June 7, 2017

CSNChicago.com, Jake Arrieta Looks Like His Old Self As Cubs Win Fifth Straight http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/jake-arrieta-looks-his-old-self-cubs-win-fifth-straight

CSNChicago.com, Jason Heyward Making All-Star Push In Bounce-Back Season: 'Everything He's Hitting Is Like On The Barrel' http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/jason-heyward-making-all-star-push-bounce-back-season-everything-hes-hitting-barrel

CSNChicago.com, Why Theo Epstein Believes Cubs Offense Will Click On All Cylinders http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/why-theo-epstein-believes-cubs-offense-will-click-all-cylinders

CSNChicago.com, The Iowa Cubs Did Something Last Night The Big League Team Hasn't Done In More Than Two Decades http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/iowa-cubs-did-something-last-night-big-league-team-hasnt-done-more-two-decades

Chicago Tribune, Jake Arrieta recovers from rocky first as Cubs maul Marlins 10-2 http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-marlins-spt-0607-20170606-story.html

Chicago Tribune, A look at the All-Star battles, and where the Cubs' players stand http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-cubs-all-star-chances-sullivan-spt-0607-20170606-column.html

Chicago Tribune, 'Really good' sinker helps Jake Arrieta sink the Marlins http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-jake-arrieta-sinker-pitch-20170607-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Joe Maddon on Cubs' surge: 'The guys are starting to feel it more' http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-joe-maddon-jason-heyward-20170606-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs manager Joe Maddon gleans managing tips from best-selling 1994 book http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-notes-cubs-marlins-spt-0607-20170606-story.html

Chicago Sun-Times, Jake Arrieta sighting: Cub righty returns to form in rout of Marlins http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/jake-arrieta-sighting-cub-righty-returns-to-form-in-rout-of-marlins/

Chicago Sun-Times, Three decades after MVP season, Andre Dawson is stronger than ever http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/three-decades-after-mvp-season-andre-dawson-is-stronger-than-ever/

Chicago Sun-Times, Hard knocks: Albert Almora Jr. bruised in BP altercation with wall http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/hard-knocks-albert-almora-jr-bruised-in/

Daily Herald, Cubs give dominating performance in win over Marlins http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170606/cubs-give-dominating-performance-in-win-over-marlins

Daily Herald, Montgomery 'invaluable' out of Chicago Cubs' bullpen http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170606/montgomery-invaluable-out-of-chicago-cubs-bullpen

Cubs.com, Rizzo, Heyward club Cubs to 5th straight win http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/234795618/cubs-pound-marlins-for-5th-straight-win/

Cubs.com, Arrieta passes 1st-inning test, holds off Fish http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/234872130/jake-arrieta-withstands-first-inning-for-win/

Cubs.com, Heyward cleaning up for Cubs batting 5th http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/234878012/jason-heyward-on-roll-batting-5th-for-cubs/

Cubs.com, Bryant not shy about hitting into wind http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/234755786/kris-bryant-challenges-wind-at-wrigley-field/?topicId=27118368

ESPNChicago.com, West Coast 'wake-up call' sparks offensive surge for Cubs http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/44509/west-coast-wake-up-call-sparks-offensive-surge-for-cubs

-- CSNChicago.com Jake Arrieta Looks Like His Old Self As Cubs Win Fifth Straight By Patrick Mooney It’s hard to not view Jake Arrieta in the extreme when he has transformed himself from a Triple-A pitcher thinking about quitting baseball into a Cy Young Award winner and a World Series hero. This is someone who trolls fans on Twitter, poses naked for ESPN the Magazine and says whatever he wants to reporters. He is the centerpiece to one of the greatest trades in franchise history and a major part of one of the biggest stories ever in professional sports. From the frustrating lows with the Baltimore Orioles to the dizzying highs as a Cub, the arc of this story doesn’t lend itself to measured responses or detached analysis. After being must-see TV for the no-hitter possibilities, Arrieta Watch has morphed into referendums on what he will get paid as a free agent this winter. Sometimes, it feels like it’s either Max Scherzer money or one wrong mechanical tweak or velocity downtick away from falling over the cliff. When in reality this game is way too hard to be understood as a daily stock chart. Just like the Cubs as a whole, Arrieta is too confident, polished and accomplished to be fluctuating that wildly. Don’t look now, but the Cubs are on a five-game winning streak after Tuesday night’s 10-2 victory over the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field, where Arrieta settled into the kind of groove needed to keep this momentum rolling. “We haven’t necessarily changed our mindset or our outlook (just) based on our performance, negative or positive,” Arrieta said. “That’s probably the most important thing we can do — just stay even-keel — whether we’re going well or not. “Put the night prior behind you and show up for the next game as prepared as possible and try and win that ballgame. That’s what we do so well when we’re winning games consistently.” That feeling starts with a lights-out rotation. After giving up back-to-back walks, handing the Marlins a 1-0 lead and throwing 34 pitches in the first inning, Arrieta retired 16 hitters in a row and walked off the mound to a standing ovation in the seventh inning from the crowd of 34,082. Coming home from an 0-for-6 West Coast trip, the Cubs (30-27) have swept the St. Louis Cardinals and surged into a first-place tie with the Milwaukee Brewers.

“Any time we go through a period like (that), it kind of increases the sense of urgency a little bit,” Arrieta said. “Not necessarily pressing or trying to do more than we’re capable of, but just maybe trying to get locked in a little more, as far as our mental approach. “It's just focusing exclusively on that and allowing our ability to show through without putting added pressure on ourselves. It’s really starting to pay off. This is a ballclub that’s capable of winning 10, 12 games at a time in a row.” Just like super-agent Scott Boras, manager Joe Maddon downplayed any issues with Arrieta’s velocity or the idea of a new reality for a pitcher who has been so good at freezing hitters, creating soft contact and minimizing damage. “We’re not talking about a whole lot of difference,” Maddon said. “I still see a lot of 92-93s and 94s compared to like 93, 94, 95 maybe, so it’s still a significant velocity. It’s not like he’s just flipping it up there. I’ll take what they call the effective velocity by throwing it where he wants to throw it. “If he’s able to command that thing where he wants to, those numbers absolutely play. Nobody even talks enough about it, but he’s got a great curveball and the cutter/slider was a big thing a couple years ago (and) I think the changeup’s developing yet, too. “He’s got four above-average pitches. He just needs to command his fastball at any velocity and he will be very successful.” It’s a good sign when Arrieta gets 10 groundball outs against the Marlins and continues to pile up the strikeouts (76) against the walks (20) this season. If this offense and defense plays up to its capabilities, it’s easy to picture Arrieta (6-4) winning around 15 games, as long as he maintains the durability that will be attractive on the open market. Maddon pulled Arrieta after 100 pitches, when J.T. Realmuto tripled leading off the seventh inning. The Marlins managed just two hits and two runs against Arrieta, whose ERA has dropped almost a full run down to 4.46 since the middle of May. There will be more peaks and more valleys in Arrieta’s walk year, which is off to a so-so start that will ultimately be defined by how the Cubs finish. “I don’t think that has anything to do with Jake right now,” Maddon said. “I don’t think it’s mental. I don’t think it’s any of that stuff. I just think he’s slowly getting back to where he had been. I’m seeing an uptick. “More than anything, I just think the fact that he’s trying to locate his fastball so much, that might be where you’re seeing a little bit of a drop, just by him trying to throw the ball where he wants to as opposed to just letting it rip. “But he will, because he’s physically fine. He’s well. You watch his workouts — they’re still incredibly insane. As soon as that fastball starts going where he wants to, it’s really going to take off again.” -- CSNChicago.com Jason Heyward Making All-Star Push In Bounce-Back Season: 'Everything He's Hitting Is Like On The Barrel' By Patrick Mooney Within nine months, Jason Heyward could go from the $184 million outfielder benched in the playoffs to a National League starter in the All-Star Game. Coming in third in the latest round of voting — just ahead of teammate Ben Zobrist — can’t just be Cubs fans thanking Heyward for his mythical speech during that rain delay in a World Series Game 7.

“Everything he’s hitting is like on the barrel,” manager Joe Maddon said after Heyward went 3-for-5 with two RBI doubles during Tuesday night’s 10-2 win over the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field. “It’s really fun to watch.” Heyward is universally respected for the way he handled the worst offensive season of his career and quickly moved to Arizona after the World Series celebration to break down and remodel his swing. Heyward’s .737 OPS is exactly the league average, but his true value is tied up in his Gold Glove defense, creativity on the bases and overall professional approach. He hasn’t made an All-Star team since his rookie year in 2010. “It means I’m doing something right,” Heyward said. “I’m doing something to help the team. I’m doing something to help the team win. And that’s what I want to try and do every night. “There’s a lot of different ways I can help us win. That’s it. If you’re trying to focus on that stuff, then everything else will take care of itself.” Even as Heyward couldn’t stop his offensive spiral last year, Maddon talked about how comfortable it made him to look out from the dugout and see such a game-changing defender in right field. Now Heyward is giving a jolt to a lineup that needs it and the Cubs are on a five-game winning streak (if not approaching another All-Star Game takeover). “I really dig him where he’s at right now in the five-hole, because he don’t care,” Maddon said. “Right- or left-handed pitcher right now, he don’t care. He’s giving you good at-bats against both sides of the plate. He’s giving you good at-bats against velocity. And he’s giving you good at-bats against breaking pitches. “He continues to trend in the right direction.” -- CSNChicago.com Why Theo Epstein Believes Cubs Offense Will Click On All Cylinders By Patrick Mooney What if the “hitting young” theme Cubs manager Joe Maddon keeps talking about lasts all season? What if team president Theo Epstein doesn’t see that anticipated growth until late in the year or this even drags into 2018? “I hope not,” Maddon said with a laugh. “You’d really have to roll snake eyes,” Epstein said skeptically. This is a 95- or 100-win team on paper that has already been at the .500 mark at 10 different points this season and hasn’t yet pulled away in the weakest division in Major League Baseball. Between going 0-for-6 on a West Coast trip and then sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals, the overreactions swing from “World Series hangover” to “The Cubs are back.” There doesn’t need to be any sweeping conclusions after Tuesday night’s 10-2 blowout where the Cubs beat an underwhelming starter (Jeff Locke) and a flawed Miami Marlins team to extend their winning streak to five games at Wrigley Field. As Epstein said without sarcasm — more of a reminder that the solutions will come from within rather than a trade-deadline deal or the shock treatment of demoting guys to the minors: “These players won the World Series.” The Cubs (30-27) always look better when Anthony Rizzo drills a three-run homer into the right-field bleachers, but this diversified approach also saw them score six runs on six hits in the seventh inning and finish at 6-for-16 with runners in scoring position Tuesday.

Still, more than one-third of the way through the 162-game marathon, the Cubs have already been shut out five times, beginning the day ranked 10th in the National League in OPS (.730) while hitting .216 with runners in scoring position (or next to last in the majors). Some of this is cyclical and a reflection of how Big Data can stifle offense. There are elements of bad luck and bad weather when you still need a winter coat in Wrigleyville in early June. But roughly 54 percent of the team’s 2,000-plus plate appearances this season have gone to seven players between the ages of 22 and 25: Ian Happ, Addison Russell, Albert Almora Jr., Kyle Schwarber, Javier Baez, Willson Contreras and Kris Bryant. Could this learning curve stretch through most — or all — of 2017? “I mean, it can,” Epstein said. “Usually not collectively. Teams are 25 individuals. You’d really have to roll snake eyes, regardless of age, for players to underperform their projections or their talent level that uniformly over the course of a whole season. “Could it happen? Yes, it could happen. We don’t think it’s going to happen. We also have a lot of good players. We have a lot of different lineups that we can put out there. We have a lot of different players that we can lean on to carry us. “We don’t need everyone to get hot. We don’t need everyone to hit their projection. We don’t need everyone to have a nice, steady progression building off of where they were last year. We just need a few guys to get going to make our offense really viable.” Russell (.636) and Schwarber (.635) are among the bottom 10 percent of all qualified big-league hitters in terms of OPS. Baez has walked three times since the beginning of May. Happ now has almost as many career games in The Show as he does on the Triple-A level (26) and will have to keep making adjustments. Contreras is in the middle of his first full season in the majors. Maddon is trying to make sure that Almora doesn’t get lost in the shuffle. “We need time,” Epstein said. “Over time, our guys are going to continue to progress. And when that gap (between talent and performance) exists, it’s a better position to be in than not having the talent, because then you’re fighting and scratching and clawing to get more talent because you’re not good enough. “But we are plenty talented. It’s on us to figure it out, sooner rather than later.” -- CSNChicago.com The Iowa Cubs Did Something Last Night The Big League Team Hasn't Done In More Than Two Decades By Staff The Iowa Cubs did something yesterday their major league counterparts haven't done in more than two decades. Iowa turned a triple play in Monday night's game against the Oklahoma City Dodgers. The big league Cubs haven't turned a triple play since early in the 1997 season, in the fifth inning of a 4-2 loss against the San Francisco Giants. Monday's triple play came when Iowa shortstop Elliot Soto caught a line drive off Charlie Culberson's bat. Soto then passed the ball to second baseman Chesney Young, who stepped on the base and tagged the base runner for the second and third outs. Unfortunately, the play was part of a 4-3 loss by Iowa. But still an impressive feat for these minor leaguers. -- Chicago Tribune Jake Arrieta recovers from rocky first as Cubs maul Marlins 10-2 By Mark Gonzales

After an inconsistent first two months, Jake Arrieta is showing more of the skill reminiscent of his 2015 National League Cy Young Award-winning season. The most noticeable difference Tuesday night against the Marlins was Arrieta often throwing in the 94 mph range. The uptick in his velocity made his other weapons, such as a sinker and big, breaking curveball, more effective. And after a 34-pitch first inning, Arrieta rediscovered the knack of pitching effectively and economically. Arrieta retired 17 of the next 18 batters as the Cubs pulled away to a 10-2 victory over the Marlins at windy Wrigley Field and extended their winning streak to a season-high five games. "Any time we go through a period like we did on our last trip, it increases the sense of urgency a little bit," Arrieta said of the Cubs' 0-6 trip that preceded their current streak. "Not necessarily pressing or trying to do more than we're capable of, but just maybe trying to get locked in a little more as far as our mental approach — focusing exclusively on that and allowing our ability to show through without added pressure on ourselves. We've been doing that the past five to six games, and it's starting to pay off. "This is a ballclub that is capable of winning 10, 12 games in a row." Arrieta (6-4) found his groove after issuing a walk to Marcell Ozuna to load the bases in the first. Although J.T. Realmuto grounded into a fielder's choice for one run, Arrieta relied more on his sinker and didn't allow another baserunner until Christian Yelich walked with two outs in the sixth. After Giancarlo Stanton singled with one out in the first, Arrieta didn't allow another hit until Realmuto doubled to right-center on his 100th and final pitch to open the seventh. Another step forward for the Cubs was their clutch hitting, as they went 6-for-16 with runners in scoring position, led by Anthony Rizzo's three-run homer with two outs in the fifth to wipe out a 1-0 deficit. "A great time to jell," Jason Heyward said. He was a big part of that as he drove in two runs with a pair of doubles and achieved his first three-hit game since Sept. 4 against the Giants to lift his batting average to .264. Left-handed hitting Jon Jay, who batted leadoff against the left-handed Jeff Locke, started the fifth-inning rally with a walk, and he capped the six-run seventh with a two-run double. The Cubs received a scare before the game when center fielder Albert Almora Jr. was injured while running into the wall during batting practice. Almora required medical attention but remained in the lineup and singled during the six-run seventh inning. Reliever Pedro Strop continued his renaissance after the Marlins cut the Cubs' lead to two on an Addison Russell error. Strop induced Tyler Moore to ground into a double play and struck out pinch-hitter Ichiro Suzuki to extend his scoreless streak to nine appearances. -- Chicago Tribune A look at the All-Star battles, and where the Cubs' players stand By Paul Sullivan Last year the Cubs made history when their entire infield started for the National League in the All-Star Game in San Diego, only the second team to do so after the 1963 Cardinals.

The Cubs owned the All-Star festivities that week with seven representatives, including the rehabbing Dexter Fowler, who was voted in as a starter despite being out with a hamstring injury. But this year's game in Miami looks like it might be a different story, thanks to an underachieving first two months of the season and a surprising lack of ballot-box stuffing from Cubs fans. It's early, but Kris Bryant and Jason Heyward are the Cubs' only two position players with enough votes to make the starting lineup, and no one else is hitting well enough right now to earn a reserve spot. Closer Wade Davis has earned a spot, though he was only fourth in saves Tuesday because of a lack of opportunities. That could leave Joe Maddon to carry the show as NL manager, a job he's well suited for. Here's a look at the battles, and where the Cubs' players stand: First base The Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman has passed Anthony Rizzo in voting, and for good reason. Zimmerman entered Tuesday leading the league in hitting (.372), RBIs (48) and slugging percentage (.704), and was tied for the lead in home runs (16). Rizzo is close behind in the voting, but if Zimmerman doesn't win there should an inquiry into Russian hacking. Paul Goldschmidt, Joey Votto, Eric Thames and Justin Bour all have better numbers so far than Rizzo, so he may have to count on Cubs fans to get him into the game in his hometown. Ben Zobrist won this spot last year and though he basically has split time at second with Javier Baez this year (30 starts for Baez, 24 for Zobrist), Baez is listed at second and Zobrist in the outfield. Baez is a distant second to Daniel Murphy, who obviously deserves to start. Barring a huge month of June, Baez is unlikely to be selected by players or the league. Shortstop Addison Russell made the start last year in his first full season, and still ranks third behind Corey Seager and Zack Cozart, in spite of his .213 average and .296 OBP. But Russell won't make the cut, and justifiably so. Third base Bryant has a seemingly comfortable lead over Nolan Arenado, who has similar offensive numbers and superior defensive skills. But after his MVP season in 2016, it looks like Bryant could be a starter at third for years to come. Heyward (third in the outfield voting) and Zobrist (fourth) could battle it out for one spot because Bryce Harper is running away, as expected, and Charlie Blackmon is firmly ensconced in second. But neither Zobrist nor Heyward is among the league leaders in any offensive category, so they probably have to rely on Cubs fans to vote them in for a trip to Miami. Kyle Schwarber is still sixth in voting, in spite of his .162 average. If Schwarber somehow makes it after his much-publicized struggles, the argument once again will be made to take away fan voting. Catcher Willson Contreras is well behind leader Buster Posey, who figures to be the hands-down winner. Fortunately for Posey, David Ross is not on the ballot because "Grandpa" might just win even though he's retired. Contreras is tied for third in RBIs (24) among NL catchers and playing well defensively, but appears to be a long shot because Yadier Molina is a player favorite and Yasmani Grandal is the NL's best defensive catcher right now. Starters

Neither Jake Arrieta nor Jon Lester have been as dominant as they were last year at this time when both were selected for the NL staff. Arrieta opted for rest and NL manager Terry Collins didn't use him. This year both can rest at the break, along with Kyle Hendricks and John Lackey. None are deserving of a spot. Relievers Davis should be selected because of his track record, an 0.89 ERA and perfect 12-for-12 record in save opportunities. But Carl Edwards Jr. also is making a case for himself with an 0.83 ERA, third among NL relievers. This could be a chance for Maddon to use his influence as NL manager to get Edwards on the team. What good is power if you don't use it? -- Chicago Tribune 'Really good' sinker helps Jake Arrieta sink the Marlins By Terrin Waack There was one specific pitch Jake Arrieta relied on Tuesday night in the Cubs’ 10-2 rout of the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field. His sinker. “(I was) just trying to be aggressive as possible down in the strike zone,” Arrieta said. “Little emphasis on being in and out, but more so on just down, especially with the conditions.” Making his 12th start this season, fourth at home, Arrieta threw 34 pitches in the first inning. After giving up a run he decided to use his sinker as much as possible, thinking it was “really good” at the time, and threw 66 more pitches until he was replaced in the seventh after facing one batter. Through the six-plus innings, Arrieta allowed just two hits. He struck out five and cranked out 64 strikes. The sinker led to numerous groundouts. Arrieta thought that pitch was more effective Tuesday than it ever has been, especially in that regard. “Even if they were to hit the ball in the air, I like the chances,” Arrieta said. “But it was nice to see consistency with ground balls, and that’s something I look to build on.” Arrieta (6-4) improved his ERA to 4.46. Cubs manager Joe Maddon saw Arrieta’s velocity turn up again. He liked Arrieta’s curveball and slider, while the changeup wasn’t as pertinent Tuesday. “But just his look,” Maddon said. “He’s getting a little more comfortable out there. I thought, like I said, seven innings would’ve been a nice day’s work for him, even if it ended up 110 pitches. I know that could have done something for his confidence.” In the end, Arrieta came just 10 pitches short of that mark and about an inning removed. -- Chicago Tribune Joe Maddon on Cubs' surge: 'The guys are starting to feel it more' By Mark Gonzales It didn’t surprise many observers Tuesday night that the Cubs rallied to a 10-2 victory over the Marlins behind a three-run home run by Anthony Rizzo in the fifth inning.

But one of the more pleasing developments to manager Joe Maddon was that the Cubs scored their next seven runs on means other than a homer. “To really have some balls land on the grass and score some runs that way, it’s kind of nice to do,” Maddon observed after the Cubs continued their transformation at home under windy conditions as they stretched their winning streak to a season-high five games. The Cubs were 6-for-16 with runners in scoring position and are 12-for-30 on this homestand after collecting only three hits in 40 at-bats with runners in scoring position during their 0-6 trip. “The feeling is a little bit different in the dugout,” Maddon said. “Since we’ve been back home. The guys are starting to feel it more. It’s a little reminiscent of the past two years, and it’s a good thing.” The Cubs are 12-2 in their past 14 home games, and their confidence is soaring. After scoring four times in the fifth to wipe out a 1-0 deficit, they set a season-high for runs scored in an inning by scoring six in the seventh and tied a season-high with six hits in the same inning. “You can’t ever hit too many home runs,” said Rizzo, whose homer came after left-hander Jeff Locke walked two after two out. “But we knew it was a solid week when someone didn’t drive a run in via the long ball.” Jason Heyward collected his first three-hit game of the season, and he hit RBI doubles in the fifth and seventh. The fact that Heyward is hitting the ball with more authority has heightened his confidence as well as those who watched him struggle last season when he was constantly getting jammed or making feeble contact. “It’s being aware and making adjustments throughout the game, pitch to pitch,” Heyward said after raising his batting average to .264. Maddon plans to insert Ben Zobrist in the cleanup spot in Wednesday night’s series finale while keeping Heyward in the fifth spot. “Against right-handers or left-handers, he doesn’t care,” Maddon said. “He’s giving good at-bats against velocity and good at-bats against breaking pitches.” -- Chicago Tribune Cubs manager Joe Maddon gleans managing tips from best-selling 1994 book By Mark Gonzales Joe Maddon probes the minds of several football coaches to help him understand and handle his players, but the Cubs manager shared some wisdom he gained from reading the late David Halberstam's 1994 best-seller "October 1964." "I got a lot out of it," Maddon said Tuesday. Specifically, Maddon learned to be careful when questioning the effort of players, based on an exchange between Cardinals pitcher Ray Sadecki and manager Johnny Keane after Sadecki was roughed up in a start. "You can challenge my performance any time you want, but don't go near my effort and how much I care because you don't know that," Maddon recalled Sadecki telling Keane in the book. "I've used that tidbit to be careful when you criticize effort."

The book recounts the end of the Yankees' 1949-64 dynasty that culminated with the Cardinals winning the '64 World Series. Voice of reason: Kris Bryant downplayed the significance of a chat among players before a 2-1 loss at San Diego on May 31 that some outsiders have thought was a turning point for the Cubs. "It was good to get together and talk, but I wouldn't say it was absolutely the reason (for our recent surge)," Bryant said. "Sometimes it's important to talk about what's frustrating certain people and just hear from each other. That's something we do individually. But in San Diego, it was more of a group." Kris Bryant discusses how things are coming together for the Cubs. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune) After the loss, Jake Arrieta said the players had discussed the "general flow" of what was happening and how to cope with it. OK with Jay: The decision to start Jon Jay against left-hander Jeff Locke stemmed more from the need to play him rather than his 4-for-8 success against him, Maddon said. "You can't expect him to be a good pinch-hitter if you don't give him a chance to start games," said Maddon, adding that there could be situations Jay could be forced to pinch-hit against left-handers as the result of a pitching change. Maddon assured selected media members Ian Happ would return to the lineup for an extended period soon because the Cubs are scheduled to face several right-handed starters in upcoming games. It's a boy! Closer Wade Davis returned from the paternity list after his wife Katelyn gave birth to a baby boy named Ty. Reliever Dylan Floro was optioned to Triple-A Iowa. -- Chicago Sun-Times Jake Arrieta sighting: Cub righty returns to form in rout of Marlins By Gordon Wittenmyer Jake Arrieta gave up a hit to the second batter he faced Tuesday night and the last. In between, he looked more like the pitcher who averaged 20 wins the last two seasons with a Cy Young Award and an All-Star appearance than the pending free agent whose market value seemed to be slipping by mid-May. Ka-ching. The only two hits Arrieta allowed turned into the only runs he allowed in a 10-2 victory over the Marlins. The performance might have signaled he has turned the corner. “Just his look,” manager Joe Maddon said. “He’s getting a little bit more comfortable out there.” Arrieta walked three, including back-to-back walks in the first that contributed to the first run. But his velocity was consistently around 94 mph, his new-and-improved curveball was effective again and he retired 16 in a row and 17 of 18 until J.T. Realmuto’s leadoff triple in the seventh. He has a 2.63 ERA in his last four starts and said his sinker felt as sharp as it has all year once he started leaning on it after the high-pitch-count first inning. If this is the Arrieta the Cubs get the rest of the season, it could be the cure to what has ailed their premier-turned-middling rotation. “That’s what we were built off the last two years,” Maddon said. “We had the runs last year, whatever. But the starting rotation has really driven the engine for us. These guys are good. They’re starting to look like they have in the past, all of them.”

For now, it means a five-game winning streak for the Cubs after that ugly road trip on the West Coast. And a different vibe in the dugout, Maddon said: “A little more reminiscent of the last two years.” That’s no accident, Arrieta said. “Anytime you go through a period like we did on our last road trip, it kind of increases the sense of urgency a little bit,” he said. “Not necessarily pressing or trying to do more than we’re capable. Just maybe trying to get locked in a little more as far as our mental approach and just focusing exclusively on that and allowing our ability to show through without added pressure. We’ve been doing that the last five or six games, and it’s really starting to pay off.” It also coincided with a players meeting in San Diego before the final game of that trip — a 2-1 loss despite a strong start by Arrieta. “It was good to get together and just kind of talk,” said Kris Bryant, who reached base four times and scored twice. “But I wouldn’t say it was absolutely the reason [for the streak]. It’s just that sometimes it’s important to get together and talk about what’s frustrating certain people. That’s something we do individually. In San Diego, it was more as a group.” Whatever that did for the team psyche, and whatever a four-run fifth and six-run seventh might mean for an up-and-down lineup, the Cubs’ playoff chances almost certainly will be determined by their starting pitching. “It felt like our pitching carried us last year, and right now it feels really good on that side,” said Bryant, who walked ahead of Anthony Rizzo’s go-ahead three-run homer in the fifth. And few things would look as good to the Cubs and their ascending rotation as Arrieta on a roll into the summer. -- Chicago Sun-Times Three decades after MVP season, Andre Dawson is stronger than ever By Steve Greenberg Thirty years removed from his 1987 MVP season with the Cubs, the great Andre Dawson was on the Wrigley Field mound Monday to throw a ceremonial first pitch. In town with the Marlins, for whom he works as a special assistant, the Hall of Famer reared back and … You don’t really want to know. But, strictly for the record, the ball was about 10 feet short and not the least bit straight. It’s never easy to witness the fall of a legend. “But it was cold and windy,” he claimed a day later, “and they gave me a new ball — it was so slick. Excuses — sad. But I should confess now that I’ve merely been setting you up for a story about an old guy who’s bigger, stronger and more impressive to look at than Andre Dawson the player ever was. It’s Dawson the 62-year-old. He couldn’t throw that pitch because he hadn’t attempted to throw a ball even once since tearing his right rotator cuff and labrum about a year ago. Instead of surgery, Dawson opted for “rehab” — or his own version of it, anyway. Dawson, who played his entire career at under 200 pounds, started lifting weights in ’87 upon joining the Cubs. Never did he get close to heaving the sort of weight around that he deals with now. Currently 230 pounds and more muscle-bound in his upper body than ever, he lifts five times a week. And here’s what he did — on the bench press alone — in the bowels of Wrigley before Tuesday’s game:

Three sets of 10 reps with 225 pounds. Then sets of eight, six and four reps with 245 pounds. And finally, four reps with 295 pounds. Are you feeling faint yet? “I don’t really consider myself strong,” he said in that humble, dignified manner he was famous for as a player. “It’s just what I’ve become now.” Sometimes Dawson’s shoulder screams back at him when he lifts, so he finds a different arm angle and keeps going. It’s the same way he dealt with the severe knee pain that followed him from Montreal to Chicago and stayed with him for the rest of his career. Dawson was a 32-year-old free agent when he arrived at Cubs spring training in ’87 with a signed, blank contract and told general manager Dallas Green he wanted to roam the soft outfield grass at Wrigley, which would be far kinder to his knees than the AstroTurf in Montreal had been. The Expos had offered him $1 million for one year. The stingy Cubs gave him half that — and were rewarded with a league-leading 49 home runs and 137 RBI. The Cubs finished in last place that year, but Dawson gave fans a season-long show they’ll never forget. He still remembers the adoring bows from the right-field bleachers like it was yesterday. “It doesn’t seem like 30 years. My God,” he said. “But those fans welcomed me from day one, and they fueled me that year. Going out and seeing them salaaming, seeing them wearing T-shirts that said ‘Andre’s Army’ — I just looked forward to it every day.” We talked about his three-homer game at Wrigley that August. We talked about 1989, when Dawson hobbled through a terrible NLCS against the Giants. And about how fun it would’ve been for the Dawson of 1987 to play with the Cubs of 2017. “I would honestly just try to play wherever I was needed,” he said, “and wherever I wouldn’t have the most wear and tear on my knees.” When the Cubs won the World Series last November, Dawson, watching at home in Miami, literally jumped out of his chair. He felt no pain. He stayed up until 2 a.m. to watch the postgame celebration, even though he had a 6 a.m. flight to catch to do an ESPN piece in Chicago. From O’Hare, an old slugger built from the waist up like an NFL defensive end got into an Uber and went directly to Wrigley Field. Just like this week, Andre the giant was home again. -- Chicago Sun-Times Hard knocks: Albert Almora Jr. bruised in BP altercation with wall By Gordon Wittenmyer The Cubs survived a scare before their game Tuesday against the Marlins. Center fielder Albert Almora Jr. bruised his right arm running into the center-field wall while chasing a fly ball during batting practice. After hitting the wall, Almora jumped in apparent pain and sat on the grass holding his arm until teammates noticed and waved for the trainer.

After being examined, however, Almora said he was OK and remained in the lineup. He walked in the second inning and struck out in the fourth. All or nil After going hitless Monday in the No. 9 spot, Kyle Schwarber has only three hits in his last 44 at-bats, spanning 15 games. And all three of the hits are home runs. He also had six walks and was hit by a pitch in that stretch. But the Cubs still aren’t talking about a possible minor-league stint for Schwarber. In fact, Maddon said Schwarber is looking better, pointing out his three walks Sunday. And even one of his foul balls. “He was right on it, fouled it straight back,” manager Joe -Maddon said. “But it was an elevated pitch that he has not been getting to that he got to. All that stuff is starting to look a little bit better.” Schwarber’s last hit that wasn’t a homer came May 17. Pops back in the pen After the birth of his son Monday, closer Wade Davis returned from the paternity list. Davis, who has converted 18 consecutive save chances dating back to last season, missed one game. Right-hander Dylan Floro was optioned back to Class AAA Iowa after filling in for Davis in the bullpen. Mike of all trades Left-hander Mike Montgomery has made it clear he wants to be a starter, which he was in five games for the Cubs last year. For now, he’ll settle for 10-out saves. On Monday, he became the first big-leaguer with two of those in a season since 2011. “What he’s doing right now is so invaluable for us out of the bullpen,” Maddon said. “The wonderful part about it is he accepts all of this, he understands all of this. He’s not a bellyacher. “He knows that what he’s doing right now is very vital to our success. Eventually he’s going to get that chance to start at some point.” This and that Catching depth? Class AAA catcher Victor Caratini, a switch hitter acquired in a trade as an A-ball player from Atlanta in 2014, earned the organization’s player of the month honors after a .366 May that included 10 extra-base hits and a .971 OPS. • In the Cubs’ last 14 games before Tuesday, 31 of their 45 runs came via 21 home runs (including all the runs in five of those games). They were 7-7 in that stretch. -- Daily Herald Cubs give dominating performance in win over Marlins By Bruce Miles The Chicago Cubs righted themselves pretty quickly on a pair of fronts Tuesday night.

As illustrated in a 10-2 victory over the Miami Marlins, things finally may be coming together for the Cubs in the season as a whole. Starting pitcher Jake Arrieta overcame a 34-pitch first inning, and Cubs bats broke out in a big way beginning in the fifth inning, as they scored 4 runs, following it up with 6 in the seventh. When all the calculations were done, it added up to a fifth victory in a row, moving the Cubs to 30-27, keeping them in a virtual tie for first place with Milwaukee in the National League Central. "The feeling's a little different in the dugout all of a sudden since we've been back home," manager Joe Maddon said. "The guys are starting to feel it a little bit more. It's a little more reminiscent of the last two years, and that's a good thing." A team that raised "concern" by being "overly dependent" on the home run hit 5 doubles, 2 by Jason Heyward. Speaking of home runs, Anthony Rizzo had a pretty important 3-run laser to right field in the fifth. "You can't ever hit too many home runs," said Rizzo, who has 13. Arrieta settled in nicely, retiring 16 in a row from the end of the first inning into the sixth to run his record to 6-4. He worked 6 innings of 2-hit ball, giving up 2 runs. He agreed with his manager that the Cubs' engine might be starting to chug and pick up steam. "Anytime we go through a period like we did on our last road trip, it kind of increases the sense of urgency a little bit," said Arrieta, referring to the recent 0-6 skid on the West Coast. "Not necessarily pressing or trying to do more than we're capable of, but just maybe trying to get locked in a little more as far as our mental approach, just focusing exclusively on that and allowing our ability to show through without putting added pressure on ourselves. We've been doing that the past five or six games. It's starting to pay off. "This is a ballclub that's capable of winning 10, 12 games at a time, in a row." One of the talking points of the first third of the season was about the drop in velocity on Arrieta's fastball. Yes, there is some truth to that, but Arrieta found a few more mph Tuesday night, and he has been able to pitch around the drop of velocity. "We're not talking about a whole lot of difference," Maddon said. "I still see a lot of 92-93 (mph) and the 94 compared to 93. 94, 95 maybe. It's still significant velocity. "It's not like he's just flipping it up there. The biggest thing for me, I'll take what they call the effective velocity, throwing it where he wants to throw it. Those numbers play." There were some 94s on the board Tuesday. Cubs batters chased Marlins lefty Jeff Locke in the fifth, on Rizzo's homer and Heyward's hard-hit double. They finished it off against the Miami bullpen in the seventh, sending 10 men to the plate. Heyward, Javier Baez and Jon Jay had big doubles in the inning. -- Daily Herald Montgomery 'invaluable' out of Chicago Cubs' bullpen By Bruce Miles

Left-hander Mike Montgomery was one of the better under-the-radar pickups of 2016 when the Chicago Cubs obtained him in a July 20 trade with Seattle. In Monday night's series opener against Miami, Montgomery recorded his second save of the season. He pitched 3⅓ innings in relief of starter Eddie Butler. On May 25, Montgomery worked the final 4 innings to save a game started by Butler against the San Francisco Giants. According to the Cubs and CSN Chicago, Montgomery is the first pitcher with multiple saves with at least 10 outs since Boston's Alfredo Aceves in 2011. The Cubs have not yet decided when or if they will drop a sixth starting pitcher into the rotation, but Montgomery would be the likely candidate. "He showed that last year; he could be a very good major-league starter," manager Joe Maddon said. "What he's doing for us right now is invaluable out of the bullpen. "The wonderful part of it is he accepts all this. He understands all this. He's not a bellyacher. He doesn't complain about this. He knows what he's doing right now is very vital to our success. "Eventually, he's going to get that chance to start at some point. He's got four quality pitches. He gets righties and lefties out. He's got plenty of velocity. The last step with him for me is command of his fastball. Once he really understands and gets that, he's going to really take off." Montgomery has walked 20 in 36⅔ innings this season. Using the ninth spot: Joe Maddon has used the ninth spot in the batting order to try to help struggling hitters. For the past few days, it was Kyle Schwarber. For Tuesday's game, Schwarber was out of the lineup against Marlins lefty Jeff Locke. So into the No. 9 spot went shortstop Addison Russell, who entered the game with a line of .213/.296/.343. "Just trying to get him a better pitch," Maddon said. "It's just been working out well. I like the pitcher in the eighth spot for pinch-hitting purposes also. But then again, if you're trying to get somebody a better pitch, put him in the 9-hole." Bruised but OK: There was a bit of concern during Tuesday's batting practice when Albert Almora Jr. ran into the wall while tracking a flyball. He walked off the field with the athletic trainer and suffered what the Cubs said was a bruised right forearm. He remained in the starting lineup. Dad Davis is back: Closer Wade Davis returned to the team after one day on the paternity list. His wife, Katelyn, gave birth to a boy. The Cubs optioned reliever Dylan Floro back to Class AAA Iowa. Floro had been called up Monday. -- Cubs.com Rizzo, Heyward club Cubs to 5th straight win By Carrie Muskat and Scott Chasen CHICAGO -- The Cubs won their fifth in a row on Tuesday night, romping, 10-2, over the Marlins, and it's finally starting to feel like 2016 again. Anthony Rizzo drove in four runs, including three on his 13th homer, and Jason

Heyward hit a pair of RBI doubles to back Jake Arrieta and power the Cubs to victory and keep pace atop the National League Central. "We kept the line moving, drove the ball all over the place," Rizzo said of the Cubs, who outhit the Marlins, 11-3. "Like we've said, [hitting is] contagious, and once you get going, there's no slowing us down." Arrieta survived a 34-pitch first and retired 16 in a row before he walked Christian Yelich in the sixth. The Cubs' right-hander gave up two hits over six-plus innings, departing after J.T. Realmuto's leadoff triple in the seventh. Marlins starter Jeff Locke did not give up a hit to a left-handed batter last week in his first start of the season. It was a different story in his second outing as Rizzo smacked his home run and Heyward hit an RBI double, both with two outs in the fifth, off the lefty. Locke, slowed at the beginning of the season because of left biceps tendinitis, took the loss, the Marlins' third in their last 10 games. "Riz's home run was a little bit of a staggering blow," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "I loved our approach." Rizzo entered the game 10-for-26 against Locke with four home runs. He picked up No. 5 after Jon Jay and Kris Bryant walked with two outs in the fifth. Willson Contreras then reached on a fielding error by shortstop J.T. Riddle and scored on Heyward's double to right. "[Locke] works on his location and his fastball plays harder than 89-91 [mph]," Rizzo said. "You have to stay with it. He left that changeup over the plate, and I didn't try to do too much with it." "I won't even get into that stuff. No excuses," Locke said of a questionable call during the walk to Jay. "You've just got to do a better job of making pitches when you have to make them. That's the bottom line really. It always falls back on the starter in my eyes. You've always got to do a better job handing the ball off to the 'pen." The Cubs scored a season-high six runs in the seventh inning, which included an RBI single by Rizzo. His four RBIs matched his season high; he also drove in four on April 26 against the Pirates. Rizzo then tallied on Heyward's second double of the game for a 6-2 lead. Javier Baez and Jay each added two-run doubles in the inning. The Cubs' winning streak is a positive sign after they went 0-6 on a West Coast trip. "The feeling is a little different in the dugout," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "Since we've been back home, the guys are starting to feel it more and it's more reminiscent of the last two years and it's a good thing." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED First things first: Arrieta struck out Dee Gordon to start the game, but then Giancarlo Stanton singled and Yelich and Marcell Ozuna walked to load the bases. Stanton scored when Realmuto hit a potential double-play ball, but the Cubs only got the force at second base. Arrieta now has a 8.25 ERA in the first inning, giving up 11 earned runs over 12 games. "Guys had good at-bats, laid off some tough pitches and then he kind of settled in," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "It's that first inning with a lot of pitchers, right? You got a chance to get at 'em, get to 'em and we're able to nick him for one." After the first inning, Arrieta adjusted his approach. "I was relying pretty much exclusively on the sinker, and I was pitching to the conditions to force some contact and let the guys play behind me," Arrieta said. Seventh-inning stretch: Realmuto tripled off Arrieta's 100th pitch of the game, launching the ball into the gap in right-center. That chased the Cubs' starter, and Realmuto then scored on a fielding error by shortstop Addison Russell, who couldn't handle Riddle's grounder. Pedro Strop got Tyler Moore to hit a comebacker, and the Cubs'

reliever started a 1-4-3 double play. Pinch-hitter Derek Dietrich then doubled but was stranded when pinch-hitter Ichiro Suzuki struck out. "You look at the final score and see it's a lopsided victory, but not when Strop was in that game," Maddon said. "What he did was outstanding." The three hits allowed in the game by the Cubs was a season low. QUOTABLE "There's tons of pitches that are close. They're all close. They're all to the catcher. Yeah, you know you've got to bear down, make better pitches. That's the name of the game. Even when we did put Jay on right there, we've got a chance to come back and get the next guy. We didn't do that, so then we've got a chance to get the next guy. All of that with two outs. That's unacceptable of course on my part." -- Locke, on the Cubs' two-out rally in the fifth WHAT'S NEXT Marlins: Right-hander Jose Urena (3-2, 3.80 ERA) will get the ball Wednesday to close out the series at 8:05 p.m. ET. Urena has struggled in his last three starts, giving up 13 runs and five home runs in 14 1/3 innings. However, in his first three starts this year, he held a 1.53 ERA and lasted into the sixth inning in all three outings. Cubs: John Lackey will close the three-game series against the Marlins on Wednesday. In his last outing against the Cardinals, the right-hander gave up four hits, but none over his final five innings. The key? He threw less strikes and hoped the Cardinals would swing at pitches outside the zone. They did. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT from Wrigley Field. -- Cubs.com Arrieta passes 1st-inning test, holds off Fish By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- The plan was to have Jake Arrieta pitch at least seven innings, but the Cubs didn't factor in a 34-pitch first inning on Tuesday night against the Marlins. Arrieta regrouped after the first, retiring 16 in a row, and got the win in the Cubs' 10-2 victory over the Marlins. It was Chicago's fifth straight win, but only the second time in the last 11 games that a Cubs starter got the win. The right-hander struck out Dee Gordon to start the game, but Giancarlo Stanton singled and Arrieta walked both Christian Yelich and Marcell Ozuna to load the bases. Stanton scored when J.T. Realmuto hit a potential double-play ball but the Cubs only got the force at second base. "In the first, I started good, and any time you can limit Stanton to a single, you'll take it," Arrieta said. "A couple walks there led to the run. I made a good pitch against Realmuto to get the double play. We weren't able to turn it there. It was kind of a slow ground ball to [shortstop] Addison [Russell], and [Realmuto] got down the line pretty good. "From that point on, I wanted to utilize the sinker as much as possible, have a few quick innings and get to the seventh. I was relying pretty much exclusively on the sinker and I was pitching to the conditions to force some contact and let the guys play behind me." The adjustment worked. Arrieta got 10 ground-ball outs, and some nifty defensive work, including a stellar play by third baseman Kris Bryant to get Stanton in the third.

"Guys had good at-bats, laid off some tough pitches and then he kind of settled in," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said of Arrieta. "It's that first inning with a lot of pitchers, right? You got a chance to get at 'em, get to 'em and we're able to nick him for one." Realmuto tripled to open the seventh on Arrieta's 100th and final pitch. The Cubs' right-hander is 3-0 with a 3.04 ERA in four home starts this season, and posted his 22nd career start of at least six innings and two or fewer hits. "The starting rotation has driven the engine for us," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "We could really have a nice little run if all those pitchers get on the right path." There's been a different vibe since the Cubs returned to Wrigley Field from a disappointing 0-6 trip to Los Angeles and San Diego. "Any time we go through a period like we did on our last road trip, it kind of increases the sense of urgency a little bit," Arrieta said. "We're not necessarily pressing or trying to do more than we're capable of, but trying to get locked in more as far as our mental approach and focusing exclusively on that. We've been doing that the past five or six games, and it's starting to pay off. "This is a ballclub that's capable of winning 10, 12 games at a time and in a row. We'll put this behind us, enjoy this win, come out tomorrow and try to make it three in a row against these guys." -- Cubs.com Heyward cleaning up for Cubs batting 5th By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- Jason Heyward has found a good spot in the Cubs' lineup and a good approach at the plate, and it's paying off. On Tuesday night, Heyward had three hits, including a pair of RBI doubles to help pace an 11-hit attack and lead the Cubs to a 10-2 victory over the Marlins. It was Heyward's first three-hit game since Sept. 4 last year, and he's hit safely in nine of his last 10 home games. On this homestand, Heyward is 6-for-19 (.316) with three doubles and four RBIs. "I'm really digging where he's at in the five-hole," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "Right- or left-handed pitcher, he don't care. He's giving you good at-bats against both sides of the plate. He's giving good at-bats against velocity, and he's giving you good at-bats against breaking pitches. He continues to trend in the right direction." It's quite a turnaround from last season, when Heyward posted a .230 average. This is a different hitter. "He's very consistent, and that's all you can ask for in a player," said Anthony Rizzo, who drove in four runs Tuesday, hitting a three-run homer and an RBI single. "He just grinds at-bats and is doing a really good job of it." Said Maddon: "Everything he's hitting is right on the barrel. It's really fun to watch." Rizzo knows all about tough times at the plate. He went through it when he was first called up to the big leagues. "You make adjustments and it takes a while," Rizzo said. "I had to make adjustments in '11 and '12 and it took me a while, a solid 150 at-bats, to really feel comfortable. What I see, looking at Jason, he's very comfortable now and he's not letting his previous at-bat affect his next at-bat, and it's a good sign for us." Heyward, who has not gone more than two games without a hit this season, said he's been able to apply all the offseason work in games.

"I feel like I'm doing a good job now being aware and making the adjustments throughout the game, pitch to pitch, and when you see guys get going as far as making solid contact and having good [at-bats] and producing, one at-bat happens and you go to the next one and try to keep it simple," Heyward said. The entire Cubs lineup seems to be taking that approach. After a week in which the only runs came on homers, they were able to string together a six-run seventh, which also included RBI doubles by Javier Baez and Jon Jay. "Like we've said, [hitting is] contagious, and once you get going, there's no slowing us down," Rizzo said. It's reminiscent of last season, when the Cubs won 103 games and reached the World Series. "It starts in the clubhouse, it starts in the dugout, it starts with us being together," Heyward said. "It starts with your hitters feeling like the dugout and the team is with you every at-bat. That's what we want to feel. We want to make sure our guys know that regardless of the outcome of the at-bat, just know the guys are with you, and we've done a great job of that. "It takes time to build and we've got to keep building. It's like we've talked about, doing everything with a purpose and making our adjustments. ... We just have to keep going." -- Cubs.com Bryant not shy about hitting into wind By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- The Cubs' Kris Bryant has hit six of his 10 home runs at Wrigley Field to left field, and he's been able to do so a few times when the wind is blowing in from the north. "That's definitely good as a hitter," Bryant said Tuesday. "When you wake up and see the flags blowing in, it might not be a really good hitters' day. Any time you can hit one into the wind and hit it out, it eases those thoughts." Bryant did that Monday night against the Marlins, and began play Tuesday tied with the Marlins' Justin Bour and Marcell Ozuna and the Rockies' Mark Reynolds for the most home runs at home in the National League. As a team, the Cubs have hit 17 home runs in the 17 games when the wind is blowing in at Wrigley Field, and 23 home runs in the 11 games when it's been blowing out. • Albert Almora Jr. crashed into the outfield wall at Wrigley during batting practice on Tuesday and bruised his right forearm but stayed in the Cubs' starting lineup. After he hit the wall in center, Almora lay on the ground for a few moments, and athletic trainer PJ Mainville came over to check on him. Almora and Mainville walked off the field together. • The Cubs activated right-hander Wade Davis from the paternity list and optioned right-hander Dylan Floro to Triple-A Iowa. Davis, who welcomed his second child, son Ty, on Monday, was available Tuesday. • Mike Montgomery's save Monday night was his second this season while recording at least 10 outs. He had a four-inning save on May 25, and is the first pitcher with multiple 10-out saves in a season since the Red Sox's Alfredo Aceves in 2011. "What he's doing for us now is so invaluable out of the bullpen," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "The wonderful part about it is that he accepts all this, and he understands all this. He's not a bellyacher, he doesn't complain about this. He knows what he's doing is very vital to our success. "He's going to get that chance to start. He's got four quality pitches, he gets righties and lefties out, he's got plenty of velocity. The last step for him for me is command of his fastball. Once he gets that, he'll take off." The Cubs have considered having Montgomery make a spot start when they go with a six-man rotation.

• The Hot Stove Cool Music concert and event in Chicago raised $450,000 to support Chicago youth and their families through Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein's Foundation To Be Named Later and Cubs Charities. The events included the sixth annual Chicago concert and the annual Urban Classic Baseball game featuring elite youth teams from Chicago and Boston. • Speaking of music, apparently Jon Jay is a better disc jockey in the Cubs' clubhouse than Anthony Rizzo. That's Bryant's opinion. "'Riz' is the worst DJ," Bryant said. "It's just the volume of the music is too loud sometimes. Jon seems to have a good handle. In San Diego, [Jay played] reggae stuff. I liked it." -- Cubs.com Lackey, Cubs look to reel in sweep of Marlins By Scott Chasen It hasn't been a perfect start to the year for John Lackey, but if his last outing was any indication, things might be coming around for the veteran right-hander. He will take the mound Wednesday against the Marlins as the Cubs -- winners of five in a row -- seek a three-game sweep at Wrigley Field. Lackey (4-5, 4.90 ERA) went seven innings and allowed just two runs in the Cubs' 3-2 win over St. Louis on Friday, and he did not allow a hit over his final five innings. That followed a three-game stretch in which Lackey had allowed 13 runs and five home runs over 15 1/3 innings. Opposing Lackey will be Marlins right-hander Jose Urena (3-2, 3.80 ERA), who is amid one of those rough stretches in his own right. The numbers are eerily similar. Urena's first three starts of the year set a lofty bar, with just three earned runs allowed in 17 2/3 innings. But he has begun to falter. Urena allowed 13 earned runs and five home runs -- identical numbers to Lackey's troublesome stretch -- over his last three starts, though the team has come through with run support to win all three of those outings. Three things to know • Outside of one start, Lackey has pitched well against Miami. Of Lackey's four appearances against the Marlins, three have been quality starts. The only blemish came on June 25 last year, when he allowed seven runs in 4 1/3 innings in Miami. • Urena has only pitched against the Cubs once in his career. The right-hander went six innings and gave up three runs in a 5-1 loss in 2015. Addison Russell and Anthony Rizzo tallied RBIs off the righty in that game. • Among starters who have given up at least 150 batted balls this season, Lackey's 44 percent productive-contact rate -- as categorized by Statcast's batted-ball types -- is the fifth highest in MLB. However, Lackey's 35 percent rate in his most recent start was his second best of the year and matched his production from 2015-16. -- ESPNChicago.com West Coast 'wake-up call' sparks offensive surge for Cubs By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- Perhaps losing six in a row on a recent West Coast trip was the best thing to happen to the Chicago Cubs. It seems like it was the quintessential wake-up call, as they're now one game from getting all six of those losses back. They beat the Miami Marlins 10-2 on Tuesday night.

The difference? The offense is playing with a sense of purpose and urgency again. "We're just trying to do our part," right fielder Jason Heyward said after his three-hit night. "It starts in the clubhouse. It starts in the dugout. It starts with us being together. It starts with the hitters feeling like the dugout and your teammates are with you every at-bat. That's what we want to feel." That last thought was one uttered a lot in 2016, but it has been slow to resonate this season. After a 7-2 home stand was followed by an 0-6 road trip to close the month of May, no one knew what to think of the Cubs. But a quick team meeting and some home cooking have made the difference at the plate. The narrative Tuesday, for once, wasn't about the long ball -- at least not after Anthony Rizzo's fifth-inning blast. The three-run shot was enough to secure the win, but the Cubs were far more pleased with what they did two innings later: six hits, one walk, six runs scored -- and not one ball left the yard in the seventh. Their .236 team batting average, good for 13th in the NL coming into the game, got a spike. “Just to have some balls land on the grass and score some runs that way was kind of nice to do," manager Joe Maddon said. For the Cubs to truly be the dynamic offensive team that everyone believes they can be, they need more nights such as this. Six walks and 11 hits will net you a lot of double-digit scoring nights. Every starter save Addison Russell had at least one base knock Tuesday. "Big nights from a lot of guys," winning pitcher Jake Arrieta said. "Showcasing some slug with the conditions we had tonight is all-around impressive." Arrieta's two-hit performance shouldn't be forgotten, but when an offense comes alive, as it has for the Cubs the past five games, it energizes everyone. It's the opposite of what happens when a team isn't hitting. Players tend to look lethargic and even uncaring. Perhaps that's why Maddon has expressed an "uptick" in the dugout vibe since the team returned home. That might also be related to the entire team being involved on offense, instead of one or two guys a night via the long ball. "You can never hit too many home runs," Rizzo said with a smile. "But we knew it was a solid week when someone didn't [just] drive a run in via the long ball." In other words, they'll take the home runs, but that can't be the main way back to the World Series. The best teams can beat you different ways, even if that is a work in progress right now. As long as the Cubs are moving in the right direction, the division has given them time to find it again. "It takes time to build," Heyward said. "We have to keep building. We've talked about doing everything with a purpose." There was purpose in that seventh inning when Kris Bryant doubled. Then Rizzo singled him home. Moments later, Heyward had an RBI double followed by an Albert Almora Jr. single before Javier Baez and Jon Jay had run-scoring doubles. The line kept on moving. That 0-6 road trip has a rear-view-mirror feel to it right now, and it could signify a true turning point if the Cubs keep it up. "It increases the sense of urgency a little bit," Arrieta said. "Just maybe trying to get locked in a little more, as far as our mental approach. "We've been doing that, and it's starting to pay off." --