August 3, 2015 CSNChicago.com Cubs ride momentum into showdown with Pirates thinking playoffs By Patrick Mooney MILWAUKEE – The Cubs didn’t want to cash in all their trade chips for a two-month rental at the deadline when the best-case scenario might be facing Gerrit Cole on the road in a one-game playoff. The Cubs will miss the Pittsburgh Pirates ace during a huge three-game series that begins Monday night at PNC Park, but a young team will still get a feel for playing at that high level. “I love it,” manager Joe Maddon said. “To really ascend in a division, you have to play the better teams within your group and beat them. And to beat them where they live also is important, too. It’s really kind of fun. I think it’s a blast.” The Cubs ride into Pittsburgh with a sense of momentum after Sunday’s 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, sweeping this four-game series at Miller Park and thinking about October. That pushed the Cubs to 10 games over the .500 mark for the first time this season – and into a tie with the San Francisco Giants for the National League’s second wild-card position. The defending World Series champs open a four-game series at Wrigley Field on Thursday night. After this week, everyone should have a much better idea about whether or not the Cubs (57-47) really are contenders. “They’ve been there, done that,” Maddon said. “No question. But at the same time, if you get a bunch of hungry guys coming on, that could be a pretty good position to be in, too.” The Cubs got a quality spot start from Clayton Richard (one run allowed in six innings) on Sunday afternoon, wringing another win out of a guy who spent most of this season pitching for Pittsburgh’s Triple-A affiliate. The Cubs are able to line up their most accomplished pitchers – Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta and Dan Haren – for a Pirates team (61-43) that’s four games up in the wild-card race. “We’re confident here that this group can get it done,” Arrieta said. “We just need to be conscious and aware of those moments when focus might start to slip mentally through the course of the game. Limit the mental mistakes. Make the plays we’re supposed to make and pitch a little bit. If we do that, we’ll be fine.” Even if winning the division appears to be out of reach for a third-place team that trails the St. Louis Cardinals by 9.5 games, there’s still value in feeling the heat of a pennant race. It’s all part of what the Cubs are trying to build here.

Forget all the rookies in the lineup and think about it this way: In his career, Anthony Rizzo has now played in almost as many All-Star Games (two) as meaningful games after the July 31 trade deadline (three). “You have to stretch your mind once to get to the playoffs,” Maddon said. “And then moving beyond that, it becomes more believable on an annual basis and it’s something (where) you won’t settle for anything less than that on an annual basis. It’s all part of the maturation process of the team. It’s all there.” -- CSNChicago.com Cubs: Kris Bryant undergoes concussion-protocol testing after hustle play By Patrick Mooney MILWAUKEE – Kris Bryant felt dizzy and walked off the field in the middle of Sunday afternoon’s game at Miller Park, the Cubs trying to protect their All-Star rookie. That cast a shadow over this four-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers, even as the Cubs moved to 10 games over .500 for the first time all season, heading into showdowns with two National League contenders. Bryant had slid headfirst into second base, trying to stretch an RBI single in the fifth inning of a 4-3 win over the Brewers. That hustle play forced him to undergo concussion-protocol testing. “I’m feeling better,” Bryant said, “and we’ll see what it feels like tomorrow.” Bryant hadn’t seen the video by the time he met with reporters inside the visiting clubhouse. It looked like Brewers shortstop Jean Segura tagged his helmet hard during the collision. “I think I went into his leg,” Bryant said. “I don’t know if it was the tag or anything like that.” The Cubs (57-47) obviously need Bryant’s presence for the seven-games-in-seven-days stretch against the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants that begins Monday night at PNC Park. “He’s a little bit dizzy at the moment,” manager Joe Maddon said. “He got banged a little bit on the slide, popped in the head. “We took him out (as a precaution). I think he’s going to be fine.” There have been times where Bryant looks like he’s about to crash into the rookie wall, hitting .168 in July and feeling the weight of carrying the offensive load. But Bryant and All-Star first baseman Anthony Rizzo lead the team with 61 RBI each. Bryant began the day with a .791 OPS that ranked seventh among all qualified third basemen in the majors. The Brewers challenged the play, but the replay review upheld the safe call on the field. Bryant keeps finding ways to contribute with aggressive baserunning, patience at the plate and better-than-advertised defense, even with his average dropping to .246. “He’s one of the best baserunners in the National League right now,” Maddon said. “I really want him to understand all these other things he’s doing really, really well. “Big hit today, obviously, but it goes beyond that. He understands playing the complete game. That’s another typical example of the different things he does to help you win every day.” --

CSNChicago.com Leaning toward retirement, Dan Haren will make playoff push for Cubs By Patrick Mooney MILWAUKEE — Dan Haren is leaning toward retirement after making these 11 high-pressure starts for the Cubs. “I would say right now the chances are that this will probably be it,” Haren said Sunday morning inside Miller Park’s visiting clubhouse. “But I don’t want to say this is it and then pull a Brett Favre.” The fact that Haren is still pitching — as a hired gun for the Cubs in a pennant race — is sort of crazy. Considering that Theo Epstein’s front office let the Carlos Marmol deal with the Los Angeles Angels collapse over concerns about Haren’s medical background after the 2012 season. The Cubs probably would have flipped Haren for prospects during the middle of a 96-loss season, which saw Marmol lose the closer’s job in early April 2013. Now the Cubs are banking on Haren to stabilize their rotation, acquiring the battle-tested veteran from the Miami Marlins during the final hours before the July 31 trade deadline. Haren — a bright, easy-going guy who stood in front of his locker chatting with reporters — hasn’t spoken to any Cubs officials about why they killed that trade with the Angels. “I exchanged some texts with Theo the last few days,” Haren said. “He expressed how excited he was to have me. But, no, I never really revisited that. I still don’t know the particulars of what went down. “I don’t know if my medical reports were bad. But I’ve always taken pride in making all my starts. I’ve made a lot of starts for a lot of years in a row. I’ve had a knack throughout my career for pitching every five days, no matter what.” Haren — who will turn 35 in September — is now on track to hit 30 starts and double-digit victories for the 11th consecutive season. Three years ago, the Cubs had reservations about how his hip and back would hold up (conditions that might be traced back to when he pitched at Pepperdine University). “I’ve had issues, but nothing that’s kept me off the field,” Haren said. “When you have as many innings as I’ve had, and as much wear and tear, the medical report’s going to be pretty long when you get to this point in my career. “It might scare some people. But at this point, I’m here for two months, and I plan on making all my starts. I’ll make the most of the time here, for sure.” Haren went 7-7 with a 3.42 ERA in 21 starts for the Marlins, getting by with guts, experience and the diminished velocity reflected on his Twitter handle: @ithrow88. “I know I’m not the flamethrower I once was,” Haren said, “but I’ve gotten a lot smarter as a pitcher. I’ve gotten a lot better at putting together scouting reports and sticking to them and being able to locate pitches. “I expect to do the same thing I’ve pretty much been doing all year, which is (keeping) the team in the game almost every time I’m out there. We got a young, exciting offense. It will be fun to get out there.” Haren, a three-time All-Star, will make his first start in a Cubs uniform on Wednesday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. There were bigger names, longer-term assets and harder throwers out there, but the Cubs needed someone with that bulldog mentality. “The Marlins weren’t really going anywhere,” Haren said, “so I’m definitely thankful for the Cubs grabbing me and putting me in a pennant race.” --

CSNChicago.com Joe Maddon: Cubs in no rush to promote Javier Baez By Patrick Mooney MILWAUKEE — Joe Maddon says the Cubs are in no rush to promote Javier Baez from Triple-A Iowa and potentially shake up their middle infield. “The overall message I’m hearing is that our guys really want to make sure that he just gets it going,” Maddon said before Sunday’s 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. After Kris Bryant left that game as a precaution, feeling dizzy from a hard headfirst slide, the manager sounded optimistic about his All-Star third baseman: “We believe he’s fine.” Maddon lobbied for Baez to make the Opening Day roster, believing that Javy Being Javy would bring enough to the table in terms of speed, defense and baseball IQ to overcome any readjustment period to big-league pitching. But Baez needed an extended leave of absence after his sister’s death in April and fractured a finger while trying to steal a base in early June. The Cubs could still use his Gary Sheffield bat speed at some point during a pennant race, especially with All-Star shortstop Starlin Castro going through such a frustrating season. “(It’s) the fact that he missed so much time,” Maddon said. “Right now, we’re OK. Obviously, if there’s an injury, then that could accelerate maybe, possibly. But for right now, though, I think our guys are pretty comfortable with the work that he’s getting and the progress he’s making — and not to really rush into it.” The Cubs still have the Baez option because they didn’t make the deadline trade for pitching with the San Diego Padres (Tyson Ross) or Cleveland Indians (Carlos Carrasco) that probably would have included the 22-year-old infielder as a centerpiece. Baez homered twice last week during his first game back with Iowa. He’s gone 7-for-23 with eight RBI — and 10 strikeouts — through five Triple-A games since returning from the injury. The Cubs hope Bryant’s concussion-like symptoms won’t linger. Either way, Baez appears to be playing his way into next-man-up discussions. “The kid’s had a difficult year,” Maddon said. “But he’s going to make an impact, possibly in the near future, definitely in the future. I am happy that he’s here. He’s a really talented baseball player. “He could be very impactful moving down the road. Things happen, too, injury-wise. Depth is always a good thing to have. And having a kid like that around can really make a difference.” -- Chicago Tribune Pirates, Giants to put Cubs' playoff hopes to the test By Mark Gonzales MILWAUKEE — While the Cubs appear to be falling short of Anthony Rizzo's lofty winter prediction that they'd win the National League Central, the chance to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2008 will be scrutinized this week against the Pirates and Giants, two seasoned playoff teams. "There's definitely an advantage," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of experience of the Pirates and World Series champion Giants. "But at the same time, you got a bunch of hungry guys coming on. That could be, in of itself, a pretty good position to be in."

Thanks to a five-game winning streak, the Cubs believe they're primed for the final eight weeks following a 4-3 win over the Brewers on Sunday that capped their first four-game sweep of the Brewers since 2008. The Cubs are four games behind the Pirates for the NL wild card but have pulled even with the Giants for the second wild-card berth with 58 games left. Their only immediate issue involves rookie third baseman Kris Bryant, who will be re-examined before Monday night's series opener at Pittsburgh. Bryant left Sunday's game in the fifth inning after experiencing dizziness due to a headfirst slide that carried him into a hard tag by shortstop Jean Segura. "I'm feeling better," said Bryant, who spoke deliberately during a two-minute interview. Maddon was optimistic Bryant would be ready Monday and raved about his decision to advance to second after hitting an RBI single that resulted in the collision. "He's one of the best baserunners in the National League," Maddon said. This marks an important time for the Cubs, as Maddon wants his players to set the playoffs as a goal as the franchise seeks sustained success with four rookies in the lineup. "You have to stretch your mind to get to the playoffs, and then moving beyond that, it becomes more believable on an annual basis," Maddon said. "It's something you won't settle for anything less than that on an annual basis. It's all part of the maturation process. It's all there." Addison Russell made his major league debut at PNC Park on April 21, and he showed signs Sunday of distancing himself from his past struggles at the plate by smacking a home run off the batter's eye in center field in the second inning. "What's done is done, but I look forward to the future," said Russell, who has hit safely in seven of his last eight games and is batting .286 since the All-Star break. Russell credited hitting coach John Mallee for making an adjustment in his batting stance that has helped him hit the ball with more authority. Maddon has kept a short- and long-term view of his rotation, which he believes lines up well against the Pirates with ace Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta and newcomer Dan Haren scheduled to face three left-handers. At the same time, Lester and Haren are the only current members of the rotation who have pitched at least 200 innings in a season, and Maddon said he started monitoring the pitch counts of Arrieta since he threw a 122-pitch shutout June 22 at Minnesota. Arrieta enters Tuesday's start with 1402/3 innings. 'Never having (pitched 200 innings) before, that's another thing that matters," Maddon said. "And then there are playoff innings to be had. It's interesting." -- Chicago Tribune Sunday's recap: Cubs 4, Brewers 3 By Mark Gonzales Clayton Richard pitched six innings of one-run ball and hit an RBI double Sunday as the Cubs held on for a 4-3 victory over the Brewers. Closer Hector Rondon allowed three hits in the ninth before retiring Logan Schafer on a

line drive to center field with the tying run at second to end the game. Kris Bryant left after experiencing dizzy spells after sliding into Jean Segura at second base in the fifth. At the plate Before his injury, Bryant poked a single to center on a 2-2 pitch to score Kyle Schwarber with the Cubs' fourth run. On the mound After allowing a single to Adam Lind, Richard retired the final 10 batters he faced. In the field Shortstop Starlin Castro committed a fielding error with two outs in the ninth, extending the Brewers' rally. Pivotal at-bat Castro poked an outside pitch into right field for a single that moved Jorge Soler to second in the fourth. Clayton Richard followed with an RBI double. Key number 4 – Ejections by manager Joe Maddon this season. The quote "I'm along for the ride. I'll go wherever they tell me. Hopefully I keep getting opportunities." — Richard Up next At Pirates, 6:05 p.m. Monday, CSN. -- Chicago Tribune More minor league seasoning for Javier Baez By Mark Gonzales The Cubs are likely to make a roster move after Sunday’s game, but it might be a while before infield slugger Javier Baez is promoted from Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs have discussed various options regarding the makeup of their roster and playing time. The biggest issue concerning Baez, who is batting .343 (12-for-35) with two home runs and nine RBIs since his return from a fracture of his left ring finger, is that he’s assured of consistent playing time when he rejoins the Cubs. “The overall message I’m hearing is that our guys want to make sure he gets it going,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “The fact he missed so much time (due to the death of his sister and the injury), right now we’re OK. “Obviously, if there’s an injury, we can accelerate it. For right now, I think our guys are very comfortable with the work he’s getting and the progress he’s making.” The Cubs could opt to promote a right-handed hitter from Iowa since they’re scheduled to face three left-handed starters in Pittsburgh. --

Chicago Tribune Dan Haren's arrival, Miguel Montero's return will alter Cubs roster By Mark Gonzales MILWAUKEE — The Cubs will wait until Monday before making any roster moves that could have short- and long-term ramifications. After pitching six innings of one-run ball Sunday against the Brewers, left-hander Clayton Richard accompanied the team on its flight to Pittsburgh. Richard will lose his rotation spot to Dan Haren, but the Cubs would like to keep Richard, whom they'd risk losing to waivers if they take him off the roster. But if he remains on the roster, the Cubs would have only three bench players entering Monday night's National League Central showdown at Pittsburgh. "I've been in the game long enough to understand not to assume a role or position, especially when a team is in (a playoff race)," Richard said. Meanwhile, catcher Miguel Montero could rejoin the team by Thursday against the Giants. The Cubs were exploring ways to find more playing time for rookie catcher Kyle Schwarber (likely left field), which would result in a shift around the outfield and perhaps infield. Manager Joe Maddon wouldn't elaborate on scenarios until he had talked to every person affected by the potential moves. In the meantime, infielder Javier Baez is likely to remain at Triple-A Iowa until the Cubs can find a way to assure him of regular playing time. Baez is batting .343 (12-for-35) with two home runs and nine RBIs since his return from a fracture of his left ring finger, Win one for Haren: These could be the final months in the big leagues for the newly acquired Haren. "I would say right now the chances are this probably would be it," said Haren, in his 13th season. "But I don't want to say this is it and then pull a Brett Favre." The Cubs nearly acquired Haren, 34, from the Angels after the 2012 season for Carlos Marmol, but the deal fell apart allegedly because of lower back and hip issues. "When you have as many innings (2,3611/3) as I've had and as much wear and tear, medical reports are going to be long when you get to this point in my career." said Haren, who has made at least 30 starts in 10 consecutive seasons. "It might scare some people." Extra innings: Maddon said he was confused over the specifics of a review that led to his ejection in the third inning. ... Catcher Taylor Teagarden was designated for assignment to make room for Richard. --

Chicago Tribune Dan Haren glad to escape Marlins, join Cubs By Mark Gonzales One of the first text messages pitcher Dan Haren received after his trade from the Miami Marlins to the Chicago Cubs came from catcher Miguel Montero, who caught Haren with the Arizona Diamondbacks. “He already wanted me to stay at his place,” Haren said Sunday. “I don’t know if I can handle that much of him. I like to sleep a little, too.” Haren was joking about being reunited with Montero, but Haren was more than delighted to escape from the Marlins, who dealt some of their veterans after falling out of contention in May and firing manager Mike Redmond. “It was a rough situation,” said Haren, 34, who is leaning toward retirement after this season. “It definitely wasn’t what we all planned. But I feel bad for a lot of the players there, especially a lot of the older players. "Going into the year with so many expectations and the last few days it blew up with a lot of veterans gone and a few left has got to be rough. I’m definitely happy to be here.” Another perk to joining the Cubs is that Haren will have nearly three weeks to get settled in Chicago before embarking on a six-game trip to San Francisco and Los Angeles at the end of August. Haren grew up in Southern California and excelled at Pepperdine. “One of the first things I saw was the schedule,” Haren said. “I’m excited we’re going back West.” Haren will make his Cubs debut Wednesday night at Pittsburgh. -- Chicago Sun-Times Motivated Dan Haren plans 'to make the most' of playoff chance with Cubs By Gordon Wittenmyer MILWAUKEE – Almost three years later, newly acquired Dan Haren doesn’t seem to care why the Cubs backed out of the deal the first time they traded for him. “I never really revisited that,” the veteran right-hander said of the Carlos Marmol-for-Haren deal the Cubs struck with the Angels soon after the 2012 season — before the Cubs nixed the deal over concerns with his back and hip after reviewing his medical records. “I’ve had some issues but nothing’s kept me off the field,” said Haren, 34, who has made 83 starts with a 4.09 ERA in 2 2/3 seasons since then – leading up to Friday’s deadline trade from the Marlins. “I’ve always taken pride in making all my starts. I’ve made a lot of starts for a lot of years in a row, so I’ve had a knack throughout my career for pitching every five days no matter what. “I’m here for two months and I plan on making all my starts. I’ll make the most of the time here for sure.” Those 11 starts figure to be huge for the Cubs, who have struggled filling the back end of their rotation all season. The first one comes Wednesday in Pittsburgh.

They might be just as big personally for Haren, who is leaning toward retirement after this season. He has been in the postseason twice in his career (2004, 2006), pitching in one World Series, on the losing end with the Cardinals in ’04. “Right now the chances are that this will probably be it,” said Haren (7-7, 3.42). “I don’t want to say this is it, and then pull a Brett Favre or something. That’s why I say probably. “But I definitely want to make a push to get where this team really wants to go.” Haren doesn’t throw especially hard anymore, and he doesn’t hide the fact, with a Twitter hand of “ithrow88.” “But he can pitch, man,” said former Diamondbacks teammate Miguel Montero, raving about Haren’s mix of speeds and location. “And we add another bat to the lineup when he pitches, because he can hit,” Montero said. Whatever Haren has left in the tank, he figures to be recharged and invigorated by the mere departure from Miami’s dysfunctional team culture and lost team morale. “It was a rough situation,” he said of a Marlins team that fired its manager and installed the general manager (Dan Jennings) as a manager-GM. “It definitely wasn’t what we all had planned. And I feel bad for a lot of the players there, especially the older players, because you go into the year with so much expectation, and the last few days they just blew up the team. “I’m definitely happy to be here.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Wild-card week for Cubs vs. Pirates, Giants after Milwaukee sweep By Gordon Wittenmyer MILWAUKEE – Now that all the preliminaries are out of the way, let the games begin for the Cubs. They’ve taken care of business for four months, including a four-game sweep of the depleted Brewers in Milwaukee, finishing it off with a 4-3 victory at Miller Park on Sunday. Sunday’s victory, behind the six innings of spot starter Clayton Richard, closed out a 20-game stretch against losing teams in which the Cubs went 11-9 – finishing with five straight victories and reaching 10 games over .500 for the first time since 2008. Now comes the more intense heat of August, what manager Joe Maddon suggests might be the biggest challenge of the season for his young team. It starts with a week of games against playoff-tested Pittsburgh and San Francisco that could be an early windsock for the Cubs’ direction down the stretch. “I love it. I think it’s great,” said Maddon, whose team on Sunday caught the Giants in the race for the National League’s second wild card spot – and trail the Pirates by five games for the first wild-card spot. “To really ascend in a division you have to play the better teams within your group and beat them. “And to beat them where they live is important, too. It’s really kind of fun. I think it’s a blast.” It’s a different Pirates team than the one the Cubs last saw in May, as Maddon pointed out Sunday. Three days after the Cubs’ last meeting with Pittsburgh – in the Cubs’ series victory at Wrigley Field – the Pirates dropped to 18-22.

They’re 43-21 (.672) since then. The Cubs are 35-30 over the same stretch – but they’re also a team with a different look, with rookie Kyle Schwarber in the everyday lineup and two new pitchers added in deadline trades Friday. Whether they have Kris Bryant for Monday’s series opener will depend on how he fares when he’s examined again for concussion symptoms Monday morning. Bryant left the game in the fifth inning after hitting his head on shortstop Jean Segura’s led on a head-first slide, and said he felt better after the game. He hasn’t been diagnosed with a concussion, and the Cubs are optimistic that’ll remain the case Monday. The biggest difference between the Cubs and Pirates – and the Cubs and Giants – is the October track records that figure to measure the Cubs this week. “There’s definitely an advantage,” said Maddon, who took the Tampa Bay Rays to all four of their playoff appearances during his nine years managing there. “Been there, done that – when it comes to winning, no question [it’s an advantage]. “But at the same time, you’ve got a bunch of hungry guys coming on, which could be, in and of itself, a pretty good position to be in, too.” By their own internal projections, the Cubs are a year ahead of schedule on the Theo Epstein-Jed Hoyer rebuilding plan. Assuming a healthy increase in baseball operations resources for 2016, the development of the young core and another big addition or two from the outside could make next year a season of bona fide big expectations. The guys in the clubhouse aren’t giving up on the big expectations this year. But World Series or not, just getting to the playoffs – even if it’s a one-and-done appearance as the second wild card – could pay off in a big way. In a been-there, done-that way. “The mind once stretched, man,” said Maddon, referring to one of his favorite sayings about that stretched mind having “a very difficult time going back to its original form.” “You have to stretch your mind once, to get to the playoffs, and then moving beyond that, it becomes more believable on an annual basis, and it’s something where you won’t settle for anything less than that on an annual basis.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs optimistic Kris Bryant escaped injury after hard hit to head By Gordon Wittenmyer MILWAUKEE – The Cubs believe they’ve dodged a serious head injury Sunday with All-Star rookie Kris Bryant, but his status for Monday’s opener in a key series in Pittsburgh was in question, pending more concussion tests Monday morning. “At the moment we believe he’s fine,” manager Joe Maddon said. Bryant, who said after the game he felt better, was smacked on the helmet by shortstop Jean Segura’s tag on a head-first slide into second in the fifth inning of Sunday’s 4-3 win over the Brewers. The momentum of his slide then created more contact with Segura. Bryant, who was taken from the game as a precaution, said he wasn’t sure what part of Segura banged his head. “He got popped in the head a little bit and was a little dizzy,” Maddon said. “I think he’s going to be fine, actually.”

Bryant got through the concussion protocol Sunday but must pass more tests Monday to be cleared to play. Asked if he thought he’d be able to play Monday, Bryant said, “We’ll see where we’re at [Monday].” Last month, Cubs catcher David Ross spent a little over a week on the 7-day concussion DL. -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs: What's next for Clayton Richard, Javy Baez and catchers? By Gordon Wittenmyer MILWAUKEE – Clayton Richard, who looked as impressive Sunday as he has in any of his three starts for the Cubs, faces the possibility of being designated for assignment for the second time by the club – which filled its fifth-starter role with Friday’s trade for Dan Haren. After clearing waivers the first time, he agreed to re-sign with the Cubs, with assurances he would get a chance to return to the rotation. Whether he would agree to a third stint with the club via the same process is anything but certain, given Haren’s presence. Richard, who was originally acquired July 3 for $1 from the Pittsburgh Pirates, pitched six innings Sunday, allowing just one run on five hits to beat the Brewers 4-3 as the Cubs finished off a four-game sweep. He also doubled home a run in the fourth. The Cubs want to find a way to keep Richard (2-0, 3.00 ERA in three starts) and won’t make any roster decisions regarding him until at least Monday. He traveled with the team to Pittsburgh. “We’re discussing all the different [options],” Maddon said. “I’m along for the ride,” said Richard, 31. “I go wherever they tell me. Hopefully, I keep getting opportunities, and I’ll try to make the most of them.” Catching dilemma? Catcher Miguel Montero, who’s on the disabled list with a sprained thumb, started a minor-league rehab assignment Sunday, and Maddon predicted he would need only three, or possibly four rehab games before being activated. How they’ll work the catching rotation is anything but certain, considering Kyle Schwarber’s impact in the lineup since being promoted when Montero went on the DL. “The challenge will be to keep Shwarbs’ bat in the lineup as often as possible,” said Maddon, who has started the rookie catcher in left field twice in the last week. “We’re talking about different things right now, and I don’t want to elaborate too much because we’ve got to talk to a lot of different people, including the guys that will be impacted.” No rush for Javy Despite widespread speculation, slugging AAA shortstop Javy Baez is not on the Cubs’ radar for anything close to an imminent promotion. “Obviously, if there’s an injury, that could accelerate it maybe, possibly,” Maddon said. “But right now I believe our guys are pretty comfortable with the work that he’s getting, and the progress that he’s making, with [no plans] to really rush him yet.” --

Daily Herald Chicago Cubs trades are stabilizers, not blockbusters By Connor McKnight All summer long it was clear the Cubs needed to trade for starting pitching. Up against the deadline and seemingly having explored the potential of adding controllable arms at the expense of some of their prized young hitters, the Cubs added Dan Haren to the rotation and Tommy Hunter to the bullpen. No, those names don't set the world on fire. The idea here is that Haren and Hunter become stabilizing forces for a roster that's being counted on to find itself. Joe Maddon has used five different starters in an effort to round out the rotation. At worst, Haren is a guy who can eat innings and shoulder some of the workload the bullpen has had to withstand after subpar starts from guys like Dallas Beeler and Clayton Richard. Haren is on leader boards in two stats. At the deadline, his 21 starts leave him tied with a host of others, with the second most starts in baseball. The guys takes the baseball and lasts a while; Haren's gone at least six innings in 17 of those 21 starts. Unfortunately, Haren has surrendered 21 home runs this season. Only seven pitchers have allowed more. The hope is that Haren's luck holds out. His fastball velocity has dipped to the mid-80s and he's giving up fly balls at an alarming rate -- not great for warm, windy Wrigley. If the best effect he has on the club is eating innings to give just a little more rest to a bullpen every fifth day, it's better than what Maddon had to work with before. Sure, the haul could have been bigger. VP Theo Epstein said he was looking primarily at two players, neither of whom moved, and are both controllable beyond the 2015 season. Pretty easy to piece together widespread reports of Padres' starter Tyson Ross and Indians starter Carlos Carrasco as the two players. While many wanted those names, or perhaps even bigger, it would have taken big pieces to get them. (Of note, most of the prospects moved in the last few days were pitchers -- not something the Cubs have much of). There's a move that wasn't made, however, that needs some attention. Starlin Castro remains a Cub. With each assurance made to Castro about his place on the team, another report surfaced about his imminent inclusion in any big deal. Whether the Cubs overplayed their hand including Castro in trade talks almost irrelevant. The fact is, selling a short stop in a career-worst season at age 25 is near impossible. There was no reason to rush him off the team, either. His value can only go up from rock-bottom. If Epstein and Jed Hoyer are bent on moving him, better to wait until the offseason. Even a game from a wild card spot and playoff contention tantalizingly close, the most important thing is letting the roster -- the kids -- find themselves at the major league level. -- Cubs.com Cubs hold off Brewers to complete sweep By Carrie Muskat MILWAUKEE -- Addison Russell smacked a solo home run to back Clayton Richard, who helped himself by hitting an RBI double, leading the Cubs to a 4-3 victory Sunday over the Brewers to complete a four-game sweep. With the win, the Cubs now are 10 games over .500 (57-47).

"It's good to get 10 plus," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "The goal then is to get 15." Making his fourth start with the Cubs, Richard scattered five hits over six innings. The lefty also doubled in the fourth, his first hit in eight at-bats with the team. The Brewers now have lost each of Kyle Lohse's last five starts, and he has taken the loss in four of them. This is the first time the Cubs have swept a four-game series against the Brewers since July 28-31, 2008, at Miller Park. The Cubs had a minor scare in the fifth when rookie Kris Bryant had to leave after a headfirst slide into second base. Bryant was dizzy and removed as a precautionary measure. MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Second to none: Russell seems to have caught a second wind since the All-Star break. Since the time off, the rookie is batting .286 (16-for-56), including his home run with two outs in the second. He now has 28 RBIs, and 18 of those have come with two outs. "I'm seeing the ball well," Russell said. "Even my outs are aggressive." Double-double: Ryan Braun collected two doubles in his first two at-bats, giving him 19 on the season. He picked up Milwaukee's first hit of the game with a sharp grounder that narrowly stayed inside the first-base bag and smacked a one-hopper off the left-field wall two innings later. It was the 31st time in Braun's career hitting two doubles in a game and second time this season. The Brewers were unable to drive Braun in, though, continuing their recent offensive woes. "You take away three of our best five or six hitters, it's going to make it more challenging," Braun said speaking of Carlos Gomez, Gerardo Parra and Aramis Ramirez who were traded in July. "But I think for all of us you have to embrace the challenge." Start me up: Recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, Richard made the most of his start, his fourth with the Cubs. The lefty will be reassigned to make room on the roster for recently acquired starter Dan Haren. Richard also hit an RBI double in the fourth. Haren was not available because his last start with the Marlins was Thursday. He'll make his Cubs debut Wednesday against the Pirates. "I'm along for the ride," the lefty said. "I'll go wherever they tell me. Hopefully, I keep getting opportunities and will try to make the most of them. I really have no control over when that is. I'll do my best to prepare for whenever that is." Short outing: Lohse's 4 1/3 innings was his third-shortest start of the season and Chicago's four runs off the right-hander raised his ERA to 6.31. Russell's home run was the 25th Lohse has allowed in 2015, ranking him second in the National League behind Colorado's Kyle Kendrick. He's surrendered at least one homer in 19 of his 22 starts. "Immediately after I came out, I went back and watched to see what different things I could do," Lohse said. "They just hit a lot of balls down, off the end of the bat. Maybe I could've pitched in a little more, but really that's the style I've been doing." QUOTABLE "It's great what we did here. We've been playing well. We got the Phillies at the wrong moment, otherwise we've been OK. We catch Milwaukee at the right time when they're making adjustments." – Maddon SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Sunday was the Cubs' 41st game decided by one run this season, tied with the Cardinals for the most in the Major Leagues. Chicago is 24-17 in one-run games. INJURY UPDATE

Bryant hit an RBI single in the fifth inning but then slid headfirst into second base and had to leave the game because he was feeling dizzy. He was to be re-evaluated on Monday. "It was a hard play," Bryant said. "I was going as hard as I can, hustled in there. I'm feeling better and we'll see what it feels like tomorrow." REPLAY REVIEW The Cubs lost a challenge and Maddon in the third when he was ejected. With two outs, the Brewers had a runner at second when Adam Lind hit a ball to shortstop Starlin Castro. Castro made a diving stop, spun, and threw to first from his knees, and Lind was called safe. Maddon challenged the call, but after a review, it was confirmed. Maddon came out of the dugout to question the review, and crew chief Hunter Wendelstedt ejected the manager. The Brewers lost their seventh challenge of the season in the fifth inning. Bryant lined a 2-2 pitch off Lohse into center that drove in Kyle Schwarber. Bryant attempted to take second on the throw to the plate from Shane Peterson, which was cut off by Lind. Bryant was ruled safe on a close play after Lind's throw and, after a challenge from manager Craig Counsell, the call stood. Bryant had to leave the game after the headfirst slide into second. It was Milwaukee's 21st challenge this season. WHAT'S NEXT Cubs: Jon Lester will start Monday in what could be a big week for the Cubs, who face the two teams ahead of them in the Wild Card race, beginning with the Pirates. Lester went 2-2 with a 1.66 ERA in July, and went at least seven innings in each of his starts. First pitch will be 6:05 p.m. CT. Brewers: Wily Peralta will make his second start Monday since returning from the disabled list, when Milwaukee plays the Padres for the first time this season. Peralta showed no signs of rust in his last outing, allowing two runs over six innings against the Giants. His first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. CT at Miller Park. -- Cubs.com Bryant exits with dizziness, feeling 'better' By Carrie Muskat MILWAUKEE -- Cubs rookie Kris Bryant was removed in the fifth inning of Sunday's 4-3 win over the Brewers as a precautionary measure because he felt a little dizzy after a hard slide into second base in the fifth inning. He was to be re-examined on Monday in Pittsburgh, where the Cubs open a three-game series. "He got banged a little bit on the slide, popped him in the head a little bit," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "He's a little bit dizzy at the moment. We believe he's fine. I think he's going to be fine actually." The Cubs had runners at first and second with one out in the fifth when Bryant lofted a ball to center. A run scored on the single, and Bryant tried to extend his hit by going to second and sliding headfirst under shortstop Jean Segura. It appears Segura accidentally hit Bryant in the head. "It was a hard play," Bryant said. "I was going as hard as I can, hustled in there. I'm feeling better and we'll see what it feels like tomorrow." The Brewers challenged whether Bryant was safe on the slide, and after a review, the call stood. But while the umpires were looking at video, Cubs athletic trainer PJ Mainville was checking on Bryant at second. Right before play resumed, Bryant walked off the field, and Jonathan Herrera took over as a pinch-runner and then at third base defensively. Bryant said the play wasn't going to make him change his aggressive approach.

"I'm always going hard," he said. "I think it's a good situation to get to second, another guy in scoring position. It's not going to slow me down." Named to the All-Star team in his rookie season, Bryant is coming off a tough July, during which he batted .168. Maddon is constantly reminding the third baseman about how he can help the Cubs win in other ways. "Every time he makes a good baserunning play, I make sure I tell him," Maddon said. "He's one of the best baserunners in the National League right now. "I want him to understand all these other things he's doing really, really well," Maddon said. "Big hit today obviously, but it goes beyond that. He understands playing the complete game. He does understand that and that's typical of the things he does to help you win every day." -- Cubs.com Russell tweaks mechanics, mental approach By Carrie Muskat MILWAUKEE -- Maybe Addison Russell is best at baseball when he's not thinking about it. The Cubs rookie second baseman smacked a solo home run Sunday in a 4-3 win over the Brewers, and now is batting .286 since the All-Star break. It wasn't just the time off that seems to have helped the 21-year-old, but some adjustments with hitting coach John Mallee. "He's in an entirely different stance and setup and start to his swing," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of Russell, who is batting .237 overall. "It's much more efficient. He's getting to fastballs much better. I think he's making better decisions at the plate. "I think he's at the point where he thinks he can hit anything hard, which may work against you sometimes. He's in a really good position to hit right now." What's the difference? "Talking to [Mallee] about baseball, he's trying to get my mind off numbers and stuff like that," Russell said. "I just go out there and do what's comfortable. I'm seeing the ball well. Even my outs are aggressive. I'm not slapping the ball on the ground, I'm barreling the ball up and just missing it. It's a good thing now." Mallee isn't the only one trying to get Russell to think about something other than the game. Maddon gave the infielder a book to read -- Stephen King's "11/22/63." Russell gives Maddon updates. The infielder got off to a rough start when first promoted from Triple-A in April, but he's feeling better after the sessions with Mallee and the break. "Things are coming around," Russell said. -- Cubs.com Maddon ejected after losing challenge By Carrie Muskat MILWAUKEE -- The Cubs not only lost a challenge Sunday but manager Joe Maddon, who was ejected in the third inning of Sunday's 4-3 win over the Brewers.

Maddon was tossed after he questioned crew chief Hunter Wendelstedt following the review of a call. With two outs in the Brewers' third, Milwaukee had a runner at second when Adam Lind hit a ball to shortstop Starlin Castro. Castro made a diving stop, spun, and threw to first from one knee, and Lind was called safe. Maddon challenged the call, but after a review, it was confirmed. Maddon came out of the dugout with his arms raised to question the call and Wendelstedt, who was at second base, then ejected the manager. What explanation did Maddon get? "There isn't any," Maddon said. "It was incongruent with what I saw on the big screen, that's all." The problem was that Maddon didn't see first-base umpire David Rackley signal that first baseman Anthony Rizzo was off the bag when the play was made. The replay on the video board at Miller Park appeared to support Maddon's view that Castro had thrown Lind out. "There was no indication that Rizzo was off the bag, and that's where I was confused," Maddon said. "I thought the call was made purely on the fact that Lind had beaten the play at first base. That's what the call was on the field. It's my fault. It's always my fault. It was my fault. My bad." If there's a plus side, the Cubs held on for the win to complete a sweep of Milwaukee and now are 10 games over .500 at 57-47. "It's good to get 10 plus," Maddon said. "The goal then is to get 15 [over .500]." Maddon's three other ejections this season have come when he's argued balls and strikes. -- Cubs.com Haren indicates Cubs stint may be swan song By Carrie Muskat MILWAUKEE -- This may be Dan Haren's last big league season, and if it is, the right-hander wants to go out with a winner. Acquired on Friday from the Marlins, Haren will make his Cubs debut Wednesday in the series finale against the Pirates. When the trade was finalized, Haren posted on his Twitter account that he would be wearing No. 50. "It was my first number and it'll probably be my last," he said.

✈ ✈ ✈ Milwaukee... I'm gonna wear number 50, it was my first number and it'll probably be my last. Couldn't be happier, I'm a Cub. — dan haren (@ithrow88) August 1, 2015 Don't think Haren is calling it quits now, but at age 34 and pitching his 13th season, this may be the end. "I would say right now the chances are this will probably be it," Haren said. "I don't want to say this is it and pull a Brett Favre. That's why I said 'probably' [on Twitter]. At least I leave myself a little way out. "Chances are this is it," he said. "After the season, I'll relax and see where I'm at. I definitely want to make a push to get to where this team wants to go." The Cubs began play Sunday third in the Wild Card race behind the Pirates and Giants. Haren (7-7, 3.42 ERA) projects he has 10-11 starts remaining this season.

"All of them are going to be big starts and important for the team to keep pushing after what they've done this year," he said. "Coming here, the chemistry seems really good in the clubhouse. I won't mess up that. I just want to come in and do my job and give the team a chance to win every time out." Fans should just ignore the radar gun when watching Haren's outings. After all, his Twitter handle is @Ithrow88 for a reason. "I'm not the flame thrower I once was," he said. "I've gotten a lot smarter as a pitcher, I've gotten better at putting together scouting reports and sticking to them and being able to locate pitches. I've gotten better at that as I've gotten older. I'm going to come in and I expect to do the same thing I've been doing all year." There are a few familiar faces. Miguel Montero and Haren were together in Arizona from 2008-2010, and the catcher has already invited the pitcher to stay with him in Chicago. Haren wasn't too sure about that. "I like to sleep a little, too," Haren said, laughing. He wanted to do some research on the Cubs' habit of batting the pitcher eighth in the lineup, although he isn't a bad hitter. The Cubs had tried to acquire Haren in 2012 for Carlos Marmol but the deal was nixed because of questions about his medical records. Haren was on the disabled list that year because of back stiffness but said he never was sure why the trade didn't happen. "I still don't know the particulars of what went down," he said. He had some right shoulder stiffness in 2013, but has been healthy this season. "I've had issues, but nothing that's kept me off the field," Haren said. "When you have as many innings as I've had and as much wear and tear, the medical report is going to be pretty long at this point in my career and it might scare some people. I'm here for two months, and I plan on making all my starts. I'll make the most of my time here." -- Cubs.com Cubs face test this week vs. Wild Card foes By Carrie Muskat MILWAUKEE -- If the Cubs want to gain some ground in the Wild Card race, this week will be a good time to do so as they face both the Pirates and Giants, the two teams ahead of them. Manager Joe Maddon sticks to a "one day at a time" approach. The Pirates and Giants both have postseason experience, something the young Cubs don't have. "There's definitely an advantage -- 'been there done that,' no question," Maddon said Sunday. "But at the same time, you have a bunch of hungry guys coming on which can be, in and of itself, a good position to be in." The Cubs face the Pirates in a three-game series, starting Monday. "To really ascend in the division, you have to play the better teams within your group and beat them, and to beat them where they live is important also," Maddon said. Cubs pitcher Jason Hammel, who will open the four-game series against the Giants at Wrigley Field on Thursday, also preaches staying constant. "That's part of the learning process with the young guys is to not look too far ahead and not focus on scoreboard watching," Hammel said. "A week ago, we got swept by [the Phillies] who are 15, 20 games under .500. It's baseball -- you can't take things for granted and the whole idea of taking one pitch at a time, one game at a time is

why teams win and get to the playoffs. It's the idea of not getting ahead of yourself and not getting too down on yourself. You have to keep an even keel." Extra bases • Miguel Montero, who has been on the disabled list since July 12 with a sprained left thumb, began a rehab assignment Sunday with Double-A Tennessee. When he returns, the Cubs will keep three catchers in Montero, David Ross and rookie Kyle Schwarber. How they'll get enough playing time is to be determined, Maddon said. "The challenge will be to keep Schwarb's bat in the lineup as often as possible," Maddon said. Schwarber has played some left field, which is an option. Montero wasn't too thrilled about the rehab assignment but Maddon said it was necessary and will most likely be for three games. "It's one thing to catch bullpens but there's nothing like an actual game of baseball, any game, at game speed to really be tested," Maddon said. "Go test it, see if the thumb holds up behind the plate, at the plate. If it does, I don't think it will take him long to get back here." • Left-handed pitcher Clayton Richard was recalled from Triple-A Iowa to start Sunday, and catcher Taylor Teagarden was designated for assignment. Richard will be off the Cubs' roster after the game -- they acquired starter Dan Haren from the Marlins to fill the fifth spot. The Cubs will likely add a right-handed hitter for the series against the Pirates, but it wasn't expected to be infielder Javier Baez. "The message I'm hearing is guys want to make sure he gets it going," Maddon said of Baez, who missed time because of a fractured finger. "Obviously, if there's an injury it could accelerate [his callup]. I think our guys are comfortable with the work he's getting and progress he's making." -- Cubs.com Lester looks to build on 14-strikeout outing in opener By Robert Bondy With the Wild Card race heating up, the Pirates and Cubs will renew their National League Central Division rivalry with a three-game series from PNC Park starting on Monday. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. ET. Both the Pirates and Cubs are in the middle of a heated battle for a pair of NL Wild Card spots as the Cardinals continue to hold onto a tight grip in the division race. Chicago holds the season series advantage over the Pirates with a 6-4 record. The last time these two teams met was on May 17. A pair of lefty starters will take the mound in the series opener when Francisco Liriano (7-6, 2.92 ERA) of the Pirates battles Jon Lester (6-8, 3.26 ERA) of the Cubs. Both pitchers experienced a lot of success in the month of July. Despite struggling in his last start on Wednesday against the Twins, Liriano went 3-0 record with a 2.03 ERA in five July starts. Lester went 2-2 with a 1.66 ERA in six starts in July, and he is coming off a season-high 14 strikeouts in his last outing on Wednesday against the Rockies, which he considered his best start of the season. Things to know about this game • The Pirates are 11-2 in their last 13 home games and 35-17 overall at PNC Park this season, which is second-best in the Major Leagues behind only the Cardinals. • Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro has experienced plenty of success in Pittsburgh during his career. He is hitting .299/.355/.431 with five home runs -- second-most for him among Major League stadiums behind only Wrigley Field -- and 22 RBIs in 40 career games at PNC Park.

• Liriano has had trouble with giving up home runs at PNC Park this season. He has surrendered eight homers in 66 2/3 innings pitched at home this year compared to only two long balls in 59 2/3 innings pitched on the road. • Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo has been stellar against the Pirates this season. He is hitting .405/.511/.541 with one home run and five RBIs in 37 at-bats against Pittsburgh. -- ESPNChicago.com Anthony Rizzo, rookies and pitching vault Cubs to 10 over .500 By Jesse Rogers MILWAUKEE -- The Chicago Cubs finally did it. After several tries they reached the magic number: 10 games over .500. And thanks in part to a sweep of the lowly Milwaukee Brewers the Cubs have caught the San Francisco Giants for the second wild card. The two teams will face off later this week, but right now the Cubs are savoring their high water mark of the season. "It's great what we just did here," manager Joe Maddon said after the 4-3 win on Sunday. "We got the Philadelphia Phillies at the wrong moment. We caught Milwaukee at the right time while they're trying to make adjustments." The Phillies have been on fire since the All-Star break, so maybe that sweep last weekend wasn't as bad as it looked. On the other hand the Brewers are a team in transition -- they made several trades right at the deadline on Friday. Those moves weakened an already weak offense and the Cubs took control. They gave up eight runs in four games and never trailed by worse than a 2-0 score. "I think this was a series we needed to take advantage of," outfielder Chris Coghlan said. "We did." First baseman Anthony Rizzo led the way with four home runs while the rookies are starting to find a second wind. Yes, Kris Bryant has been slumping, but he finds ways to contribute. He had a run-scoring single before having to leave Sunday's game after a hard slide into second base. He had no business being safe, as the ball got cut-off behind the mound just a few feet from the bag. But it was determined after a video review he made it in there safely, a reward for his all-out hustle. "Every time he makes a great base-running play I make sure to tell him," Maddon said. "He's one of the best base runners in the National League right now. He is. He understands playing the complete game." Then there is Kyle Schwarber, who continues to get praise for his catching as well as his hitting. "Kyle did a great job," starter Clayton Richard said. That unsolicited praise didn't come in Schwarber's first few games behind the plate but it's coming now. And his offense is only getting better. A signature 11-pitch at-bat on Saturday frustrated easy-to-frustrate former Cub Matt Garza, who melted afterward. That at-bat was the difference in the game. Schwarber homered later for good measure. Addison Russell is performing after changing his stance to be more upright and adding a leg kick. His results have pointed up since the All-Star break. Russell's hitting .286 with a .333 on-base percentage and two home runs, including a mammoth 423-foot shot Sunday. "I'm driving the ball more now," Russell said over the weekend. His defense at second has been nothing short of fantastic for the better part of three months. Fellow rookie teammate Jorge Soler leapt to keep a home run ball from leaving the yard on Saturday and is more consistent at the plate than he was earlier this season. Everyone contributed to the sweep -- even newcomer Tommy Hunter,

who threw bullets in earning the save on Saturday. Hector Rondon survived a ninth-inning scare on Sunday to close out the sweep. All of it adds up to a team flying high as they head into two critical series in Pittsburgh then against San Francisco in Wrigley. "I know we have Pittsburgh next," Coghlan said. "For me, we just have to keep this one day at a time. Joe has been around a long time. He can look at 10 games over but I don't look at that way." On Sunday, a journeyman pitcher (Richard), four rookies and a Rule 5 pick (Hector Rondon) serving as closer helped the Cubs to their first four-game series sweep of the Brewers since 2008. So what's next? "It's great to get to 10-plus," Maddon said of his team's record. "The [next] goal is to get to 15." With just 58 games to go, the playoffs are within sight. -- ESPNChicago.com Clayton Richard throws well, survives roster cut for at least one day By Jesse Rogers MILWAUKEE -- Chicago Cubs pitcher Clayton Richard knew what was at stake on Sunday afternoon in Milwaukee. A bad outing would almost certainly find him looking for work again as the Cubs had already announced newcomer Dan Haren would take over the fifth starter’s role. Richard had one more chance to show the Cubs -- and other teams -- he belongs in the majors. “It’s good to contribute whenever you get the opportunity,” he said after earning the 4-3 victory over the Brewers. He went six solid innings, working his way out of a few jams, and he got better as the game went along. He gave up just one run on five hits without issuing a walk. In turn, Richard wasn’t immediately designated for assignment as he’ll fly to Pittsburgh with the team on Sunday night before any decisions are made. “I’ve been around long enough not to assume a role or a position,” Richard said. “Especially when a team is in it, they’re going to make adjustments and do whatever they can to improve. Hopefully they view me as a piece to the puzzle, but only time will tell.” The Cubs will have to decide if they want to make Richard available to all 29 other teams or somehow keep him as insurance. He can’t be sent down to Triple-A without going through waivers. His value definitely increased some after Sunday. “We’re discussing all the different things,” manager Joe Maddon said. “Clayton was outstanding. He kept getting better. He had better velocity. He was really good.” -- ESPNChicago.com Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant OK after hard slide By Jesse Rogers MILWAUKEE -- The Chicago Cubs believe that third baseman Kris Bryant will be all right after he left Sunday's 4-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in the fifth inning with dizziness. “He got banged in the head on the slide,” manager Joe Maddon said after Bryant slid hard into second base. “He’s a little bit dizzy at the moment but he’s fine. Took him out for precautionary.”

Bryant said he was feeling better but wasn’t exactly full of energy in talking to reporters after the game. He’ll fly with the team to Pittsburgh, where the Cubs open a series on Monday, and then be re-evaluated. “I’m always going hard,” Bryant said. “We’ll see where we’re at tomorrow.” It appeared shortstop Jean Segura may have landed on Bryant’s head or perhaps it occurred on the actual slide into the base. The Cubs rookie wasn’t exactly sure how it happened. “I was going as hard as I can,” Bryant explained. “I went into his leg or something like that.” -- ESPNChicago.com Rapid Reaction: Cubs 4, Brewers 3 By Jesse Rogers MILWAUKEE -- The Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 4-3, on Sunday afternoon, sweeping the four-game series. Here’s a quick look at the finale. How it happened: The Cubs scored single runs in four of the first five innings as Anthony Rizzo, Addison Russell, pitcher Clayton Richard and Kris Bryant had the RBIs. Russell’s came on his seventh home run, a 423-foot shot to center in the second inning. It was the longest home run of his young career. The Brewers tallied their first run in the second on a Hernan Perez groundout after two hits and a wild pitch put runners on second and third, but Richard limited the damage to the lone run. He pitched well, going six innings while giving up five hits without issuing a walk. The Brewers scored twice in the ninth against Hector Rondon and got the potential tying run to second base, but the Cubs wriggled out of it. What it means: The Cubs swept the Brewers in a four-game series for the first time since 2008 and in doing so vaulted to a season-high 10 games over .500 at 57-47. Yes, the Brewers are shorthanded after trades late in the week, but that doesn’t always translate to wins for the opposition. This time the Cubs took advantage with well-pitched games all weekend. They gave up a total of eight runs with stellar work from both their starting staff and bullpen. The offense didn’t put up huge numbers, but situational hitting was better and the Cubs were able to tack on add-on runs late in the game. The Cubs are on a five-game win streak as their next two opponents (Pirates, Giants) currently hold both wild-card positions in the National League. Richard threw well knowing this will be his last start for the Cubs, barring an injury. The Cubs traded for Dan Haren, who will enter the rotation and bump Richard out. He could still stay with the organization or else be picked up by someone who needs a starter. Bryant leaves: Kris Bryant left the game after sliding hard into second base in the fifth inning. Brewers shortstop Jean Segura seemed to land on Bryant’s head. The extent of the injury is unknown. Maddon ejected: Cubs manager Joe Maddon was ejected in the third inning after losing a video review at first base. He thought Adam Lind should have been called out after a great play by shortstop Starlin Castro, but umpires determined first baseman Anthony Rizzo’s foot came off the bag. The call was confirmed. Montero rehab: Catcher Miguel Montero began his rehab assignment with Double-A Tennessee on Sunday. The Cubs expect him back by next weekend when they open a homestand. More roster shuffling: Unless the Cubs change course, Richard will come off the roster and the team will add a right-handed position player to take his place. Matt Szczur or Mike Olt are possibilities. Maddon ruled out Javier Baez. It could be a short-term stay for that player as Montero likely will take his place later in the week. What’s next: The Cubs head to Pittsburgh to begin a three-game series on Monday with Jon Lester (6-8, 3.26) facing Francisco Liriano (7-6, 2.92).

-- ESPNChicago.com Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant leaves game after hard slide By Jesse Rogers MILWAUKEE -- Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant left Sunday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers after sliding head first into second base while making contact with shortstop Jean Segura in the fifth inning. Bryant singled in a run and then went to second on the throw in from the outfield. The ball was cut off and thrown to Segura as Bryant came in hard. It looked like Segura landed on his head for a moment as Bryant either hit his head or neck. After a few moments with the training staff Bryant was removed from the game for backup Jonathan Herrera. The play was reviewed and upheld. -- ESPNChicago.com Joe Maddon ejected after losing review By Jesse Rogers MILWAUKEE – Manager Joe Maddon was ejected in the bottom of the third inning of the Chicago Cubs-Milwaukee Brewers game on Sunday afternoon after the Cubs lost a video challenge on a play at first base. With the Cubs leading 2-1 and a runner on second base with two outs Adam Lind hit a ball up the middle which shortstop Starlin Castro snared while going to the ground. He rolled over and threw to first base but pulled Anthony Rizzo off the bag. Replays seemed to show Rizzo’s foot was still touching the base as he caught the ball. The Cubs challenged and the call was confirmed. Maddon was incredulous and was thrown out not long after crew chief Hunter Wendelstedt made the safe call. The manager spent several moments arguing on the field before heading back to the clubhouse. Khris Davis lined out on the next pitch to end the inning. It was Maddon’s fourth ejection this season. -- ESPNChicago.com Dan Haren ready for new challenge that could be his last By Jesse Rogers MILWAUKEE – Thirteen year veteran and new Chicago Cubs starter Dan Haren isn’t saying for sure this will be his final two months in a big league uniform, but he’s preparing for the possibility. “Chances are this would be it, but I’m not going to say this is it and then pull a Brett Favre,” the affable Haren said Sunday morning. Haren was acquired from the Miami Marlins on Friday where he was part of nothing short of a mess this season – though it was through no fault of his own. Haren pitched well; the Marlins just didn’t perform as a team. “I better be careful,” Haren said with a smile. “You’re setting me up. It was a rough situation. It wasn’t what we all had planned. I feel bad for all the players there, especially the older players.” Haren was 7-7 with a 3.42 ERA in 21 starts for a team that never sniffed a hope at the playoffs this season. He says he’s going to savor a chance at a run with the Cubs. It’s not the first time the organization was interested in Haren. A deal with the Los Angeles Angels in 2012 for reliever Carlos Marmol reportedly broke down when the Cubs

weren’t satisfied with Haren’s medical records. They must be now as he’s one of only two pitchers to make at least 30 starts in each of the last 10 seasons, according to ESPN Stats and Information. “I never revisited that,” Haren said of the non-trade. “Still don’t know the particulars that went down. … I’ve had issues but nothing that’s kept me off the field. When you have as many innings as I have the medical report is going to be pretty long.” Haren’s cunning and guile are what the Cubs traded for as he’s no longer the pitcher who throws in the mid-90s. His Twitter handle (@ithrow88) is evidence of his sense of humor about it. One thing he can do is hit, though his batting average this year is just .156 (5 for 32). And he’s aware he’ll bat eighth in manager Joe Maddon’s lineup. “I’m not 100 percent sure why,” Haren said. “I need to do some research on that. … I can swing it pretty good. I’ve always taken pride in swinging the bat.” Haren lives in California so he wasn’t thrilled with being traded to Miami last offseason. Now he’s a little closer and excited to be pitching for a chance at the playoffs. He’ll fill out the back end of the Cubs rotation beginning on Wednesday in Pittsburgh when he makes his debut. Later this month he gets to go home as the Cubs have a West Coast trip to make. “One of the first things I did was check the schedule,” he said. “This is going to be fun.” -- ESPNChicago.com Jason Motte OK after frustrating ninth inning on Saturday By Jesse Rogers MILWAUKEE – Anyone who saw Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon pull reliever Jason Motte in the ninth inning of Saturday’s eventual 4-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers knows the pitcher wasn’t happy giving up the ball. Motte had just survived a harrowing moment as outfielder Jorge Soler climbed the fence in right to bring back a Khris Davis blast and preserve a 4-1 lead. There was one out with a man on third base. Motte wanted to finish the job after getting the defensive break he needed from Soler. “You always have that mindset, stupidly, I guess, we think we can get ourselves out of whatever the heck we got ourselves into,” Motte said Sunday morning. “It didn’t work out but we won.” Newcomer Tommy Hunter came on and closed the door on the Brewers, allowing Motte some comfort. But that doesn’t take away from the fact the reliever is struggling. There’s simply been too much hard contact lately. Adam Lind opened the inning with a double to left center before Soler helped preserve the lead. So it was more than just one hitter who squared him up on Saturday. “I think he’s been off a little bit,” Maddon said. “He and I talked about it. It might be something slightly mechanical. They’re going to look at it. There’s no waiting right there. It’s not about one guy.” Maddon didn’t want to wait until it was too late or the lead was down to one before making the move to Hunter. It has been his style all season – to take his pitcher out before potential damage can occur. The hard-hit balls are all the evidence he needed to make the move. “You always think you can get through it,” Motte said. “If you have the other mindset, that’s never a good attitude to have. I rely a lot on the fastball. If it’s more down-and-away that’s a pitch that won’t get hit as much. It’s all about location.” Motte looked mad on Saturday but got over it quickly. Maddon understood the frustration.

“He might be upset with the moment just because of the pride factor but he’s an absolute team player so he gets it,” Maddon said. “Getting the break [Soler’s catch] is getting the break. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.” --