to 101. Step 4: Project the rest-of-career total by multiplying remaining years by performance level. For Rizzo, that’s 8.4 years times 101 RBI — or 848.4 RBI. We’ll round to 848. Step 5: Calculate a percentage chance by taking the projected remaining total and subtracting half the needed total, then dividing by the needed total. For Rizzo, that’s (848-537.5)/1,075, which comes to .2888. Multiply that by 100 to convert to percent, and Rizzo entered this season with a 28.9 percent chance of making it to 1,500 career RBI. Rizzo is one of six active players with an established chance of reaching 2,000 RBI. The annual Bill James Handbook listed him at 1 percent, behind Pujols (76 percent), Miguel Cabrera (47), Nolan Arenado (11), Mike Trout (8) and Beltre (4). Pujols (18 percent), Cabrera (9) and Arenado (3) even have established chances of breaking Hank Aaron’s career record of 2,289 RBI. There’s never complete certainty in milestone chases. On the positive side, players reach new performance highs or prove durable and have longer productive careers than expected. On the negative side, injuries and early declines can torpedo milestone chances. But the milestone races can be fun to watch, and the Favorite Toy can augment that. --

Chicago Sun-Times Sticking to maintenance program key to Addison Russell’s shoulder pain By Gordon Wittenmyer WASHINGTON — Shortstop Addison Russell, who left Sunday’s game because of recurring soreness in his shoulder, was cleared to play Monday. He wanted in the lineup, but manager Joe Maddon sat him as a precaution. “Any time you have to take a guy out of a game because he says he’s hurting a little bit, I don’t want to just push him back out there,” Maddon said. “[The trainer] feels good about it. We’ve just got to get him on a steady diet of rehab, like a maintenance program. We’ll just play it a little cautious right now.” Russell has a prescribed shoulder maintenance program but doesn’t always follow it. “I need to be more self-aware and take responsibility,” Russell said Sunday, “and get some things that I need to work on taken care of.” Injury updates World Series MVP Ben Zobrist tested his ailing left wrist Monday by swinging a bat for the first time since going on the disabled list. He said it felt fine. He’s expected to test it again Tuesday and, barring a setback, make a decision on a brief minor-league rehab stint at that point. Outfielder Jason Heyward (hand) continues to make progress as he swings a bat lightly, with nagging tenderness in a freshly healed cut that had trouble closing because of skin torn away in the area. “You don’t want to tear stuff and then need a surgery or something like that,” said Heyward, who was told by medical staff that the injury was the equivalent of a third-degree burn. “That defeats the purpose of being on the DL now to let it heal.” Heyward was injured attempting to catch a foul pop on the warning track June 18 in Pittsburgh. This and that The Cubs promoted infielder Jeimer Candelario from Class AAA Iowa and started him at third base. Right-hander Dylan Floro was sent down to make room. — Heyward dropped from third to fourth among outfielders in the latest All-Star voting. Only Kris Bryant holds a starting spot in the fan voting, which ends this week. — The Cubs traded left-hander Zac Rosscup to the Rockies for Class AAA right-hander Matt Carasiti. Rosscup was designated for assignment. -- Chicago Sun-Times Another day, another Cubs’ leadoff man, another leadoff homer By Gordon Wittenmyer WASHINGTON – Anthony Rizzo has some competition for GLHOAT. The self-proclaimed greatest leadoff hitter of all-time was moved down to second in the Cubs order against problematic left-hander Gio Gonzalez of the Nationals, and his replacement for the day, Willson Contreras, led off Monday’s game with a home run in his first career leadoff at-bat. “I’ve been wanting to try Willie vs. a lefty,” manager Joe Maddon said of the eighth player he has used in the leadoff spot this year. “Even when [Kyle] Schwarber was here I thought at some point I would give that a go.”

Maddon said Rizzo, his slugging first baseman, will be back in the top spot again Tuesday against Nationals ace Max Scherzer, Rizzo’s 11th game leading off, all in the last two weeks. Contreras said he had never led off at any level until Monday but wasn’t surprised. “Because I know how Joe likes to work,” he said. “I was ready for everything. Every hitter has to be ready to hit in every spot [playing for Maddon]. “It feels good to feel that kind of confidence they put in you.” The Cubs’ inability to find a reliable solution to their leadoff spot has created the midseason creativity and flux, with Opening Day leadoff man Schwarber lasting just six weeks in the spot and eventually getting optioned to the minors Thursday with a .171 batting average. Eventually, Maddon would like to see a rebounding Schwarber return to that spot long-term, the manager said. “I still think if Schwarbs can get back on track, his tools will reflect a lot of what you’re seeing Anthony do right now, how he gets the offense started,” Maddon said. “We don’t have that 40-steal guy. We don’t have that kind of speed combined with on-base percentage. So you’ve got to do the next-best thing. And I prefer your best hitters be at the top.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs scout’s son on life support after being hit by baseball By Madeline Kenney The teenaged son of a Cubs baseball scout has been placed on life support to treat profuse bleeding after he was hit in the face with a baseball several days ago. Jason Lockhart, the son of former Major Leaguer Keith Lockhart, was hit June 17 while crossing home plate at a South Carolina youth baseball tournament. Jason, 15, was originally given stitches to treat his injury. But two days after the incident, he began to bleed profusely when doctors tried to remove packing from his nose. He received a CT scan, which showed that he not only suffered a nose fracture, but also had a tear inside his nose. Jason was placed on life support Friday and put in a paralytic state at Scottish Rite Hospital in Atlanta to help stop any movement that would encourage or cause more bleeding, according to a Facebook post by his older sister, Sydney. In Twitter and Facebook direct messages on Monday, Sydney Lockhart told the Chicago Sun-Times, “We are just amazed with the outpouring of love, support, and prayers for our family and our sweet Jason. People come together in these tough times, and the power of prayer is unlike anything else. “Keep the prayers coming. And please pray for all the sweet kiddos and the families back here with us. We all need them.” Sydney Lockhart wrote Sunday night in a Facebook post that her family was “tired but hopeful.” “The doctors decided to take Jason into surgery to do an endovascular embolization today,” she wrote. “They went into both arteries on each side of his nose and cut off the blood supply. . . . The surgery was a couple of hours long and Jason is now resting still on the ventilator to keep his vitals monitored and keep him comfortable.”

Keith Lockhart — who played the majority of his 10 Major League seasons as an infielder for the Atlanta Braves and has been a scout for the Cubs since 2011 — tweeted Sunday that doctors had located three areas of bleeding and stopped the flow of blood to them. Jason was to go into surgery again on Monday afternoon, but doctors decided to postpone the operation,” Sydney Lockhart posted on Facebook. “They are backing Jason off several medications and his body is responding a bit slower than anticipated,” she wrote. “They will reschedule for tomorrow. There has been no bleeding since yesterday’s surgery (YAY) so we are hoping it was successful, though we are remaining watchful.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Kyle Schwarber on demotion: ‘I’m not going to back down — trust me’ By Gordon Wittenmyer DES MOINES, Iowa — Kyle Schwarber knows he can’t argue with the Cubs’ decision last week to send him here to AAA Iowa. A .171 batting average, .673 OPS and strikeout rate of 28.7 this season wasn’t going to keep the 24-year-old lefty slugger at the major league level forever. “The numbers spoke for themselves,” he said Monday, a couple of hours before he was to hit third and start in left field against the New Orleans Baby Cakes. “Obviously, you don’t ever want to come back down here. But it’s an opportunity to relax, get back to being myself and try to get back up [with the Cubs].” Any concerns about how difficult that might be to do? “I ain’t a guy to back down from the challenge,” he said. “I’m not going to back down at all — trust me.” The former 2014 first-round draft pick last played at the AAA level for 17 games in 2015, before his big splash in the big leagues that included five home runs in that year’s postseason. Schwarber’s first game back in Iowa comes after the Cubs gave him 72 hours to get himself ready to begin chasing the dream anew. He spent the first two days in Chicago, then arrived in Des Moines on Sunday and got in some work with Cubs minor league hitting coordinator Andy Haines. “A demotion’s a demotion,” Schwarber said. “It’s something you don’t ever want to happen. It ticks you off a little bit, but you also can’t press [or] anything like that to try to make things happen. You’ve got to go back to what made you successful.” But Schwarber’s success in 2015 was mitigated by a prolonged slump; from August 1 through the end of that regular season, he hit just .216. A major knee injury cost him nearly the entire 2016 campaign, though his comeback for the World Series — in which he hit .412 — only added to the hype that has surrounded him since he first flashed his awesome power for Cubs fans. And now 2017 has been one big disappointment so far. Where does Schwarber see himself if he can put things together? “I want to be one of the best in the game,” he said. “This is just a step. This game is always a continuous learning curve. I learn something new every day in baseball. I want to be one of the best out there. I want to help the Cubs get back to the championship.” --

Daily Herald Big series, and Chicago Cubs take opener By Bruce Miles WASHINGTON -- This matchup was one worth salivating over at the beginning of the baseball season: world-champion Chicago Cubs at perennial contenders Washington Nationals for four games. Even though the Cubs have struggled to regain their championship form in 2017, their series with the Nationals is no less appetizing, according to Cubs manager Joe Maddon. The Nats are dominating the National League East, while the Cubs are hanging tight in the weak NL Central. "On the surface I think it still is all of that," Maddon said of this being an exciting series before his team went out and ground out a 5-4 victory at Nationals Park in a game they broke open with 3 runs in the ninth inning and held on in the bottom half, as the Nats scored 4 runs and had runners on second and third when the game ended. "It was intense out there," said Maddon, whose team improved to 39-37. "If you're not with us every day and you're looking from the outside in, you're seeing the Cubs play the Nationals right now, it is exciting. "It's just that we're attending with a different group than we thought we'd be attending this party with. So that's just the difference, and that's OK, because these guys now are getting the kind of experience that is going to be very beneficial to us in August and September. In a perverse way, it may benefit us in the long haul." Maddon trotted out yet another different lineup. Willson Contreras made his first start as the leadoff hitter and promptly homered. He supplanted, for one day, Anthony Rizzo, who was dropped to second against tough lefty Gio Gonzalez. The lineup also featured youngsters Ian Happ, Mark Zagunis and the just-recalled Jeimer Candelario. Maddon joked afterward that if he had trotted this starting nine out in spring training, he might have gotten a call from Major League Baseball for not fielding a representative lineup. "I'm curious, it's a curiosity series for me," Maddon said. "We're not where we want to be, roster wise, we're waiting for some guys to get back. Younger guys getting an opportunity to play under these circumstances, which I think can only benefit us later in the year. I'm not putting a lot of stock into it, other than the curiosity factor. I think we've been playing better; that's a good thing." Nationals manager Dusty Baker, who has been a part of winning teams as a player and as a manager, weighed in on the difficulty of repeating. "The toughest part is probably the fact that everybody is not going to have the same kind of year," he said. "Everybody's not going to stay healthy. How many surprises can you come up with the young players? And can you come up with another one? "You don't have much time. That's why I really appreciate the repeat champions, especially two or three times because they don't get any rest in the wintertime. Other teams are resting and recovering while they're still playing, especially your pitching staff." The Cubs scored their second run in the eighth, when Albert Almora Jr. bunted Javier Baez in from third base. Baez, who made two spectacular defensive plays, singled, went to second on a fielder's choice and stole third base. Closer Wade Davis had to bail out Hector Rondon in the ninth. Davis did so by striking out Ryan Zimmerman to end the game on his sixth batter faced. --

Daily Herald Chicago Cubs' Heyward not ready to return By Bruce Miles WASHINGTON -- Jason Heyward showed off his left hand to reporters Monday, and it's still looking a little raw. The Chicago Cubs right fielder took some swings off a tee as he tries to heal an abrasion suffered at Pittsburgh in the middle of June. Heyward is eligible to come off the 10-day disabled list Thursday, but that does not look likely. "(It's) not to the point where I can do everything swinging," he said. "I can't take full batting practice. It's getting better every day, of course. Until it gets to the point where I can swing every day and take BP, I've just got to deal with it healing. "I've been doing some bottom-hand stuff, some one-hand stuff. I tried a couple days of dry swings. Today was the first time trying off the tee, 15 swings most. We just needed to see where it was for one and then kind of get used to doing stuff again, know there was going to be some discomfort. I'm not comfortable enough to go forward with full BP." It's possible Heyward will have to go on a short minor-league rehab stint once the hand is healed. "That's always the conversation we have," he said. "When it happens, when it's time to do it, they'll let me know what they think. I'll let them know what I think." Taking it easy on Russell: Shortstop Addison Russell was not in Monday night's lineup after he suffered discomfort in his right shoulder during Sunday's series finale at Miami. "It's not serious, but I don't want to push it," manager Joe Maddon said. "PJ (athletic trainer Mainville) feels good about it. We've got to get him on a steady diet of rehab, a maintenance program. As we do that, he should have no more issues. "The last thing I want to be is the manager who puts him out too soon and gets him hurt." A possible go for Zo: Infielder-outfielder Ben Zobrist tested his sore left wrist Monday in Chicago and likely will do so again Tuesday. A minor-league rehab assignment is likely to follow for Zobrist, who went on the DL effective June 13. Left-handed pitcher Brett Anderson threw 51 pitches Sunday in his first rehab start for Class AA Tennessee. He worked 4 innings, giving up 5 hits and 1 run. He has been on the DL effective May 7 with a low-back strain. A visit with the new guy? The Cubs made their official world-championship visit to the White House in January, when Barack Obama was still president. It's possible Joe Maddon and a couple of the players may make a less formal visit to the Trump White House sometime this week. A new beginning: Outfielder Kyle Schwarber was in the starting lineup Monday for Class AAA Iowa after he was optioned late last week. Schwarber began the year as the leadoff hitter, but he got off to a slow start. Anthony Rizzo has taken up most of the slack, but Willson Contreras led off with a homer Monday.

Asked what he'd like to see long term, Joe Maddon said: "Ideally Schwarber. To me, he's still the right guy for the job. But for right now, you'll see Anthony back there (Tuesday). Today, Contreras made the most sense." -- Cubs.com You can Javy it all! Cubs dazzle on D, get W By Carrie Muskat WASHINGTON -- Javier Baez flew, hit, ran, struck out, slid, and dazzled on Monday night. Starting at shortstop in place of injured Addison Russell, Baez added to his personal highlight reel with two defensive gems, and the Cubs needed all of his acrobatics to preserve a 5-4 victory over the Nationals. Baez made a leaping catch in the third to snare Bryce Harper's 110-mph liner in the air. The ball appeared to be headed for the gap, but Baez ranged to his right and grabbed the ball that had a hit probability of 68 percent, according to Statcast™. "He's a stud," Harper said of Baez. "One of the best in the league at what he does in his craft. One of the best gloves, quickest hands, lot of fun to watch him play and see how he's progressed as a player. What a stud he is." Both the hit probability and exit velocity were tied for the third highest for an out on any ball Harper has hit this year. The Major League average on batted balls of at least 110 mph this year was .765 entering Monday, but the play ended the third. "I didn't know the velo, but I knew it was really hard," Baez said. "I'm actually pretty good at reading the ball off the bat. It was well hit." Baez wasn't finished. In the Nationals' eighth, pinch-hitter Adam Lind lofted a ball toward foul territory in left. That didn't stop Baez, who raced after the ball and grabbed it just before sliding into the padded wall. According to Statcast™, Baez covered 132 feet to make the catch. He got a few pats from Cubs fans in the crowd. "That popup was stupid good," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "He went so far. Did you see the peek? He gave the peek and knew exactly where he was. I don't know who else makes that play. I know our guy Addy is really good, but [Baez] did everything so perfectly on that -- the glance at the wall, the slide, the catch, everything." How good is Baez? Some fans groaned when he didn't catch Brian Goodwin's soft liner to left one out later. "When the ball was coming down, I was worried about the wall," Baez said. "I saw the ball at the last second, and it just went in my glove. I don't know how I caught it. I just ran hard over there and never gave up." The 132 feet covered is the longest distance by a shortstop on a putout since Statcast™ began in 2015. The previous high was 129 feet by Manny Machado on April 8, 2016. Baez wasn't all glove. He struck out in his first three at-bats, but in the eighth, Baez singled to extend his hitting streak to a career-high eight games. He was called out at second on Jeimer Candelario's grounder, but after a review, the call was overturned and Baez and Candelario were safe. Baez then stole third and scored on Almora's bunt single for 2-0 lead. In the ninth, Baez added an RBI double, and prompted the Cubs fans in the crowd to chant, "Javy, Javy, Javy." How did he go from three strikeouts to two big hits? "A lot of guys with three punches, they don't do that stuff," Maddon said. "Their night is messed up -- 'I'll come back tomorrow and have a better game tomorrow.' He has a Teflon finish about him. He's really able to move along to the next moment, it doesn't stick, whether it's a play on defense or a punchout.

"For me, he's the epitome of staying in the moment," Maddon said. "Sometimes he can get a little carried away with his swing. The beauty of him is it doesn't stick." How does Baez do it? "You play 27 outs," Baez said. "After the first [at-bat], I thought it was a good [at-bat], and the pitch he struck me out on was a good pitch. It could've gone both ways. The other two, he just got me. Obviously, the last two [at-bats], I didn't give up. I came back to the plate with the same plan." Just Javy being Javy. -- Cubs.com Cubs withstand Nats' late rally to win opener By Jamal Collier and Carrie Muskat WASHINGTON -- Even though the Cubs have hovered around .500 this season, the Nationals are treating this four-game series as a measuring stick against the defending World Series champions. And this scene at Nationals Park is serving as a potential postseason preview, with the National League East winner currently on track to match up with the winner of the NL Central in October. Their first meeting Monday night was a thriller, as the Cubs staved off a furious ninth-inning comeback from the Nationals to hang on for a 5-4 victory. Chicago led the game from the first batter thanks to a leadoff homer from Willson Contreras, while sparkling defense from Javier Baez and stellar pitching performances helped hold the Major Leagues' top-ranked offense scoreless for eight innings. Then, trailing 5-0 in the ninth, the Nats sent nine batters to the plate and rallied for four runs before Cubs closer Wade Davis struck out Ryan Zimmerman, the NL's leading hitter, to end the threat. "I haven't faced him much," Zimmerman said. "I was just trying to get a good pitch and not do too much. The 2-2 curveball, he made a really good pitch. The 1-2 fastball away, I've got to do something with that pitch. That was the best pitch I had to hit the whole at-bat. He's not an easy guy to face. "There's no consolation prizes or anything like that. But to come back and make it a game, I think it says something about our team." After Albert Almora Jr.s squeeze bunt plated a run in the eighth, Chicago began the top of the ninth inning by tacking on three insurance runs off left-hander Matt Grace. The Cubs received five shutout innings from starter Eddie Butler and used seven relievers before they eventually held on for the victory to pull within a game of first place. "Early on, guys were making a lot of great plays to keep us close," Butler said. "I really started getting locked in there halfway through the third inning. I felt I could take control of that game." Washington spoiled another solid start from left-hander Gio Gonzalez, who continues to state his claim to be an All-Star this season. He threw six innings of one-run ball to lower his ERA to 2.87 on the season, the third lowest in the NL behind Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer. The average age of the Cubs' lineup on Monday was 24, and included three rookies. "If this is a Spring Training lineup, we might get a call," Cubs manager Joe Maddon joked about how teams need at least four regulars in spring games. MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Insurance runs: The three runs the Cubs scored in the ninth inning proved crucial, and they were also aided by a few defensive miscues. The inning began with a throwing error from Grace on a single from pinch-hitter Tommy La Stella, which allowed him to advance to second. After Grace struck out Contreras, Anthony Rizzo hit an RBI single and advanced to second after an errant throw from Brian Goodwin in left field. Ian Happ drove in another run on a single to right field and Baez capped the inning with an RBI double. Baez thwarts Nats on defense: Baez left his imprint with a tremendous game at shortstop, filling in for the injured Addison Russell. In the third, Baez extended in the air to make a leaping catch and rob Bryce Harper of a hit on a ball hit 110 mph with a hit probability of 68 percent, according to Statcast™. "He's a stud," Harper said. "One of the best in the league at what he does in his craft. One of the best gloves, quickest hands, lot of fun to watch him play and see how he's progressed as a player. What a stud he is." Then in the eighth, Baez made one of the best plays all season. He ranged from his position at shortstop to the railing in foul territory down the third-base line to make a sliding, backhand grab to retire Adam Lind. The 132 feet he covered was the longest distance by a shortstop on a putout since Statcast™ began in 2015. "I don't know who else makes that play," Maddon said. "I know our guy [Russell] is really good, but [Baez] did everything so perfectly on that -- the glance at the wall, the slide, the catch, everything." QUOTABLE "It's nice before you play [Max] Scherzer -- it's always nice [to win]. To play so well and not win that game, that would've been awful, that would've been tough. Honestly, every night to me is the biggest game of the year. Tonight, playing a good team like that, playing in Washington, we have our youngest pitcher pitching against a guy who is pretty darn good. Butler beats Gio tonight … I think that's pretty good stuff." -- Maddon, on whether Monday was the biggest win of the season "As long as you got outs [remaining], you got a chance. That's how I look at it. Especially with the offense that we have. You don't know when and who they are going to erupt against. The fact that we had action on winning that game, we were a hit away from winning that game, and our guys didn't quit." -- Nationals manager Dusty Baker SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Contreras' leadoff homer marked the ninth time in Major League history that a catcher hit a leadoff home run, and the first time since the Rays' John Jaso did on Sept. 4, 2010, at Baltimore. UNDER REVIEW Trea Turner singled to lead off the Nationals' third, and the Cubs thought they picked him off at first when Contreras threw to Rizzo at first base. Turner was called safe, but the Cubs challenged the ruling, and after a review the call was overturned. With one out in the Chicago eighth, Baez was at first and Jeimer Candelario hit a grounder to second baseman Daniel Murphy, who flipped to Turner at short, and he threw to first. Baez was called out and Candelario was safe, but the Cubs challenged the ruling at second. After a review, the call was overturned and Baez was safe. WHAT'S NEXT Cubs: Jake Arrieta gets the start against the Nationals on Tuesday. He's coming off his best outing of the season in which he held the Marlins to one run over seven innings and threw an efficient 82 pitches. His last start vs. the Nats was May 8, 2016, (no-decision). First pitch will be 6:05 p.m. CT. Nationals: In a matchup of the past two Cy Young Award winners in the NL, Scherzer will take the mound to face the Cubs and Arrieta at Nationals Park. Scherzer has been on a roll lately, with double-digit strikeouts in six consecutive games, and he took a no-hitter into the eighth inning in his last start.

-- Cubs.com Arrieta starts in Cy Young clash vs. Scherzer By Kyle Melnick The past two National League Cy Young Award winners will go head to head when Max Scherzer leads the Nationals against Jake Arrieta and the Cubs at Nationals Park on Tuesday night in the MLB Network Showcase game. It's the second game of the four-game series, which could be a postseason preview. "I view it the same as I do any other series," Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. "We're trying to win. We're trying to increase our lead. We're trying to get to 50 [wins]. We're trying to win 15 this month. This is a big series for us. ... We're trying to establish some home superiority. We haven't had as much success at home." The Nats dropped the opener, 5-4, but they rallied for all four runs in the ninth inning for a dramatic finish. Scherzer and Arrieta each have two career no-hitters and have made crucial postseason starts. Scherzer helped the Tigers reach the World Series in 2012 by allowing a combined one earned run in American League Division Series and AL Championship Series starts. Arrieta held a 2.38 ERA and won each of his two starts in the World Series last year to help the Cubs to their first championship since 1908. Scherzer (8-5) has outperformed Arrieta this season, though, leading the Major Leagues with a 2.09 ERA while striking out 145 (second in the Majors). The right-hander has recorded double-digit strikeouts in his past six games. He carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning of his last start Wednesday, but he gave up two runs in that frame as the Nationals fell, 2-1, to the Marlins. Arrieta (7-5) has a 4.36 ERA this year after recording ERAs of 3.10, 1.77 and 2.53 in his past three campaigns, respectively. However, the right-hander is coming off his best start of the season, surrendering one run in seven innings in a win over the Marlins on Thursday. In his past three career starts against the Nationals, Arrieta allowed a combined five runs in 17 innings. Scherzer has a career 3.19 ERA vs. the Cubs, but he threw to a 6.00 ERA in two starts against them last year. The Cubs aren't playing up to par after winning the World Series last season. They featured one of the best starting rotations and offenses in the Majors last season, but both are around league average this year. They're in second place in the NL Central behind the Brewers and have several key players who are dealing with injuries. The Nationals, meanwhile, have a comfortable lead in the NL East. While they're focused on extending that advantage, they're also hoping for better postseason success after losing in the NLDS in 2012, '14 and '16. "If you're looking from the outside in and see the Cubs play the Nationals, right now, it is exciting," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "It's just that we're attending with a different group than we thought we'd be attending this party with. That's the difference, and that's OK. These guys are getting the kind of experience that will be very beneficial to us in August and September." Three things to know about this game • Opponents have gone only 4-for-39 against Arrieta's curveball this season, including 0-for-3 in his last start against Miami. That .103 average is the fifth-lowest for any pitcher who has had at least 30 at-bats end on curves this season. • Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo will resume his leadoff duties Tuesday after Willson Contreras manned that role -- and hit a leadoff homer -- Monday. Rizzo is hitting 3-for-8 with a double and home run in his career against Scherzer.

• Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy extended his hitting streak to 10 games Monday. He's batting .350 (14-for-40) with two homers and 11 RBIs during that stretch. -- Cubs.com Schwarber singles in last AB in Triple-A debut By Chad Thornburg Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber made his first Minor League start with Triple-A Iowa, batting third and playing left field in a 1-0 victory over New Orleans on Monday night. Schwarber didn't have much success at the plate, striking out in each of his first three at-bats. In his fourth and final time up, however, Schwarber crushed a line-drive single off the wall in the eighth inning. Schwarber was sent to the Minors last week after batting just .171/.295/.378 in 64 games with the Major League club. Chicago manager Joe Maddon said on Monday that he noticed Schwarber's swing had become pull heavy and that he was striking out more often than expected. "It was not his normal pattern at the plate," Maddon said. "I believe in him fully and I know it's going to happen. There have been some really good Major League hitters who have gone through the same thing." Maddon said he doesn't expect the demotion to last long, but no timetable has been set for Schwarber's return to the Majors. The Minor League stint offers Schwarber a mental break and an opportunity to reevaluate his swing mechanics as he works with Triple-A hitting coach Desi Wilson and Minor League hitting coordinator Andy Haines. Schwarber, 24, missed almost all of the 2016 season with a knee injury sustained in early April. He returned in the postseason and helped propel the Cubs to a World Series championship. "I was real eager to watch this guy play a full season of Major League baseball," Maddon said. "The guy missed the whole season [last year] and did really well in a short window of time at the end of the year. Maybe my expectations exceeded what they should've been. I do believe he's that good and he'll play at the level we anticipated. He might have needed more time." -- Cubs.com Cut on Heyward's hand needs time to heal By Carrie Muskat WASHINGTON -- Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward is making slow progress regarding the cut on his left hand, saying Monday that it still needs time to heal. "I'm not to the point where I can do everything swinging yet," Heyward said. "I can't take full [batting practice]. It's getting better every day, but until it gets to the point where I can swing every day, I have to do a little more healing." He hit off a tee for the first time Monday to see how much he could handle. "It's healing, but I can feel every movement in my hand because it's tender, because there's new skin there," Heyward said. He scraped his left hand on the warning track at PNC Park on June 18, and it resulted in a deep cut in the heel of his hand. During the Cubs' series in Miami, he was able to play catch for the first time, but he has done nothing since.

• Cubs shortstop Addison Russell, who had to leave Sunday's game with soreness in his right shoulder, did not start on Monday. "It's not serious, but I don't want to push it," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "We just have to get him on a steady diet of rehab, like a maintenance program. If we do that, we'll have no more issues." Meanwhile, Ben Zobrist, on the disabled list with inflammation in his left wrist, worked out on Monday in Chicago and felt good. "If we get another favorable report back [on Tuesday], there might be some action," Maddon said of Zobrist. "He felt good, no setbacks. Zobrist, you've got to listen to him very carefully." Pitcher Kyle Hendricks (right hand tendinitis), who played catch Saturday and Sunday in Miami, took Monday off and is expected to resume his throwing on Tuesday. • Maddon is scheduled to attend a luncheon on Wednesday as a guest of Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Pennsylvania), who is from the manager's hometown of Hazleton, Pa., and even tried out for a Major League Baseball team once. Maddon also may swing by the White House for a visit. "Who knows? We might end up going over there again," Maddon said. "I'm staying in touch with my boy, Louie." The Cubs went to the White House in January as guests of President Barack Obama, who saluted the World Series champions. • The Cubs recalled infielder Jeimer Candelario from Triple-A Iowa on Monday and optioned right-hander Dylan Floro to the Minor League team. Candelario started at third base. It's the second time Candelario has been added this year; he was called up as the 26th man for a doubleheader on May 9. • The Cubs traded lefty reliever Zac Rosscup to the Rockies for right-hander Matt Carasiti, 25, who has been pitching for Triple-A Albuquerque this season. Carasiti was 1-1 with 13 saves and a 2.37 ERA, striking out 43 over 30 1/3 innings. He made 19 big league relief appearances for the Rockies last year. He was not added to the Cubs' 40-man roster. Rosscup was designated for assignment last week. -- Cubs.com Maddon feeling no pressure in ASG duties By Carrie Muskat WASHINGTON -- The Cubs' Joe Maddon, who will manage the National League team in next month's All-Star Game, isn't looking at stat sheets as he tries to fill out the roster. "There's nothing about the game other than to organize it," Maddon said Monday of his duties for the the 2017 MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, which will be played July 11 in Miami. "It's like a Spring Training game, which is good," Maddon said. "If the game mattered, where it was tied into the World Series, I would put a little more mind into it at this point. The fact that it's purely an exhibition game for me, it's just going to be to find out who the names are, divvy up the playing time as well as we can, make sure we keep a pitcher back, so if we go to extra innings we could play to a conclusion, but otherwise, enjoy myself." This year, the winner of the All-Star Game will not determine who gets home-field advantage for the World Series. Maddon is excited about the event. "I'm looking forward to it," he said.

Last year, the Cubs made history by becoming the second team to have its entire infield start an All-Star Game as Anthony Rizzo, Ben Zobrist, Addison Russell and Kris Bryant were elected to the NL team. Entering the final week of voting this year, only Bryant has a lead at any position. Is there a downside to the All-Star Game? "They want to be there," Maddon said. "They want to be an All-Star, so why would I want to wish against that or work against that in any way? "Go play, go enjoy yourself. If you've earned the right to be there, go be there. ... It's an honor for them to be there, they want to be there, so let's embrace it and promote them." -- ESPNChicago.com A brief history of Anthony Rizzo's magical leadoff run By Jesse Rogers WASHINGTON -- If this is the end of Anthony Rizzo’s incredible run as the Chicago Cubs’ leadoff man, it will go down as a moment in team history that won’t soon be forgotten. But the legend of the self-proclaimed greatest leadoff hitter of all time started with a murky beginning. Rizzo says he has joked about leading off for several years, and manager Joe Maddon accommodated him during some spring training split-squad games. There was even a moment in Colorado, this May, when Maddon said he considered writing Rizzo’s name into the No. 1 spot on his lineup card -- but instead gave Rizzo the day off during a hectic stretch of games and travel. Finally, on June 13, under the bright lights in New York City, the Cubs’ one-week answer to Rickey Henderson stepped into the batter’s box. Rizzo showed up at the plate ready to give the Cubs a boost with no regard to the traditional definition of a leadoff man. Maddon said Rizzo is not impacted by leading off. “He kind of has fun with it,” Maddon said. “He doesn’t look at it in any other way than ‘it’s fun.’” The fun began at Citi Field, where Rizzo took the second pitch he saw as a leadoff man deep for a home run -- and if you were around Rizzo before the game, you would have known it was coming. Kris Bryant: “In the [batting] cage, he was like, ‘I’m going to hit a homer first pitch.’ Calling his shot, basically. It wasn’t a first pitch, but it was still pretty impressive.” There's even visual proof of the called shot, if you know who to ask. Every morning, first base coach Brandon Hyde texts the lineup to the entire team, and according to catcher Miguel Montero, Rizzo quickly texted back to the group, "1-0 guys," when he saw he was leading off. Montero: "I told him I'm going to take a picture of that text because no one will believe me. He said it, and then he did it." Rizzo’s blast paved the way for a much-needed offensive explosion. The Cubs won 14-3 -- but after that first game, Maddon told people to temper their expectations. Little did he know Rizzo’s game-opening magic was just getting started. Maddon: “We did a nice job tonight. Rizzo did a nice job of kick-starting us.”

He would continue to be that engine while keeping it loose in the clubhouse. Game 2 of the Rizzo leadoff experience featured a home run on the first pitch … and Rizzo announcing his place in history. Rizzo: “I’m statistically the greatest leadoff hitter of all time, to lead a game off. I’d like to retire right there.” Maddon: “It’s kind of what I thought would happen with [Kyle] Schwarber [leading off]. Just take that name and cross it out and put Rizzo. It’s the same thing.” In Game 3 of his leadoff experience, Rizzo magic hit another gear -- only to have it taken away. Rizzo rounded the bases after what appeared to be his third straight home run to start a game, this time in Pittsburgh, only to see the umpires rule after the fact that the ball went foul. Rizzo was furious. Maddon got kicked out. But the first at-bat streak didn’t completely die. Rizzo walked. Closer Wade Davis: “Good thing he can walk because he’s not going to be beating out any infield singles.” No, Rizzo probably isn’t going to sit down to discuss the finer points of legging out a single or swiping a bag with Billy Hamilton or Trea Turner at the next leadoff hitter convention. But when he opened his next game with a single, there was no denying that the streak was gaining steam. Two home runs, a walk and a single. Teammates were perking up. Reliever Pedro Strop: “I say leave him, don’t touch him, leave him there. ... He’s so good. He can take a pitch or drive it out. He can do it all.” There was no turning back now. Rizzo’s smile after each first plate appearance told it all. He was loving it -- and so were his teammates. When he doubled on the first pitch he saw in Game 5, the dugout went nuts. Catching coach Mike Borzello: “He asked if I had seen anything like this and I said, ‘Maybe Brady Anderson.’ I remember he was the first guy we would throw first pitch spin [off-speed] to, instead of throwing just a fastball. “Rizzo is the type of guy that steps up for all types of spots he’s put in and I thought, ‘Eh, that’s a pretty good idea.’” More than just a “good idea,” Rizzo’s first at-bat was becoming a must-watch event by the time the leadoff show hit Wrigley Field. He was 5-for-5 starting off games on the road, but now a new wrinkle emerged. Would having to play in the field before his first at-bat slow Chicago’s new No. 1 hitter? Not a chance. Rizzo pulled a fast one on the San Diego Padres, bunting for a hit. The next night, he went back to the power stroke with another leadoff home run, putting an exclamation mark on what would end as a seven-game streak of getting on base to start the game -- one that featured three leadoff long balls, and another denied only by replay. Borzello: “I don’t think anywhere in the order would alter Rizzo’s at-bat. An AB is an AB with him. Most players when they’re shifted in the order they feel like there’s different responsibilities depending on where they’re hitting. Not Rizzo.” And Rizzo wasn’t just sparking the team with his first at-bat magic. In the series against the Padres, he ignited the Cubs with a collision at the plate that brought back memories of the days when Pete Rose was batting leadoff for The Big Red Machine. Davis: “That's Rizz.” And the opposition was taking notice of “Rizz” as the team hit the road for Miami.

Marlins third-base coach Fredi Gonazalez: “I’m turning. I’m changing my mind. Why not? He’s got a great on-base percentage. And he’s hot there.” But Rizzo’s leadoff flame didn’t stay hot much longer. After a four-game stretch without reaching base to start things off, Rizzo passed the torch to another non-typical leadoff hitter in Willson Contreras on Monday night in Washington. And what did Contreras do in his first at-bat in the spot? He hit a home run, of course. But if the catcher falters in the role, No. 44 is only a spot away from again attempting to channel the feel-good first at-bats of the once-greatest leadoff hitter who ever lived. "He'll be back," Maddon smiled and said when asked of Rizzo's future at the top of the order. -- ESPNChicago.com The best is finally here for Javier Baez By Jesse Rogers WASHINGTON -- Leave it to the Chicago Cubs' flashiest player to lead them to one of their best victories of the season, 5-4 over the Washington Nationals on Monday. Shortstop Javier Baez was everywhere in the dramatic win, making key plays on offense and defense. "I love when we participate with that kind of intensity," manager Joe Maddon said after the game. "I'm not saying we haven't, but coming in here against a really good team, under the circumstances, it was kind of fun." Fun is what Baez is all about. First, he snared a line drive by Bryce Harper to end a Washington threat in the third inning, then he struck out three times before getting two hits, including what turned out to be a game-winning RBI double in the ninth. Striking out all those times apparently didn't faze him. "A lot of guys after three punches don't do that kind of stuff," Maddon said. "He has a Teflon finish about him. He's able to move along to the next moment. It doesn't stick." By that point, Baez would have been named first star of the game, but his best was yet to come on defense. In the bottom of the eighth, Adam Lind popped up a ball down the third-base line in foul territory. Baez took off from his shortstop position. Did he really have a chance? "That was stupid good," Maddon said later. "I don't know who else makes that play." Of course he had a chance because there are few plays on which Baez doesn't. He made a sliding catch, much to the delight of another pro-Cubs crowd at Nationals Park. "I just saw the ball the last second," Baez said. "It just went into my glove. I don't know how I caught it." There has been an uptick in the 2016 NLCS co-MVP's game lately, and it is coming just when the Cubs need it most. With injuries piling up, Baez has an increased role and is taking advantage of it. All of a sudden, he's hitting righties and going the opposite way -- his ninth-inning RBI double went to right-center -- and he is playing better in the field. Did we mention his stolen base in the eighth, which allowed teammate Albert Almora Jr. to squeeze him home? Asked about his game in the locker room, Baez gave a sheepish but honest response. "I'm doing good, everywhere," he said with a smile. "Trying to do my best and make my adjustment at the plate. I've been working and working. Finally, it's been paying off again." This is the Baez the Cubs have been waiting for. Perhaps the intensity and drama of a big series with the Nationals are what he and the Cubs are looking for. He said as much.

"Games like this are what we need right now," Baez said. "The Nationals are like St. Louis. Always good competition. ... Before the game, everyone was into it. Go out there, and play hard." Dare we say that Baez sounded like a leader? He is playing like one right now and impressing his manager in the process. Striking out three times but not letting it get to him might have been what Maddon liked the most. "For me, it's probably the epitome of staying in the moment," he said. That's a good description of how the Cubs beat the Nationals with a very young lineup led by a now-quasi veteran. Baez did his job and then some. "I'm just having fun out there," he said. "It worked out tonight." -- ESPNChicago.com Cubs' Willson Contreras hits homer in first at-bat in No. 1 spot By Jesse Rogers Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon moved catcher Willson Contreras to first in the team's batting order Monday, and the unorthodox move paid off. Contreras delivered a leadoff home run against Washington Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez in the Cubs' 5-4 win, but that was just the start of a dramatic night. The game remained 1-0 until a crazy last two innings in which the teams combined for eight runs, with seven coming in the ninth. "It was intense out there," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said after the game. "Our young guys played pretty well under the circumstances." The youth of the victors was part of the storyline. Due to injuries and underperformance -- Kyle Schwarber played his first game at Triple-A Iowa on Monday after being sent down -- Maddon fielded the youngest starting lineup in baseball this season. But the Cubs held their own against a powerful Nationals team. "If this is a spring training lineup, we might get a call," Maddon quipped. In spring training, teams are required to play at least four veterans in every game. With an average age of 24.8 years for players in the starting lineup on Monday, it was easy to see why the Cubs might've been mistaken for a Triple-A team. But they played well, beginning with the leadoff home run. The move to Contreras came as a surprise, as Anthony Rizzo has flourished in his new role at the top of the team's batting order. Rizzo hit a homer in his first at-bat in the No. 1 spot. However, Rizzo was 2-for-20 off Gonzalez going into Monday's game, so Maddon chose to let him watch an at-bat, hence Contreras' getting the first crack at Gonzalez. The Cubs played great defense behind that 1-0 lead. Javier Baez made two spectacular catches, the second of which might have been his best ever. He ran far into foul territory down the third-base line before sliding to catch a popup off the bat of Adam Lind in a critical eighth inning. "That was stupid good," Maddon said. "I don't know who else makes that play." But like most of this season for the Cubs, the win would not come easily. Up 5-0 in the ninth inning, relievers Hector Rondon and Wade Davis combined to give up four runs before Ryan Zimmerman struck out with the tying run at third and the winning run at second.

"To play so well and not win that game, that would have been awful," Maddon said. "That would have been tough. I cannot disagree with that thought." As for the leadoff spot, Contreras and Rizzo have both homered in their first career at-bat leading off a game. Rizzo will be back at the top of the order on Tuesday, Maddon said. The Cubs have used eight leadoff hitters, tied for the most in baseball. Their run to start Monday's game turned out to be the difference after a crazy finish. "We played really well," Maddon said. "We pitched really well. Arguably one of our best pitchers [Davis] had the roughest night." -- CSNChicago.com Cubs Show Why They Are Defending Champs While Nationals Still Have Something To Prove By Patrick Mooney WASHINGTON – The Cubs already visited the White House. The Washington Nationals are still the team with so much more to prove. Dusty Baker needs this October to cement his spot in Cooperstown, the way Joe Maddon put the final bullet point on his Hall of Fame resume. Bryce Harper and Kris Bryant took different routes out of Las Vegas, but only one has the World Series ring to go with the Rookie of the Year/MVP hardware. While the clock is ticking on Max Scherzer and that championship parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, the Jon Lester megadeal essentially paid for itself. Cubs vs. Nationals is supposed to be a circle-your-calendar event. Except the Cubs rolled out a Cactus League lineup on Monday night and Nationals Park featured rows and rows of empty seats amid a crowd of 29,651 where the celebrity vibe became more George Will than A-Rod and J-Lo. The Cubs still hung on for a 5-4 victory that might have been their best under-the-circumstances win in a season that will hit the halfway point this weekend, showing why they’re the defending champs. “It is exciting – don’t get me wrong,” Maddon said. “It’s just that we’re attending with a different group than we thought we would be attending this party with. “And that’s OK, because these guys now are getting the kind of experience that is going to be very beneficial to us in August and September.” A rash of injuries forced the Cubs to start Jeimer Candelario at third base and Mark Zagunis in right field and Javier Baez kept making highlight-reel plays while Addison Russell rested his sore right shoulder, leaping to grab to a Harper line drive and racing across the left-field line and sliding into the wall to make another spectacular catch in foul territory. “Games like this is what we need right now – competition,” said Baez, who struck out in his first three at-bats and finished at 2-for-5. “Playing tight games like this will make us make adjustments better and be more in the game.” With Kyle Schwarber more than 1,000 miles away in Des Moines and hitting the reset button at Triple-A Iowa, Willson Contreras became the leadoff hitter of the day and launched Gio Gonzalez’s fifth pitch of the game into the left-field seats. The young Cubs manufactured their next run in the eighth inning when Baez stole third base and scored on Albert Almora Jr.’s perfectly placed bunt into the no man’s land between the pitcher’s mound and the first-base line. The bullpen is Washington’s Achilles’ heel and showed with a three-run meltdown in the ninth inning. Eddie Butler – who began the season in the Iowa rotation – neutralized a powerful Washington lineup while getting just one strikeout in five innings. Maddon pushed a lot of bullpen buttons, not going to Wade Davis for a four-out save and then summoning the All-Star closer when Hector Rondon couldn’t work with a five-run cushion.

In a dramatic finish, Davis survived giving up three hits, a walk and a wild pitch, striking out Ryan Zimmerman with a curveball to end a game that lasted 3 hours and 54 minutes. “To play so well and not win that game would have really been awful,” Maddon said. The Cubs needed this with Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg looming the next two nights. But for all of their talent and regular-season dominance – three division titles since 2012 and close to a 100-win pace this year – the Nationals still haven’t won a playoff series in a city where the Senators once won it all in 1924. This could be an epic matchup in October, bursting with stars and pumping with bad blood. Just listen to Baker during his pregame media briefing, responding to a question about a power hitter like Anthony Rizzo batting leadoff: “I ain’t worried about the Cubs. They can do their thing.” Or Baker dismissing Maddon’s mind games and the possibility of intentionally walking Harper when Zimmerman is a Triple Crown contender: “It’s a new time and a new day.” The last word from Maddon, who keeps insisting the 39-37 Cubs have a hot streak in them and that he digs the youth movement: “If this was a spring training lineup, we might get a call.” -- CSNChicago.com Jason Heyward: Banged-Up Cubs Ready To Be Tested Vs. Nationals By Patrick Mooney WASHINGTON – The cut on Jason Heyward’s left hand has been compared to a third-degree burn, an injury that would have required stiches if the skin had not ripped off already. The Cubs can’t count on their Gold Glove outfielder – or their World Series MVP (Ben Zobrist) or ERA titleholder (Kyle Hendricks) – for this four-game showdown against the Washington Nationals. All-Star shortstop Addison Russell didn’t start Monday night while dealing with a sore right shoulder, taking more juice out of this potential playoff preview at Nationals Park. “Every day’s a test, regardless of whether we’re healthy or not,” Heyward said after taking about 15 swings off a tee. “Bottom line, every team goes through tests. Every single season, guys get hurt. And whoever’s there at the end of the year in the playoffs, they handled that the best and was able to weather that storm the best. “This team’s no different. Every single day, you’re expected to win. We expect each other to win and go out there and try to find a way to get it done every day. There’s going to be more tests, but that’s what you want.” The next step for Heyward would be getting cleared to take a full batting practice. “It’s getting better every day,” Heyward said, “but until it gets to the point where I can swing every day and take BP, I just got to do a little more waiting and healing.” Heyward – who sliced open his hand while trying to make a sliding catch in foul territory on June 18 – is eligible to be activated from the 10-day disabled list on Thursday but would probably need some at-bats in the minors first. “We’ll let you know,” Heyward said. “I don’t do ‘probablys.’ I probably wouldn’t have wanted to be on the DL, either, but we’ll see what happens.” --

CSNChicago.com Cubs Manager Joe Maddon Working On Another Potential White House Visit By Patrick Mooney WASHINGTON – Less than six months after the Cubs toured the White House as one of the final stops on their World Series victory tour, manager Joe Maddon is angling for another visit to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Maddon’s childhood friend from Hazleton, Congressman Lou Barletta, is working to arrange a private tour this week while the Cubs are in Washington for a four-game showdown against the first-place Nationals. “I’m staying in touch with my boy Louie,” Maddon said Monday. “Who knows? We might end up going over there again.” This wouldn’t be the East Room spectacle the Cubs enjoyed in January, when President Barack Obama’s final official White House event became a kind of farewell gift to his staffers with Chicago connections. Barletta, a Pennsylvania Republican who made immigration a central part of his platform as Hazleton mayor, declined a position in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet. Barletta asked Maddon, who stays involved with his hometown through his Hazleton Integration Project, to attend a luncheon on Wednesday for young Republicans. “And then maybe something else will be in the making after that,” Maddon said. “But for right now, the one thing I got in my back pocket is Louie.” --