September 4, 2017

Chicago Tribune, Javier Baez injured in Cubs' 5-1 loss to Braves http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-braves-spt-0904-20170903-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Javier Baez suffers blurred vision after eye injury; status uncertain http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-javier-baez-blurred-vision-sullivan-spt-0904-20170903-column.html

Chicago Tribune, Anthony Rizzo's surge could put him in MVP picture, though still a long shot http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-anthony-rizzo-mvp-race-notes-spt-0904-20170903-story.html

Chicago Sun-Times, Clear eye for the Cubs’ guy: Javy Baez seems to be OK after collision http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/clear-eye-for-the-cubs-guy-javy-baez-seems-to-be-ok-after-collision/

Chicago Sun-Times, Kris Bryant weighs in on a tough question: Who is the Cubs’ 2017 MVP? http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/kris-bryant-weighs-in-on-a-tough-question-who-is-the-cubs-2017-mvp/

Daily Herald, Chicago Cubs' streak snapped; Baez leaves with injury http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170903/chicago-cubs-streak-snapped-baez-leaves-with-injury

Daily Herald, Dillon pitches scoreless inning in debut http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170903/dillon-pitches-scoreless-inning-in-debut

Cubs.com, Arrieta tries to extend torrid stretch vs. Bucs http://atmlb.com/2gxIj9f

Cubs.com, Baez (eye) hurt in collision, likely back soon http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/252203410/javier-baez-ok-following-head-first-collision/

Cubs.com, Cubs shut down as win streak ends at 6 http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/252188210/braves-snap-cubs-six-game-winning-streak/

Cubs.com, Sizzling August nets Arrieta NL pitching honor http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/252185008/jake-arrieta-named-nl-pitcher-of-the-month/

Cubs.com, Cubs firmly believe Rizzo is NL MVP-worthy http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/252188450/cubs-backing-anthony-rizzo-for-nl-mvp-award/

ESPNChicago.com, Jake Arrieta is reminding us just how great he can be http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/45577/jake-arrieta-is-reminding-us-just-how-great-he-can-be

CSNChicago.com, Breathe easy: Cubs get good news on Javy Baez after head injury http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/breathe-easy-cubs-get-good-news-javy-baez-after-head-injury

CSNChicago.com, Cubs weighing the possibility of keeping six-man rotation intact for stretch run http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/cubs-weighing-possibility-keeping-six-man-rotation-intact-stretch-run-playoffs-montgomery-lester-lackey-arrieta-hendricks-quintana

CSNChicago.com, Riding another hot streak, Jake Arrieta named NL Pitcher of the Month http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/riding-another-hot-streak-jake-arrieta-named-nl-pitcher-month-mlb-award-cy-young-corey-kluber

-- Chicago Tribune Javier Baez injured in Cubs' 5-1 loss to Braves By Paul Sullivan The Cubs’ 6-game win streak was snapped on Sunday in a 5-1 loss to the Braves in the finale of their four-game series. More important, shortstop Javier Baez was removed from the game in the third inning after being injured in the second when he was kneed in the head by second baseman Ozzie Albies on a headfirst slide into second base. Baez went out to his position in the top of the third, but asked to come out after one out. Mike Freeman, called up from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, made his Cubs' debut at short. At the plate: The Cubs mustered only one run on four hits off Braves rookie left-hander Max Fried, who threw five innings in his debut, and were shut down by the bullpen. Ian Happ hit a solo home run in the second. On the mound: Mike Montgomery pitched five innings, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk. Dillon Maples made his major league debut with a scoreless sixth inning. In the field: Freeman committed an error on a routine grounder in the fifth. Key number—6.7. The Cubs had averaged 6.7 runs per game since Aug. 1, only to be shut down by the Braves' pitching. The quote: “We’re going to wait and see how that all looks like,” Joe Maddon on whether Montgomery will stay in the rotation or go back to the bullpen. Up next: At Pittsburgh. 3:05 p.m. Jake Arrieta vs. Chad Kuhl. -- Chicago Tribune Javier Baez suffers blurred vision after eye injury; status uncertain By Paul Sullivan In a blink of an eye, the Cubs' second-half surge looked to be in jeopardy. Shortstop Javier Baez was kneed in the right eye on a headfirst slide into second base during the second inning of the Cubs' 5-1 loss to the Braves on Sunday and later came out of the game suffering from blurred vision. Baez was being evaluated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital on Sunday afternoon as the team left for Pittsburgh for a four-game trip, and though the Cubs said the vision had improved by the time he left the park, his availability for Monday is uncertain. Manager Joe Maddon called it a "minor" injury and said Baez would be with the team in Pittsburgh. "We'll make sure of everything before we put him back out there," he said, adding, "the fact he'll be back and we won't have to jones over all that stuff … Yeah, he's very important to us right now, I can not deny that."

With the loss to the Braves, the Cubs saw their six-game winning streak snapped, while the Brewers pulled back to within 3 1/2 games of first in the National League Central. With Addison Russell out for three more weeks at least after aggravating the plantar fasciitis in his right foot, the Cubs can't afford to lose Baez for any significant length of time. He has made 30 straight starts at shortstop and played Gold Glove-caliber defense while putting up career-best offensive numbers. "You don't want to lose a guy, but it's part of the game," Anthony Rizzo said. Fortunately the knee to Baez's head by second baseman Ozzie Albies did not cause a concussion, as many in the crowd of 42,145 had originally feared. After being examined in the dugout by trainer PJ Mainville, Baez returned to the field after the inning but pulled himself after one batter. Maddon said he had "no issues" with the headfirst slide. To fill in for Baez, Maddon called on Mike Freeman, a Triple-A Iowa call-up signed to a minor-league contract last month after being let go by the Dodgers. Freeman committed an error in the fifth inning, fumbling a routine grounder hit by pitcher Max Fried and making a late throw to first. The Cubs don't have a lot of options if Baez isn't available. Ben Zobrist has taken grounders at short and has had 196 starts there over his career, though none since 2014. Maddon said Zobrist could handle the switch. "I was looking for a day off for Javy," he said. "Maybe this happened, in a bizarre way ... It got him off his feet. I would not mind getting Zobrist some work." But he said he'd rather use Zobrist at the end of a game that's either well in hand or out of reach. The Cubs knew Russell had suffered a setback in his rehab a day before the Aug. 31 deadline to acquire players who would be eligible for the postseason roster but didn't make a move for another shortstop. "We looked," general manager Jed Hoyer said Friday. "The list of guys that cleared waivers at that position was really small. But there was a lot of blocking this year. It was an active waiver wire. Tons of guys got claimed by a lot of teams, so we looked around and we signed Freeman for a reason. He was the best option. "There wasn't anything that was more appealing." Can the Cubs count on Russell to return before the end of the season? "I'm optimistic about it," Hoyer said. "Counting on it? Put it this way, that injury is an injury that gets re-aggravated, as we've seen, and we need to get him healthy. I do hope we get him back for sure. I think our defense is notably better with both Javy and Addy in the lineup at the same time. I'm hopeful, I'm optimistic, but we've got to get this guy healthy and hopefully not have a setback next time." Shortstop is the most difficult defensive position, and most are good all-around athletes. Back in the 1968 World Series, Tigers manager Mayo Smith wanted more offense out of the position and called on center fielder Mickey Stanley to take over at shortstop for Ray Oyler. Stanley was the best all-around athlete on the team, and played only the last six games of the regular season at short as a dress rehearsal. Stanley then handled 31 chances in the seven-game World Series win over the Cardinals and made two harmless errors. Kris Bryant could certainly move over in a pinch, and Tommy La Stella and Ian Happ probably could handle a short stint. Kyle Schwarber said he played shortstop a couple of times in the Cape Cod League and joked he'd be ready as well.

Hopefully the Cubs don't have to dig that deep on their depth chart, though it might be fun to watch. -- Chicago Tribune Anthony Rizzo's surge could put him in MVP picture, though still a long shot By Paul Sullivan Has Anthony Rizzo worked his way into the National League Most Valuable Player conversation with his sizzling second half? "Oh, yeah, absolutely," Cubs teammate Kris Bryant said. "It doesn't help that guys are playing out of their minds this year. It's one of those weird, different years." The Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton, who had 17 more home run that his closest pursuer Sunday and was tied with the Rockies' Nolan Arenado for most RBIs with 111, could be the favorite if he winds up reaching or passing 61 home runs, the pre-Steroids Era record held by Roger Maris. Rizzo, who is seventh in the NL in RBIs and tied for 15th in home runs, is likely also behind the Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt and Arenado, and perhaps the Dodgers' Justin Turner. "I think if we are where we want to be at the end of the year, he should be in the conversation for sure," Bryant said. "Compared to everybody else, I don't know what it looks like, but I know what it looks like here," manager Joe Maddon said. "This is quality stuff going on, the homers, the RBIs and clutch RBIs, and don't underestimate the defense. "I know Stanton is having a great year down in Miami. I understand that. I know a couple guys with the Dodgers are having good years. I get that. But the way Anthony is coming on strongly, if he keeps this pace up in September, he's going to make a strong push for this." Stanton's biggest obstacle may be that he won't make the postseason. Maddon said he doesn't think it should matter if the MVP is on a playoff team or not. "I just think overriding talent should win," he said. "It's not his fault (he's) not on a team that wins it." Coming attractions: The Cubs rotation for the big Brewers series next weekend remains up in the air. John Lackey probably will stay on his normal rest and start Friday's opener, and either Mike Montgomery or Jake Arrieta may throw on Saturday, depending on whether the Cubs keep a six-man rotation. "We're going to wait and see how that all looks," Maddon said Sunday. Montgomery allowed three runs in five innings in Sunday's loss but dominated in his previous two starts. "I didn't have my best stuff today, but it was a battle," he said. "They did a good job, hit a couple balls through the hole. … That's going to happen." Extra innings: Rookie Dillon Maples made his major-league debut replacing Montgomery and pitched a scoreless sixth inning while throwing 97-mph fastballs and wipeout sliders. "The build-up was kind of nerve-wracking," he said. "Once I heard my name called, I went a little slower about my preparation… I knew it could speed up on me. My bullpen was a little erratic."… The Cubs wore football jerseys for their trip to Pittsburgh, and Rizzo wore a Dolphins No. 5 with the name Finkle, an homage to the fictional Dolphins player in "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective." Rizzo said he looked for a Jay Cutler Dolphins jersey but could not find one. Maddon wore a Mike Ditka jersey and

Jason Heyward had a Gale Sayers No. 40… Left-hander Rob Zastryzny was called-up from Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, giving the Cubs an 11-man bullpen. -- Chicago Sun-Times Clear eye for the Cubs’ guy: Javy Baez seems to be OK after collision By Steve Greenberg Let’s start with the bottom line: Cubs infielder Javy Baez, who left the 5-1 loss to the Braves on Sunday after colliding with second baseman Ozzie Albies while sliding head-first into the bag at second, appears to be OK. You can breathe, Chicago. With Ian Happ at the plate in the second inning, Baez broke for second as pitcher Max Fried delivered a pickoff throw to first baseman Freddie Freeman. Freeman threw a strike to Albies, who tagged Baez just before the ever-aggressive base runner smashed the right side of his face into Albies’ left knee. Baez stayed down, his face an inch above the dirt, for close to half a minute before he sat up. Several tense seconds after that, he gingerly rose to his feet, assisted by a Cubs trainer, and stayed in the game. In the top of the third, though — bothered by what a Cubs spokesman called blurred vision — Baez appeared to take himself out of the game. He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where the initial evaluation of his eye was, according to the team spokesman, “quite positive.” Again: Breathe. Baez was not expected to be put through a concussion protocol. Initial plans were for him to remain in Chicago overnight before joining the team in Pittsburgh, where the Cubs open a four-game series against the Pirates on Monday afternoon. In short: Baez will be back in the saddle at shortstop in no time, perhaps even on Monday. He has been an every-day rock for the Cubs throughout the full month that Addison Russell has spent on the disabled list. Not only that, Baez has been a fast-improving player — taking smarter routes to ground balls and working better at-bats — and, by a country mile, the most entertaining member of the Cubs. No one is more fun to watch than Baez, especially when he’s on the bases. Steals of home? Check. Going from second to home on a dribbler to the pitcher? Baez pulled that off as recently as Friday. Bashing face-first into the other guy’s knee? OK, now he’s done that, too. “That’s just who he is,” right fielder Jason Heyward said. “Javy plays the game all-out, all the time, every day. You don’t think that’s going to change, do you?” Goodness, let’s hope not. As always is the case when Baez’s baseballs-to-the-wall style is on display, there was more to the fateful play than the aforementioned “bottom line.” For one thing, manager Joe Maddon was certain Fried had committed a balk before throwing to Freeman. Oh, and there’s also this: Despite an official review that upheld the out call at second, replays appeared to show that Baez got a hand on the bag before Albies tagged him. Maddon, for one, was convinced Baez had beaten the tag. Only Baez, it seems, could be picked off and kneed in the eye on the same play and end up with a stolen base. Alas, he’ll have to try the maneuver again sometime to prove it. The Cubs failed in their bid to secure what would’ve been a season-high seventh consecutive victory. They also failed to lock down what would’ve been their first unbeaten homestand of at least seven games since August of 2015. Oh, well. Six out of seven isn’t too shabby.

But losing Baez for any length of time on top of that would’ve been an absolute gut punch. They’re still on pace for 90 victories. They still control their own destiny in the National League Central. And they still have Baez, as big a key as there has been to this whole operation, in one piece. “He’s very important to us right now,” Maddon said. “I cannot deny that.” No one would dare. -- Chicago Sun-Times Kris Bryant weighs in on a tough question: Who is the Cubs’ 2017 MVP? By Steve Greenberg Listen, Cubs fans, if you could handle the indignity that was seeing none of the team’s position players or starting pitchers make the 2017 All-Star Game, then you can deal with this: No matter how well certain Cubs are playing, not one of them has a chance to win National League MVP. Not reigning winner Kris Bryant. Not RBI machine Anthony Rizzo. The names to know — Giancarlo Stanton, Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Joey Votto (and maybe a few others) — are from elsewhere around the league. But who needs an award to validate what the Cubs have done since the All-Star break? They’ve gone from being 5½ games down to Milwaukee in the division to having a 3½-game lead. They’ve outscored their opponents by a whopping 94 runs. They’ve led all of baseball in runs scored. Who has been the Cubs’ team MVP this season? Now that’s a fun question. Manager Joe Maddon threw his support behind Rizzo in the NL race, making it clear whom he considers the Cubs’ MVP. Rizzo, on fire at the plate the last few weeks, has become only the fourth Cubs player to have 30 doubles, 30 homers and 100 RBI in at least three seasons. “Right now,” Maddon said, “the way Anthony is coming on strongly, if he keeps this pace up in September he’s going to make a strong push for it.” It’s certainly not impossible that Rizzo could finish in the top four in NL voting for the third year in a row. Again, though, we’re talking here about the team’s MVP. What about Bryant, whose on-base percentage, baserunning and defense have been better than ever? What about pitcher Jake Arrieta, who was 4-1 with an MLB-best 1.21 ERA in August and has held an improving rotation together? What about Javy Baez, a catalyst in so many big moments with his glove, his bat and his legs? What about catcher Willson Contreras, who was arguably the team’s most important contributor before going on the disabled list Aug. 11? “There are a lot of guys you could look at,” Bryant said. “You could group five of us together, probably, and let us compete for team MVP. But I’m not ready to pick one yet. Get back to me on that.” It’s a deal. Mets reach out, Rivera touched A day after hitting the first grand slam of his journeyman big-league career, catcher Rene Rivera still was thrilled. “I’m always going to remember it,” he said of the drive off the left-field foul pole that opened the scoring in the victory over the Braves on Saturday. “I love this game so much. This is still a game, and you’ve got to enjoy it.”

Rivera was especially happy to have heard from a number of players and coaches from his former team, the Mets, including pitcher Noah Syndegaard, shortstop Jose Reyes and Glenn Sherlock, who coaches the team’s catchers. “They’re good guys,” he said. “I had a good time with them. They were really nice to me.” -- Daily Herald Chicago Cubs' streak snapped; Baez leaves with injury By Bruce Miles The Chicago Cubs are down one shortstop already. Being down two would put them into some serious trouble. That's why they were holding their collective breath Sunday when Javier Baez left the field with a head injury. Baez, the Cubs' 24-year-old dynamo, slid hard and head first into second base in the second inning of a 5-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves as he tried to steal. He was called out, and his head hit the knee of Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies. Baez came back out to his position for the third inning, but after one batter he sought attention from the athletic trainer and walked off the field, being replaced by Mike Freeman. The Cubs said after the game Baez was suffering from blurred vision because of the blow near his right eye but that he was not in concussion protocol. He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for further tests but was expected to fly to Pittsburgh on Monday morning to join the Cubs, who begin a four-game series against the Pirates. The team expressed optimism about Baez's health, but there is no denying his importance to the team, especially with starting shortstop Addison Russell on the disabled for about two more weeks with a foot injury. "He's pretty important," said manager Joe Maddon. "He's been playing so well, and you can feel difference, obviously. But hopefully, like we're talking about right now, it's going to be minor and the fact that he'll be back tomorrow, we won't have to jones over all of that stuff, or Baez over all of it. "He's very important to us right now. You cannot deny that." Baez is a hard-nosed player, but Maddon said he has "no issues, none" with Baez sliding head first. The Cubs (75-61) had their winning streak snapped at six and saw their lead in the National League Central cut to 3½ games over the second-place Milwaukee Brewers. Mike Montgomery (5-7) pitched 5 innings for the Cubs, giving up 5 hits and 3 runs. He also acknowledged the importance of Baez to the team. "Javy's one of the best shortstops in the league, hands down," he said. "It's unfortunate that he came out like that. I hope he's going to be all right. I think he's going to be all right. We need him. He's a big part of this offense and defense." The Braves got a run in the first and 2 in the fourth against Montgomery. Ian Happ tied the game in the second with his 21st homer of the season, off Max Fried. The Braves added 2 in the ninth against Felix Pena, but Maddon was more than happy with a 6-1 homestand. "Please, I'd be an idiot to not be happy," he said. "We played great all week. We've done so many things well all week. There's no way a loss and winning a four-game series is going to drive me down." --

Daily Herald Dillon pitches scoreless inning in debut By Bruce Miles Right-handed reliever Dillon Maples made his major-league debut with the Chicago Cubs in Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field. Maples worked the top of the sixth inning, getting a pair of groundouts before walking Dansby Swanson. He then struck out Rio Ruiz, and Cubs catcher Rene Rivera saved the ball for Maples. "The buildup was something I've never experienced before," said the 25-year-old Maples, the Cubs' 14th-round pick in 2011. "But as far as being out there, it felt all the same. "Obviously, you're going to be really anxious. It's just a matter of quelling those nerves, and I was able to do that. Once I got out there, it was just me and Rivera." Maples said he would give the strikeout ball to his mother. Ready for some football: The Cubs took off for Pittsburgh wearing NFL jerseys. Manager Joe Maddon said he was going as "Coach Ditka," referring to former Bears tight end and Super-Bowl winning coach Mike Ditka. He said he also had a Joe Namath jersey for the trip home. Maddon, Ditka and Namath all are from Pennsylvania. Pitcher Jake Arrieta had a Bears Dick Butkus jersey, and right fielder Jason Heyward had a Bears Gale Sayers jersey. "More of an admiration," Heyward said. "That's a really good one to have. It's cool a lot of history in it. I know my dad will like this one." Rob Z is back: The Cubs on Sunday recalled left-handed pitcher Rob Zastryzny from Class AAA Iowa. There are now 32 players on the active roster. Zastryzny, 25, joins the Cubs for the fourth time this season. He has made 1 relief appearance with the club this season during his first stint in May. He went 2-3 with 1 save and a 5.94 ERA in 14 appearances, 7 as a starter, with Iowa this season. Getting them both work: Rene Rivera started at catcher for the second straight game. It's likely Alex Avila will start Monday's series opener at Pittsburgh. The two catchers are filling in for starter Willson Contreras, who is on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. The Cubs hope to have Contreras back by late September. "But it's nice to have both of these guys," Joe Maddon said. "I feel comfortable with either one out there. While the other one's playing, the other one's resting, which is good for us, too." -- Cubs.com Arrieta tries to extend torrid stretch vs. Bucs By Bob Cohn and Carrie Muskat Meaningful baseball, at least in terms of the postseason, returns to PNC Park starting Monday.

The Cubs are coming to town. The home team might be down, but the Cubs are on the rise, separating themselves from the rest of the National League Central, but not by enough to hit cruise control. Not yet, anyway. "It's crunch time here and the race is heating up," Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant said. "It makes for fun baseball. I know everybody here shows up ready to go and focused. I don't think there's added pressure. It's more fun because the games mean more." Key to the club's surge has been Jake Arrieta, who is scheduled to start the opener of the four-game series. After a slow start, the veteran right-hander is looking more like the pitcher who was 40-14 with a 2.39 ERA the last two seasons. After 10 starts in 2017, Arieta found himself saddled with a 5-4 record and a 4.92 ERA. But the 2015 National League Cy Young Award winner has turned this season around, going 9-4 with a 2.49 ERA. He has been even better since the All-Star break (6-1, 1.59). In his most recent start, Arrieta, the NL Pitcher of the Month for August, held the Pirates scoreless over six innings in a 4-1 Cubs victory. Lacking his best, he still was effective. "I feel confident that even if I don't have my good stuff, or if I'm without two pitches, the two pitches I have are more than enough to get the job done," he said. Right-hander Chad Kuhl (6-10, 4.54), the scheduled Pirates starter, has been up and down -- mostly down. After three effective outings to start the season, Kuhl hit the skids, his ERA rising to 6.29 in late May. He has since whittled it down, but hasn't exceeded 5 1/3 innings in each of his past seven outings. Three things to know about this game • After the All-Star break, Arrieta has yielded four home runs in 56 2/3 innings. Opponents are hitting .189 with a 574 OPS, and he has walked 17 while striking out 54. • Kuhl is giving up an average of 0.8 home runs per nine innings, which would put him in a tie for second place in the Majors with the Nationals' Stephen Strasburg and the Brewers' Jimmy Nelson, but he falls just short of having enough innings to qualify. • Alex Avila was expected to catch for the Cubs on Monday. Manager Joe Maddon says he'll rotate between Avila, a left-handed hitter, and Rene Rivera, a right-handed batter, depending on the opposing pitcher. -- Cubs.com Baez (eye) hurt in collision, likely back soon By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- The Cubs' Javier Baez experienced blurred vision from a collision at second base and had to leave the Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Braves. Baez was taken to a local hospital to be examined and manager Joe Maddon said he did not expect the shortstop to miss much time. "He's pretty important," Maddon said of Baez, who has been the Cubs' everyday shortstop since early August when Addison Russell was injured. "He's been playing so well. You can feel the difference, obviously [when he came out of the game]. Hopefully, it'll be minor and he'll be back [Monday] and we won't have to [worry] over all of it. He's very important to us right now, I cannot deny that." Baez had walked with one out in the second inning and tried to steal second, appearing to hit his head on second baseman Ozzie Albies' knee. Baez was called out, but the Cubs challenged the call, which stood after a review.

Baez took the field for the Braves' third, but after one batter, athletic trainer PJ Mainville went out to check on the shortstop, who was then lifted from the game. He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital to be evaluated. A team spokesman said the initial tests were positive and that Baez was not in concussion protocol. When Maddon first went to check on Baez after the slide, the shortstop said he was OK. "I put my hand on his shoulder and said, 'Are you all right? Can you stay in?' and he said 'Yes, I'm fine,'" Maddon said. Maddon was watching the Braves bat in the third and pitcher John Lackey, who was in the dugout, told the manager to check on Baez. "Lackey said, 'Joe, heads up -- Javy,'" Maddon said. "That's the first time I was aware." Baez was expected to stay in Chicago overnight Sunday and join the team Monday in Pittsburgh for the start of a four-game series against the Pirates. "Javy's one of the best shortstops in the league, hands down," Cubs pitcher Mike Montgomery said. "It's unfortunate he came out like that. I hope he'll be all right. We need him. He's a big part of this offense and defense. Hopefully, he'll be all right and be back in there shortly.'" Mike Freeman, promoted from Triple-A Iowa on Friday, took over at shortstop. The Cubs are thin there with Russell being sidelined since Aug. 3 with a right foot strain. Russell aggravated his injury last week, and was expected to be sidelined three more weeks. Baez doubled and homered Saturday and was batting .271. "I saw the play where he slid in and then he came back in and said he was OK," Freeman said. "I was walking back in the tunnel and somebody said, 'You're in the game.' "If anything, maybe it's good to give him a break," Freeman said of Baez. "I know he's been playing his tail off for a while. ... You can't replace Javy Baez and I'm not going to try. Hopefully, he's OK. It's all about winning and I want to win as much as anybody. He's a guy this team needs to win down the stretch. I'm certainly rooting for him." Maddon said Ben Zobrist may get some work at shortstop. "I was looking for a day off for Javy and maybe this happened in a bizarre way and got him off his feet," Maddon said. -- Cubs.com Cubs shut down as win streak ends at 6 By Carrie Muskat and Mark Bowman CHICAGO -- In his first Major League start, rookie lefty Max Fried combined with four Braves relievers to end the Cubs' winning streak at six games. The lefty scattered four hits, including a solo homer by Ian Happ, over five innings in the Braves' 5-1 victory over the Cubs on Sunday at Wrigley Field. With the loss and the Brewers' win over the Nationals on Sunday, the Cubs' lead in the National League Central is 3 1/2 games. Chicago had outscored its opponents, 49-19, in the six games before Sunday. "With the short looks we had [at Fried], I didn't really know what to expect," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "But you can see what everybody was talking about. He was real efficient and made pitches when he had to and allowed himself to stay out there and get that win."

Fried, 23, the Braves' No. 10 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com, missed most of 2014 and all of '15 with Tommy John surgery. He had made four relief appearances before this start. The lefty not only kept the Cubs in check, but helped himself on defense, including a play in the fifth when he fielded Jason Heyward's comebacker and was able to make an off-balance throw to second to get Happ. Happ did launch a Fried fastball 419 feet (per Statcast™) to left in the second for his 21st home run, which tied the game at 1. Rio Ruiz hit an RBI single in the fourth and a two-run single in the ninth for the Braves, who avoided being shut out in the seven-game season series with the win. Ruiz's career-high three-RBI performance was aided by fellow rookie Dansby Swanson, who singled in the fourth and doubled in the ninth to leave him with a .400 batting average and a 1.063 OPS over his past 19 games. "It's definitely nice to be a part of," Ruiz said. "We just have to continue to get going. This was a good series for a lot of the rookies." Mike Montgomery gave up three runs over five innings and took the loss, but the bright spot for the Cubs' pitching came in the sixth, when Dillon Maples made his Major League debut. The right-hander, who has battled injuries and considered quitting one year ago, walked one and struck out Ruiz to end the inning. Maples got the ball from the strikeout and planned on giving it to his mother. "He did a really wonderful job and I mentioned that he got out some really good hitters and his response to me was, 'It was just me and the catcher,' which I loved," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "I thought that was outstanding. I hope he never loses that perspective or concept." Said Maples: "The buildup was something I never experienced before but as far as being out there, it was the same. ... Now it's just about feeling like you belong out there." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Good timing: Freddie Freeman doubled to open the Braves' fourth and moved up when Matt Kemp flied out to right. Nick Markakis then walked, and Swanson and Ruiz each followed with RBI singles to go ahead, 3-1. Freeman says his previously fractured left wrist has been feeling weak, but he notched multihit performances in the final two games of the series and has six extra-base hits in his past 25 at-bats. Baez banged up, but OK: Javier Baez slid head-first into second base trying to steal in the Chicago second, colliding with second baseman Ozzie Albies. Baez appeared to be shaken up but stayed in the game defensively to start the Braves third. But he only lasted one batter and then was pulled. Baez, who has been starting at short since Addison Russell was injured Aug. 3, experienced blurred vision and was taken to a Chicago hospital to be examined. The initial examination was positive, and he was not expected to miss much time. "He's pretty important," Maddon said of Baez. "Hopefully, it'll be minor and he'll be back [Monday] and we won't have to [worry] over all of it. He's very important to us right now, I cannot deny that." QUOTABLE "We've played great all week. We've done so many things well all week. There's no way a loss and not winning a four-game series will drag me down. I got my Coach [Mike] Ditka jersey ready. We're planning on going to get some wings tonight as a staff. There's a lot to look forward to." -- Maddon "That thing just keeps breaking. I know that's hard to get a hold of because it has a lot of break and it keeps breaking. It's nice when a guy has a knack for that because it's a huge weapon for him." -- Snitker on Fried, who recorded four swings and misses and three called strikes on the 15 curveballs he threw

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Montgomery took the loss, his first since July 6, snapping a four-game winning streak. He has a 1.88 ERA in his past four starts. With his 21st home run, Happ ranks fifth all-time among Cubs rookies, passing Tyler Colvin, who hit 20 in 2010. SWANSON HEATING UP Swanson has eight multihit performances in his past 19 games. He totaled just 13 over the 95 games played before he was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on July 26. UPON FURTHER REVIEW With one out in the Cubs' second, Baez walked and tried to steal second during Happ's at-bat. Baez was called out, but the Cubs challenged the ruling. After a review, the call stood. WHAT'S NEXT Braves: R.A. Dickey will take the mound when Atlanta returns to SunTrust Park to open a three-game Interleague series against the Rangers on Monday at 7:35 p.m. ET. Dickey threw a season-high 121 pitches as he limited the Phillies to one run over eight innings Wednesday. Cubs: Jake Arrieta, named the NL Pitcher of the Month for August, will face the Pirates in his first September start Monday to open a four-game set. The right-hander led the Majors in August in ERA. He's 3-0 with a 0.75 ERA in his last four starts. First pitch is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. CT at PNC Park. -- Cubs.com Sizzling August nets Arrieta NL pitching honor By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- Jake Arrieta, who went 4-1 with a 1.21 ERA in six starts last month, was named the National League Pitcher of the Month for August on Sunday. Arrieta posted the lowest ERA in the Majors during the month. The right-hander leads the Cubs with 14 wins. "Our staff in general has been pitching really well, but him especially," Cubs catcher Alex Avila said. "With the movement and the deception he has in his delivery , when he's locating, he's one of the toughest pitchers to square up as a hitter." In Arrieta's last start against the Pirates, he posted his eighth quality start in nine outings since the All-Star break. Arrieta opened the month against the D-backs on Aug. 2 and struck out eight over seven innings, giving up one earned run on three hits. He held opponents to a .201 batting average against. This is the fourth time Arrieta, the 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner, has won a Pitcher of the Month Award. He also did so in back-to-back months in 2015 (August and September) and in April 2016. -- Cubs.com Cubs firmly believe Rizzo is NL MVP-worthy By Carrie Muskat

CHICAGO -- For the third straight season, Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo has hit 30 doubles, 30 homers and driven in 100 runs. Is he a candidate for the Most Valuable Player Award in the National League? "Absolutely," said Kris Bryant, Rizzo's teammate and the reigning NL MVP. "It doesn't help that some guys are playing out of their minds. It's one of those weird years." Miami's Giancarlo Stanton is one of those players Bryant was referring to -- and he was watching Stanton highlights Sunday as he talked about Rizzo. "This is quality stuff that's going on -- the homers, the RBIs, and they're clutch RBIs, and don't underestimate his defense," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of Rizzo. "I know Stanton is having a great year, I understand that, and I know a couple guys with the Dodgers are having good years, I get that. If [Rizzo] keeps this pace up in September, he'll make a strong push for it." In August, Rizzo was third in the NL with 30 RBIs (Stanton was first with 37), and he hit seven homers and nine doubles. Maddon doesn't think the MVP needs to come from a team that makes the postseason. "I don't think it necessarily matters," Maddon said. "I think overriding talent should win. If a guy goes out and plays better than everybody else, he deserves it." "He's definitely that guy who gives you a good at-bat, he's focused, ready to go," Bryant said of Rizzo. • Javier Baez has been the Cubs' full-time shortstop since Addison Russell went on the disabled list with a right foot strain Aug. 3. Maddon is trying to find a spot to give Baez a breather, and may do so this week in Pittsburgh. • The Cubs tweaked the rotation and will keep Kyle Hendricks and Jon Lester on their regular schedule, but inserted Mike Montgomery for another start Sunday. Will Montgomery stay? Maddon said they're still deciding. "If we think it's a good idea to put him back out there, we will," Maddon said. • Cubs players will wear NFL jerseys on the trip to Pittsburgh. Maddon has a Mike Ditka jersey for the flight to Pittsburgh and a Joe Namath jersey for the return. Alex Avila had a Dan Marino jersey, Hector Rondon was to wear Rob Gronkowski, Ben Zobrist had a Roger Staubach jersey, Jake Arrieta had a Dick Butkus No. 51 Bears top, and Baez was going with a No. 13 Odell Beckham Jr. jersey. Bryant opted for a shirt from the movie, "The Longest Yard," and chose the "Mean Machine." • Left-hander Rob Zastryzny was recalled from Triple-A Iowa, raising the Cubs' active roster to 32. -- ESPNChicago.com Jake Arrieta is reminding us just how great he can be By Jesse Rogers PITTSBURGH -- It was just a few months ago that the idea of Jake Arrieta winning an award this season seemed as far from happening as the Chicago Cubs repeating as division champions. But here they are, in early September, having turned a 5.5-game All-Star break deficit into a 3.5-game lead in the National League Central, and Arrieta was just named August’s Pitcher of the Month. The tide has certainly changed for player and team in a short amount of time. “I joke with my friends,” Arrieta said. “I tell them how I think I’m going to finish the second half. I don’t know if I’ll verbalize that to [the media]. [But] I’m very confident.” That quote from Arrieta wasn't on Sunday after he won the award for his play in August -- that was said on July 15, after his first start of the second half. He knew something the rest of us didn’t, because Arrieta’s ERA going into that game was 4.35, and his season to that point was hardly Player of the Month worthy. But after allowing just

one earned run in that start, his ERA began to steadily decline. It has now dropped to 3.36 as Arrieta gets ready to take the mound in Pittsburgh on Monday night entering a new month -- his last before free agency. “I still have my best pitching ahead of me,” Arrieta said in August. The Cubs -- and his agent -- sure hope so, because Arrieta wasn’t himself for much of the first half. The same could be said for a lot of Cubs coming off their World Series victory, but it was Arrieta who stood to make a huge payday with a solid season. Two straight long playoff appearances combined with shorter offseasons zapped Arrieta’s velocity, which meant he had to reinvent himself. According to ESPN Stats & Information, his average fastball velocity is down by 2.5 mph since 2015, from 94.6 to 92.1 mph. That lack of zip showed up when Arrieta made mistakes. One of his toughest outings came on the road in Colorado on May 9, when he lasted just 3.2 innings, giving up nine hits and nine runs. “I didn’t think it was good,” Arrieta said after that game. “Not at all. Just too many hittable pitches in the middle of the plate.” Those hittable pitches used to be fouled off or swung through, but it took time to adjust to an average fastball of 92.1 mph. His agent, Scott Boras, insisted he could still be an elite pitcher at that speed. But when would we see it? Arrieta’s ERA after that game was 5.35. It climbed to a season-high 5.44 after his next start. Slowly, he adjusted, but his attitude never changed. Like his team, frustration never set in. “What good is the opposite going to do?” Arrieta said toward the end of May. “If you panic, if you’re worried, we still have to show up and play a game every day. There’s no time to panic.” The further Arrieta got into the season, the more refined his delivery became. And whether he knew, he started to understand what he could get away with while throwing at a lower velocity. Perfecting his unique, cross-body pitching style enabled him to find the strike zone more, from 48.9 percent of the time over his first 16 starts to 52.4 percent over his last 11. The movement of his pitches returned and though contact went up with more strikes, he started keeping the ball in the park. “Allowing myself to get on top of the baseball and drive it down through the strike zone," Arrieta explained between starts in July as things started to turn around. “When I do that, it creates difficulty with the hitter.” The result has been a stellar run since July 1, not just the All-Star break. His 1.69 ERA in his 11 starts over that span is the lowest in the game, and coincidence or not, he has thrived since he parted ways with catcher Miguel Montero, who called him out for not holding runners on. Before Montero was traded to the Blue Jays on July 3, Arrieta had a 6.56 ERA in seven starts with him behind the plate, and baserunners were 12-for-12 in stolen base attempts. Arrieta has a 2.43 ERA this season with all other catchers. That progress culminated in August, when Arrieta compiled a 1.21 ERA over six starts. It’s all a far cry from when Arrieta was at his worst. In the first half, he had a cut on his thumb or sweat in his palms or something else that wasn’t working for him. It just never felt right. “Looked for some dry territory,” he said after giving up five hits and four runs in a losing decision against the Dodgers on May 26. “Some rosin, dirt, pants. Couldn’t find it. Tried to take something off, hit a guy in the back. Threw a curveball to the backstop. “It’s a helpless feeling when you can’t put pressure on the ball and execute a pitch.” It was always something for Arrieta until he simply figured things out. Time was his friend, not his enemy. And now he’s thriving again, just as he did in the second half of 2015. There probably won’t be a Cy Young Award waiting for him in November, but there could be a big contract -- whether it’s with the Cubs or another club. Someone always pays, Arrieta has been known to say.

If things continue for him the way they have, then on Monday it’ll be the Pirates who might be paying in the form of a tough night in the batter’s box. Arrieta is back. And so are the first-place Cubs. “I’m always very confident in what I can do,” Arrieta said in late July. “If I pitch the way I’m capable, it’s tough for these guys to hit me.” Arrieta has uttered those kinds of sentiments often in his career. He has never lacked for confidence, just as he has never lacked for great stuff. Both are helping the Cubs when they need it most. -- CSNChicago.com Breathe easy: Cubs get good news on Javy Baez after head injury By Tony Andracki The Cubs can now breathe easy after Javy Baez appears to have avoided any serious injury with his head/eye. Baez was forced out of Sunday's game after a scary collision at second base. He was picked off by Atlanta Braves pitcher Max Fried in the second inning and as Baez slid headfirst into second base, his face slammed into Ozzie Albies' knee. Baez initially stayed in the game and went out to the field for the beginning of the third, but after one hitter, the dynamic shortstop summoned to the Cubs dugout and removed himself from the game. The young shortstop was complaining of blurred vision in his eye in that third inning, but that subsided shortly after he came out of the game. He will stay in Chicago Sunday evening for further evaluation at Northwestern, but the plan after that is for him to hop on a plane Monday morning to fly to Pittsburgh and the Cubs hope he can be ready for that afternoon's game. Baez was never entered into concussion protocol. With Addison Russell suffering a setback and not guaranted to return in 2017, Javy Baez might be the team's most indispensable player. Beyond Baez, the Cubs' shortstop depth is awfully thin with 36-year-old Ben Zobrist and journeyman infielder Mike Freeman the only two options. Russell suffered a setback last week on his foot injury and will be out at least three more weeks, casting some serious doubt on if he will be able to return with enough time before the postseason begins. Joe Maddon said prior to Sunday's game he is looking for a spot to give Baez a rest to keep him fresh down the stretch. But Baez has been showing his #ElMago routine on a daily basis either in the field, on the bases or at the plate, so it's been hard to get him out of the lineup. "He's pretty important," Maddon said after Sunday's 5-1 loss. "He's been playing so well. You could feel the difference, obviously. But hopefully like we're talking about right now, it's gonna be minor and hopefully he'll be back tomorrow and we won't have to Jones — or Baez — over all that other stuff. Yeah, he's very important to us right now. I cannot deny that." That decision was been made for Maddon and Co., however, as Baez played just over two innings in Sunday's game. Moving forward, Maddon said the team will be cautious with Baez and if there's any doubt, he will not be in Monday's lineup. Either way, Maddon acknowledged the possible need for the Cubs to get Zobrist some more action at shortstop to give Baez a breather down the stretch. Besides the injury, the Cubs were upset Baez was still ruled out on the play at second base, even after a review. Both Maddon and Anthony Rizzo were incredulous the "out" call on the field was not overturned. Ian Happ hit a homer two pitches later for the Cubs' only run of the ballgame.

Despite the head injuries — Baez also avoided major injury on a collision with Jason Heyward in April — and a past history of hand issues, Maddon has "no issues" with Baez continuing to slide headfirst. -- CSNChicago.com Cubs weighing the possibility of keeping six-man rotation intact for stretch run By Tony Andracki The Cubs' offense has been fun to watch lately, but the team's 32-16 record since the All-Star Break has more to do with the starting rotation than the group of hitters Joe Maddon writes out on the lineup card each day. Jake Arrieta is rolling, Kyle Hendricks and Jon Lester are now both healthy and off the disabled list and John Lackey has rediscovered the fountain of youth, the Cubs have been able to right the ship even if Jose Quintana hasn't lived up to his pedigree since the mid-July trade. Mike Montgomery has also been a huge factor in the rotation, rattling off back-to-back quality starts in Lester's stead before taking the loss Sunday after allowing three runs in five innings to the Atlanta Braves. The question now is whether or not the Cubs keep Montgomery in the rotation after Lester's return Saturday. Joe Maddon said before Montgomery's start Sunday the Cubs haven't yet made a determination on rolling with a six-man rotation, but they will know within a day or two so they can communicate with Montgomery and let him prepare for either another start in six days or a move back to the bullpen. "It's possible [to stick with a six-man rotation]," Maddon said. "We're still trying to go step-by-step with this thing. We're trying to look at the big picture — every team we're playing and now that we have an extra guy, you can manipulate things a little bit. So that's what we're working on moving forward. He may get another start." Maddon shot down the idea of performance having any impact on Montgomery's rotation life, acknowledging one start is way too small a sample size. "Those are the conversations we're having," Cubs GM Jed Hoyer said. "First of all, [Montgomery's] earned being a member of the starting rotation and we have to decide are there times we're going to go with six? Are there times we're going to go back to five and really make some decisions based on our schedule, based on rest? "Right now, we're playing a stretch of 20 in a row, so giving guys an extra day of rest makes a lot of sense. How we'll proceed going forward, I'm not sure. We really will go rotation turn by rotation turn and make those decisions, but as far as what he's done, I think he's earned that and he's really pitched well for us." The Cubs haven't released anything official yet beyond the rotation for the four-game series with the Pirates in Pittsburgh this week: Monday — Jake Arrieta Tuesday — Kyle Hendricks Wednesday — Jose Quintana Thursday — Jon Lester Maddon did, however, indicate Lackey would be in line to start Friday to kick off the Milwaukee Brewers series at Wrigley Field. That turn through the rotation gives Arrieta, Quintana and Lackey an extra day of rest while Hendricks and Lester remain on a five-day rotation to build up arm strength and stamina after missing time with injuries. The Cubs have kept careful watch over their starters all year after they pitched into November last fall. With their eyes on another deep postseason run, Maddon has yet to push any of the team's veteran starting pitchers much

beyond the 100-pitch mark. That — coupled with time off on the disabled list for Hendricks, Lester and Lackey — the Cubs feel good about the state of the rotation in the season's final month. Maddon admitted Lester's two-plus weeks off could actually be a blessing in disguise. "Once you know it's not really anything bad and you know he's gonna be back relatively soon, then you look at that positive side," Maddon said. "Plus you have Mike Montgomery to fill in, so that also helps with that, too. "Kyle Hendricks earlier went through the same thing and look at him right now and then also look at the number of innings pitched he had to this point, too. Good stuff. "You never want injuries, but it's a long year and if you have the appropriate guys to fill in the gaps and guys get rest, then here we come this time of year and all of the sudden, everybody's well and healthy and somewhat rested." When the Cubs have moved to six-man rotations in the recent past, pitchers like Lester, Lackey and Arrieta have balked at the decisions, preferring to remain on a five-day rotation as veteran creatures of habit. But Lester seemed resigned to the thought of keeping Montgomery in the starting fold. "I just work here," Lester said Saturday, echoing the exact sentiment Lackey stated after Friday's start. "I don't know. At the end of the day, they're gonna make decisions that they feel are necessary for this ballclub. No matter what you say, negative or positive, it doesn't really matter. "Just tell me when I'm pitching next and I'll go out there and pitch. That's all I can do. In the grand scheme of things, everybody in that clubhouse just works here. If people above us make decisions then that's what you do. They're above us for a reason. They make educated decisions and they have reasons behind those decisions. "You just pitch when you're told. That's kinda how I look at it." Montgomery is no stranger to this purgatory type of situation. He's spent plenty of time — especially in a CUbs uniform — bouncing back and forth between the rotation and the bullpen. Moving forward, regardless of role, he knows the preparation is still the same. "It's getting late in the year, so just be smart, get the proper rest and really rebuild the legs and get everything ready for the stretch run," Montgomery said after Sunday's start. "I don't know what I'm gonna be doing the rest of the year, but just put a plan together and stay at that top performance level. That's gonna be the focus from here on out." -- CSNChicago.com Riding another hot streak, Jake Arrieta named NL Pitcher of the Month By Tony Andracki Jake Arrieta isn't quite making history the way he did in the second half of 2015, but the Cubs pitcher has been on another incredible roll. Major League Baseball awarded Arrieta the National League Pitcher of the Month honor Sunday morning after he went 4-1 with a 1.21 ERA in six August starts, striking out 37 batters in 37.1 innings. Arrieta had a superhuman stretch in the second half of 2015, setting an MLB record with an 0.75 ERA as he went 12-1 and only allowed 78 baserunners in 107.1 innings to key the Cubs' surge into the playoffs. He also beat out Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke for the NL Cy Young Award and was named PItcher of the Month in both August and September that season.

This season, Arrieta has a 1.59 ERA in the second half and is 6-1 with a 0.97 WHIP. But he's having the same effect on his team as the Cubs have found their rhythm since the All-Star Break and look poised to make another run into October. Arrieta, meanwhile, has succeeded in shutting up doubters as he has risen above a dip in velocity and found his consistency as he gears up for what he hopes will be a monster contract in free agency this winter. On the season as a whole, the 31-year-old Arrieta is 14-8 with a 3.36 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 27 starts. The Cubs are not utilizing him like they did in 2015, however, when he ran into a wall in the NLDS and NLCS. After back-to-back deep postseason runs, Joe Maddon is thinking big picture and taking out Arrieta earlier in ballgames, as he's only surpassed 100 pitches six times in 27 starts. Arrieta will also get an extra day in between outings with Mike Montgomery staying in the rotation for another start Sunday against the Atlanta Braves. Corey Kluber, whom the Cubs faced three times in the World Series last fall, won the AL Pitcher of the Month award after winning five games with 54 strikeouts and a 1.96 ERA in August. --