September 25, 2017

CSNChicago.com, Jose Quintana’s ‘career-altering’ game has Cubs planning clinch party in St. Louis http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/jose-quintanas-career-altering-game-has-cubs-planning-clinch-party-st-louis

CSNChicago.com, Joe Maddon gives Cubs space during national anthem: ‘Everybody’s got the right to express themselves’ http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/joe-maddon-gives-cubs-space-during-national-anthem-everybodys-got-right-express-bruce-maxwell-nfl-trump-kaepernick

CSNChicago.com, Joe Maddon feels the heat from White House comments and rethinks Trump vs. sports world http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/joe-maddon-feels-heat-white-house-comments-and-rethinks-trump-vs-sports-world

Chicago Tribune, Cubs move closer to NL Central clincher after memorable series at Miller Park http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-cubs-closer-to-clincher-sullivan-spt-0925-20170924-column.html

Chicago Tribune, Jose Quintana shuts out Brewers; Cubs look to clinch division in St. Louis http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-brewers-spt-0925-20170924-story.html

Chicago Tribune, 'Gym rat' Jon Jay could provide spark for Cubs in postseason http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-jon-jay-20170924-story.html#nt=oft03a-1gp3

Chicago Tribune, Joe Maddon clarifies remark on 'respecting' White House http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-joe-maddon-clarifies-remark-respecting-white-house-20170924-column.html#nt=oft03a-1gp3

Chicago Tribune, Willson Contreras shows off healed hamstring in Cubs' 5-0 win over Brewers http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-willson-contreras-20170924-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs seek consistency from Jon Lester as they consider playoff rotation http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-jon-lester-playoff-rotation-notes-spt-0925-20170924-story.html

Chicago Sun-Times, Playoff rotation order in flux as Jon Lester makes key start Monday http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/playoff-rotation-order-in-flux-as-jon-lester-makes-key-start-monday/

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs beat Brewers, swagger into St. Louis: ‘We intend to clinch there’ http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-beat-brewers-swagger-into-st-louis-we-intend-to-clinch-there/

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs weigh in on Bruce Maxwell, MLB’s first player to kneel in protest http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-weigh-in-on-bruce-maxwell-mlbs-first-player-to-kneel-in-protest/

Chicago Sun-Times, Maddon: Comments to Sun-Times not shots at athletes critical of Trump http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/maddon-comments-to-sun-times-not-shots-at-athletes-critical-of-trump/

Daily Herald, Chicago Cubs' Maddon says athletes have right to express opinions http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170924/chicago-cubs-maddon-says-athletes-have-right-to-express-opinions

Daily Herald, Quintana, Chicago Cubs reduce magic number to 2 http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170924/quintana-chicago-cubs-reduce-magic-number-to-2

Cubs.com, Q quiets Crew; Cubs cut Central number to 2 http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/255588670/cubs-beat-brewers-trim-magic-number-to-2/

Cubs.com, Quintana's 3-hit shutout builds confidence http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/255865740/jose-quintana-shuts-out-brewers-on-three-hits/

Cubs.com, Maddon respects players' right to self expression http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/255865738/joe-maddon-on-players-and-national-anthem/

Cubs.com, Cubs, Cards likely to answer Central question http://atmlb.com/2hsmaJX

ESPNChicago.com, Cubs' Jose Quintana opens eyes with 'career-altering' performance http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/45861/cubs-jose-quintana-opens-eyes-with-career-altering-performance

ESPNChicago.com, Cubs hoping to clinch Central Division in St. Louis against archrival Cardinals http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20808020/chicago-cubs-hoping-clinch-central-division-st-louis-arch-rival-cardinals

-- CSNChicago.com Jose Quintana’s ‘career-altering’ game has Cubs planning clinch party in St. Louis By Patrick Mooney MILWAUKEE – The Cubs are going to destroy Busch Stadium’s visiting clubhouse. The rivalry has fundamentally shifted to the point where the St. Louis Cardinals are hanging around the National League’s wild-card race in a transition year and it would have been a massive failure if the defending World Series champs didn’t win this division. But there will be some symbolism to popping champagne bottles and spraying beer all over that room. “We intend to clinch there,” Ben Zobrist said after Jose Quintana’s complete-game masterpiece in Sunday’s 5-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. “And I think for a lot of the guys that have been around here for a long time, it’s going to be very satisfying.” Quintana has only been a Cub since the Brewers failed to close a deal with the White Sox and team president Theo Epstein swooped in to make a signature trade during the All-Star break. Quintana hasn’t yet pitched in the playoffs, but this is close enough, the Cubs winning back-to-back 10-inning games against the Brewers and shaking off a walk-off loss before the lefty faced off against Chase Anderson in front of a sellout crowd of 42,212. Quintana gave the Cubs more data points to consider as they prepare for a probable first-round series against the Washington Nationals. The magic number to eliminate both the Brewers and Cardinals is two, with Milwaukee off on Monday and the Cubs playing a rivalry game in St. Louis that night, meaning the party goggles won’t come out until Tuesday at the earliest. “It’s the playoffs already for this team,” said Zobrist, who again looked like a World Series MVP in the seventh inning of a 1-0 game when he launched Anderson’s first-pitch fastball into the second deck in right field for a two-run, breathing-room homer. “We’re already thinking that way.

“We’re in postseason mode right now. And we intend to continue that for the next month.” While there are valid concerns about Jon Lester’s nosedive in performance since coming off the disabled list and the state of Jake Arrieta’s right hamstring, the focus should also be on how Quintana (7-3, 3.50 ERA in 13 starts as a Cub) could be an October game-changer for this rotation. “Once he got over here, he was really jacked up about having a chance to play in the playoffs,” manager Joe Maddon said. “He’s showing you that right now. Games like that, to me, could be kind of career-altering for a pitcher. “When you pitch a complete-game shutout on the road under these circumstances, that definitely does something for your interior. It definitely fluffs it up a little bit.” “It’s exciting to be here,” said Quintana, who allowed only three singles, piled up 10 strikeouts against one walk and hit 93 mph on his 116th and final pitch in the ninth inning. “I just try to help my team and it’s really special when you get that opportunity. It’s about winning and I have a huge opportunity here.” In all phases of the game – dominant starting pitching, an offense that created different ways to score runs, multiple bullpen contributors and an airtight defense that committed zero errors in 39 innings – Maddon saw what he was looking for: “We reacted in a playoff manner for these four games. Our mental intensity could not be beat.” That drifting, in-and-out focus had been part of the background when the Cubs shocked the baseball world with the Quintana trade in the middle of July. Concentration won’t be an issue at Busch Stadium. And this hangover will be real. “It will be nice to do it there, I’ll just say that,” said Zobrist, who understands the Cubs-Cardinals dynamic as someone who grew up in downstate Illinois. “But we got to win the games. “As John Lackey said it before (this) series: ‘This is not a small series, boys.’ We knew it was a big one here in Milwaukee. And it will be another big one in St. Louis.” -- CSNChicago.com Joe Maddon gives Cubs space during national anthem: ‘Everybody’s got the right to express themselves’ By Patrick Mooney MILWAUKEE – As protests formed at NFL stadiums across the country, sending an anti-Trump message after the president’s inflammatory rhetoric, a group of about 11 Cubs players and coaches stood off the third-base line while a men’s a cappella group sung the national anthem before Sunday’s 5-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. The night before, Oakland A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell became the first Major League Baseball player to follow in Colin Kaepernick’s footsteps and kneel during the national anthem at the Oakland Coliseum, sending a jolt through a conservative industry. “Like I’ve always talked about, everybody’s got the right to express themselves in the manner in which they feel,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “I’ve always felt that way.” That’s easer said than done in a team sport that doesn’t have the same outspoken culture as NBA or NFL locker rooms. It will be fascinating to see if this starts a similar movement across baseball. The Cubs are a marquee team that has already visited the White House twice since January and will likely return to Washington in October for a must-watch playoff series against the Nationals.

“I have no idea,” Maddon said. “We’re going to wait and see. And, again, if it does, that’s fine. I have no issues. I’m all into self-expression. And if a player feels that he needs to express himself in that manner, then so be it.” Maxwell, the son of a U.S. Army veteran who made his big-league debut last year, told Bay Area reporters this decision had been building and rooted in his own childhood in Alabama, where Trump appeared on Friday at a rally for Republican Senate candidate Luther Strange and told the crowd that NFL owners should fire any “son of a b----” kneeling during the national anthem. “The point of my kneeling was not to disrespect our military or our constitution or our country,” Maxwell said. “My hand was over my heart because I love this country and I have family members, including my father, who bled for this country, and who continue to serve. “At the end of the day, this is the best country on the planet. I am and forever will be an American citizen and grateful to be here. But my kneeling is what’s getting the attention, and I’m kneeling for the people who don’t have a voice. “This goes beyond the black and Hispanic communities because right now we have a racial divide that’s being practiced from the highest power we have in this country saying it’s basically OK to treat people differently. I’m kneeling for a cause, but I’m in no way disrespecting my country or my flag.” Maddon’s anti-rules philosophy gives the Cubs the space to do whatever they think’s necessary to get ready for the next game. It’s freedom from: dress codes on road trips, guidelines on facial hair and overloaded mandatory batting-practice sessions. That hands-off approach has worked to the point where the defending World Series champs could clinch a second straight National League Central title as soon as Tuesday at Busch Stadium and celebrate in front of the St. Louis Cardinals. It’s not unusual to see only a small group of players, coaches and staffers standing on the field during the national anthem. “That’s up to them,” Maddon said. “I’ve never really had a policy regarding being out for the anthem or not. A lot of times guys like to do different things right before the game begins. Sometimes, you’re on the road, you hit later and you get in later and then your time is at a premium. So I’ve never really had a specific theory about coming out for your anthem at all.” -- CSNChicago.com Joe Maddon feels the heat from White House comments and rethinks Trump vs. sports world By Patrick Mooney MILWAUKEE – Sticking to sports becomes impossible when Donald Trump calls protesting NFL players sons of b------ and feuds with NBA superstars Stephen Curry and LeBron James on Twitter while the University of North Carolina’s national championship men’s basketball team declines a White House invitation (scheduling conflict) and Oakland A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell takes a knee during the national anthem. All that happened within 24-plus hours, a head-spinning news cycle that will not stop. It’s impossible to escape for a high-profile organization with political connections like the Cubs. That’s how manager Joe Maddon wound up feeling the heat in Miller Park’s visiting dugout before Sunday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers, clarifying his comments to the Chicago Sun-Times that went viral: “It’s dangerous when folks in our country stop respecting the White House and the seat of the president.” “What would you like me to say?” Maddon said. “I’ve read it all and I’m saying it’s understandable why these people – why the players – jumped back at him the way they did. It’s very understandable, absolutely. I had no idea.”

The Sun-Times asked Maddon for a reaction minutes after Saturday afternoon’s 10-inning, playoff-intensity loss to the Brewers as the media session was breaking up in the manager’s office inside the visiting clubhouse. That quote appeared deep within a longer story headlined: “Sports world revolts: LeBron James, Roger Goodell fire back at Trump.” “I had no idea what the president had said prior to being asked that question,” Maddon said, “so I wasn’t commenting on what the president had said. When (the reporter) asked me that question, I had no idea it was in that context whatsoever.” The Cubs angle: The World Series champs starred in the final official White House event for President Barack Obama on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. A group of players, staffers and executives returned for an Oval Office photo op with Trump on June 28, a side trip in the middle of a likely playoff preview against the Washington Nationals. Curry already made it clear that he would vote against the Golden State Warriors making a ceremonial visit to Trump’s White House. After Trump tweeted that he withdrew Curry’s championship invitation, Maddon told the Sun-Times: “With all due respect to everybody, I just believe that we need to get our acts together collectively, all of us.” “I had no idea what he said,” Maddon said during Sunday’s pregame briefing. “I had no idea what was said. How would I? I had no idea what was said prior to (getting asked) that question. “My response is typical: I always respect the office and the White House and the seat of the president, like I said before we had attended. That was what my response was about. It had nothing to do with the situation yesterday.” Maddon backtracked and said he has no issues with LeBron using his @KingJames account to support Curry, call Trump “a bum” and tell his 38.5 million Twitter followers: “Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!” “I’ve always spoken what’s on my mind,” Maddon said, “and I’ve always respected other people doing the same. It’s that simple. I just did not know the context of the question yesterday at all. “And then I read about it last night when I got back to my room. And I could understand what all the uproar was about, easily. But I had no idea after the game that’s what had been said.” Maddon wore a black turtleneck and an olive coat to the White House in January and enjoyed seeing Obama, who gave him a shout-out during the East Room ceremony: “Let’s face it, there are not a lot of coaches or managers who are as cool as this guy. Look how he looks right now.” Maddon also eagerly posed with Trump, a meeting set up through Cubs ownership and the Ricketts family’s influence within Republican politics. Maddon also aligned himself that week with a childhood friend from Pennsylvania, Congressman Lou Barletta, an early Trump supporter who recently announced a Senate campaign. “Again, I have respect for the government of the United States,” Maddon said. “I have respect for the office. I have respect for the seat of the presidency. When it comes down to individual battles, I have nothing to do with that. “All I’m saying is that I understand why the players responded the way they did. After I read the comments, it was very clear why they would respond the way they did. “It’s just unfortunate we’ve arrived at this point where it’s so easy to have this dialogue between the highest office in the country and everybody else in such a negative way. That’s the part that’s really disappointing.” --

Chicago Tribune Cubs move closer to NL Central clincher after memorable series at Miller Park By Paul Sullivan Now that the Central Division is all but decided after the Cubs' 5-0 win over the Brewers on Sunday, it's probably time for their fans to start rooting for the Brewers to win the second wild-card spot and carry the momentum through to the National League Championship Series. A rematch of this delicious series in the NLCS would be a dream scenario, with the Cubs potentially having home-field advantage in all seven games at Wrigley Field and Miller Park, assuming they'd be able to scarf up the Brewers' tickets again. For now, do the Brewers pull for the Cubs to beat the Cardinals the next four days and improve their wild-card chances, or for the Cardinals to beat the Cubs to keep their slim NL Central hopes alive? "I think today will clarify who we're going to root for," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said before the game. "I don't know if that's going to help. But look, there are enough ways that this could swing. I guess our goal is to make those really important games for the Cubs. You've got to make all four of those games important by winning today." But the Brewers couldn't get the job done, making them faux Cubs fans for a few days. Jose Quintana's dominant pitching and some clutch hits from Kris Bryant, Ben Zobrist and Anthony Rizzo led to a series win for the Cubs, making the non-hostile takeover of Miller Park a success, reducing the magic number to clinch the division to two and the Cubs a great chance to do sometime over the next four games at Busch Stadium. Soon manager Joe Maddon will huddle with President Theo Epstein, general manager Jed Hoyer and pitching coach Chris Bosio to map out his playoff rotation, which could go several different ways. Does Jake Arrieta merit Game 1 honors — meaning he'd also be the guy in a potential Game 5 — based on his second half numbers? Does Kyle Hendricks sneak into the conversation, based on his consistency and ability to hold runners? Is Quintana the best option since the Nationals don't know him well, or does Lester still deserve the job based on his reputation as one of October's most dominant performers? It's the biggest decision left for the Cubs, with the exception of which party goggles to wear for champagne-spraying after the clincher. Asked Sunday whether it's better to go with the hot hand or give Lester the benefit of the doubt, Maddon brought up Hendricks' name. "Look, it is a tough one," Maddon said. "I think right now Kyle Hendricks is pitching as well as anybody on this team and among the best in the league right now. "Even (Saturday) when I took him out of the game at 112 (pitches), he sincerely wanted to go back out. He felt that good. I had to hold him back a little bit." In the end, Maddon said you just play it out and "make your best guesses" when the time comes. Until then, feel free to debate the matter for the next seven days or so. This weekend in Milwaukee proved everyone wins when the Cubs come to town, including Brewers owner Mark Attanasio, who soaked Cubs fans once again. The Cubs games are at the highest-priced tier of Brewers' ticket plan, along with opening day and weekends, ensuring all those road trips up I-94 come at a hefty price.

Sunday's game drew 42,212 on a sweltering afternoon, primarily Cubs Nation. The Brewers averaged more than 40,000 in their 10 home dates with the Cubs, about 10,000 more per game than the average of their other home dates. That's a lot of brats and $9 craft beers to go toward a future free-agent if the Brewers ever decide to spend again. Chicagoans say: "You're welcome, Milwaukee." No doubt those same road-trippers would gladly pay inflated prices for NLCS tickets at Miller Park, and indeed a Cubs-Brewers NLCS would be something to see, even if it's not the Dodgers-Cubs marquee matchup TBS is hoping for. "It's been a really good season series against them, and obviously this weekend, for me, has been the best series in baseball this year," Counsell said. "If someone's got another one, point it out. ... We'll be lucky if there's a postseason series like this in major league baseball." Baseball should be so lucky. -- Chicago Tribune Jose Quintana shuts out Brewers; Cubs look to clinch division in St. Louis By Mark Gonzales Ben Zobrist has earned World Series rings in consecutive seasons, so he has a pretty accurate gauge of the Cubs' sense of urgency. "It's the playoffs already for this team," Zobrist said Sunday after the Cubs shut out the Brewers 5-0 on Jose Quintana's three-hitter and reduced their magic number to clinch the National League Central Division to two. "We're already thinking that way. It's just a matter of wrapping up the division the next few days and then playing well going into the postseason. We're in postseason mode right now, and we intend to continue that for the next month." The soonest the Cubs can clinch the title is Tuesday, but they afforded themselves some time to look ahead by winning three of four from the Brewers. Now the Cubs have a chance to eliminate the Cardinals from postseason contention while clinching a postseason berth in St. Louis for the first time since 1938. "It will be nice to do it there, I'll say that," said Zobrist, who hit a two-run home run in the seventh against Brewers starter Chase Anderson. "We got to win the games. It's a big series. This series, as John Lackey said before the series, 'This is not a small series, boys.' "We knew it was a big one here in Milwaukee and it will be a big one in St. Louis. We intend to clinch there and for a lot of the guys who have been around here a long time, it's going to be satisfying." Left-hander Mike Montgomery added: "What better place to do it than in St. Louis?" The Cubs' confidence going into the postseason and a probable first-round matchup against the left-handed-hitting-heavy Nationals was increased by Quintana. The left-hander relishes the chance to pitch in the playoffs for the first time; his White Sox fell short in the American League Central race when he was a rookie in 2012. "I'm excited for that," Quintana said. "I try to help my team, and it's special when you get the opportunity." After a 5.73 ERA in six August starts, Quintana has a 1.63 ERA in four starts in September. He struck out 10 and walked one Sunday and needed only 13 pitches in the final two innings to complete his 116-pitch shutout — the second of his career — and preserve a taxed bullpen.

All three hits Quintana allowed were singles, with two of them infield hits. "Games like that can be career-altering for a pitcher," manager Joe Maddon said. "When you pitch a complete-game shutout on the road under these circumstances, it definitely does something for your interior. It fluffs it up a little bit." Quintana pitched effectively to both sides of the plate against a predominantly right-handed lineup. He didn't allow a hit after a single by Keon Broxton with two out in the fifth. In the sixth, Domingo Santana walked and stole second to become the only Brewer to reach scoring position. The Cubs' intensity was evident from Thursday's series opener, nearly two weeks after the Brewers swept them in a three-game series at Wrigley Field. "We reacted in a playoff manner for these four games," Maddon said. "Our mental intensity could not be beat." Kris Bryant hit an RBI double in the fourth inning, and Anthony Rizzo's two-run double in the eighth decreased the pressure on Quintana, who reached the 200-strikeout mark for the first time. "Riz typically gets a big hit for us," Maddon said. "It was 3-0 at that point, but we needed to deflate them a bit, and that's a very deflating hit." -- Chicago Tribune 'Gym rat' Jon Jay could provide spark for Cubs in postseason By Mark Gonzales With the playoffs approaching, Jon Jay continues to lurk as a strong candidate to perform the leadoff duties for the Cubs. Jay has hit safely in his past five games, hitting .500 over that span with six runs and three RBIs. Jay hit a single in the fourth and scored on a double by Kris Bryant to give winning pitcher Jose Quintana early support Sunday against the Brewers. And Jay added to his resume by making a diving catch of a line drive hit by Jesus Aguilar. “If there is a gym rat for baseball, that’s who he is,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “He works so hard every day and worked very hard on his defense, so that play is deserved. He works hard with his little (University of Miami) beanie every day. And I watch it and love it, and watch him in weight room, running. He deserves it.” Jay could be the Cubs’ best choice for the leadoff spot if they face Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg of the Nationals in the National League Division Series. -- Chicago Tribune Joe Maddon clarifies remark on 'respecting' White House By Paul Sullivan Joe Maddon clarified a statement he made Saturday about the controversy pitting President Trump against protesting athletes, saying he was unaware of Trump’s reference to NFL players as "S.O.B.’s." “I had no idea what he said,” Maddon said Sunday before the Cubs-Brewers game at Miller Park. “I mean, how would I? I had no idea what was said prior to asking me that question.

"So my response was typical: Always respect the office and the White House and the seat of the presidency, like I said before when we attended (a ceremony with Trump). That was what my response was all about. It had nothing to do with the situation.” Maddon drew some criticism for a comment he made immediately after Saturday’s 10-inning loss to the Brewers. “It’s dangerous when folks in our country stop respecting the White House and the seat of the president,” he told the Sun-Times. “It’s not a good situation. With all due respect to everybody, I just believe that we need to get our acts together collectively, all of us.” The story said “Maddon weighed in again on the topic,” but Maddon said he was just responding to a question and had “no idea it was in that context” of Trump’s remarks. Maddon's comment was perceived by some as shot at the professional athletes criticizing Trump after the comments, including LeBron James, who called Trump a “bum” on Twitter, and the Warriors’ Steph Curry. “After I read the comments, it was very clear why they would respond the way they did,” Maddon said. “It’s just unfortunate we’ve arrived at this point where it’s so uneasy to have this dialogue between the highest office in the country and everybody else in such a negative way. That’s the part that’s disappointing.” Maddon said he believed in freedom of speech and had no problem with James or Curry criticizing Trump the way they did. “Of course,” he said. “I’ve always spoken what’s on my mind, and I’ve always respected other people doing the same. It’s that simple. I just did not know the context of the question, and then when I read about it (Saturday) night when I got back to my room, I could understand what all the uproar was about easily. "But I had no idea after the game that’s what (Trump) had said.” Maddon said it was “understandable why the players jumped back at it the way they did” after Trump’s remark. Maddon was also asked about his policy on Cubs players standing for the national anthem. Typically Maddon and his staff are on the field while most or all of the players remain inside the clubhouse during the anthem. “I’ve never really had a policy of being out there for the anthem or not,” he said. “A lot of times guys like to do different things right before the game begins. "You’re on the road, you hit later and get in later and your time is as a premium, so I’ve never really had a theory about coming out for the anthem or not.” As for NFL players protesting the anthem, Maddon said he had “no issues” with their decision. “I’m all into self-expression,” he said. “And if a player feels he needs to express himself in that manner, so be it.” -- Chicago Tribune Willson Contreras shows off healed hamstring in Cubs' 5-0 win over Brewers By Mark Gonzales Cubs catcher Willson Contreras wasn’t thinking about the right hamstring strain he suffered about six weeks ago as he sprinted to first base on a slow grounder to third in the seventh inning Sunday against the Brewers. “I knew that I was going to be safe, that’s why I ran hard,” Contreras said. “I took a chance with a 1-0 (lead). I have to run the ball out. If we’re winning by three or four (runs), I would have taken it easy.”

Contreras beat Travis Shaw’s throw to first, and Ben Zobrist followed with a convincing two-run home run that provided Jose Quintana and the Cubs with plenty of cushion in a 5-0 victory over the Brewers. “How about that?” manager Joe Maddon gushed. “And he goes on a steal and runs well (in the fourth). I’m fine with him jogging. I was fine if he didn’t run at that point. “It’s an amazing comeback what he’s done regarding the injury and how quickly he’s come back, catching that much and running that well. From an experienced hamstring puller, he’s really incredible to watch.” Sunday marked the second time Contreras caught a complete game since rejoining the Cubs on Sept. 10 — two months after suffered his hamstring injury at San Francisco. Contreras couldn’t help but think about the chance for the Cubs to clinch the National League Central this week at St. Louis. “We’re human,” Contreras said. “We’re thinking about clinching. But (Sunday), we were thinking about winning this game, and we cannot think about clinching without winning games. But it’s hard to not think about clinching. “These were our playoff games.” -- Chicago Tribune Cubs seek consistency from Jon Lester as they consider playoff rotation By Mark Gonzales The Cubs seek some clarity as they move closer to clinching a playoff berth and facing the Nationals in the first round of the National League Division Series. They're hopeful that left-hander Jon Lester can regain the consistency he's provided throughout most of his career and distance himself from his mercurial second half that has included a stint on the disabled list and a 5.11 ERA in 11 starts. Lester would seem a natural fit to start the first game of the playoffs. The Nationals feature a bevy of left-handed hitters, and despite his struggles, Lester has held lefties to a .220 batting average this season. He also has pitched in seven postseasons in his 12-year career, with a 2.62 ERA in 22 games. Manager Joe Maddon would like some assurances that Lester could remain healthy and effective enough to start the first and last games of a five-game series. "Right now Kyle Hendricks is pitching as well anyone on this team and is among the best in the league," said Maddon, who marveled at Hendricks' endurance. "Let's just play this out when it comes to that moment. You really evaluate what we want to do, and hopefully we get to the playoffs and then make your best guesses, based on who you're going to play." Left-hander Jose Quintana also has made a strong case with a 1.63 ERA in four September starts. But Maddon hasn't given up on Lester, who owns three World Series rings. "It's almost like his pitching abilities owe that to him and us, the fact they're going to come to the forefront at the right time because that's who this guy is as a pitcher," Maddon said. Justin's journey: After being relegated to low-leverage roles, left-handed reliever Justin Wilson has pitched his way into consideration for the playoff roster. "Especially when (the opponent) has a lineup with lefties," Maddon said.

Wilson's recent effectiveness has alleviated some of the workload of Pedro Strop and Carl Edwards Jr. Wilson has held right-handed batters to a .169 average and lefties to .238. Maddon likes Wilson's ability to get strikeouts in key situations, as he did on Sept. 15. He struck out Matt Carpenter of the Cardinals with two outs and two runners on with a 2-1 deficit in the fifth inning of a game the Cubs ended up winning 8-2. Extra innings: Kris Bryant is batting .325 with 20 doubles, 10 home runs and 34 walks since the All-Star break. ... Cubs starting pitchers are 32-13 with a 3.43 ERA in 67 games in the second half. -- Chicago Sun-Times Playoff rotation order in flux as Jon Lester makes key start Monday By Gordon Wittenmyer MILWAUKEE — Don’t assume Jon Lester’s postseason pedigree and big-game reputation is a free pass to the front of the Cubs’ playoff rotation for a likely first-round matchup against the Washington Nationals. The Cubs’ Opening Day starter has struggled in four starts since returning from lat tightness and shoulder fatigue last month. And without a return to his typical form in starts Monday and, presumably, Saturday, where he slots in October is anything but automatic. “It is a tough one,” manager Joe Maddon said. “Kyle Hendricks is pitching as well as anybody on this team and among the best in the league.” Jake Arrieta, who returned strong from a hamstring injury Thursday and pitches again Tuesday, could be in line for Game 1, with Hendricks (2.34 ERA last 12 starts) in the mix for one of the first two games. And then there’s left-hander Jose Quintana, who pitched a three-hit shutout Sunday to put the Cubs on the brink of the division title. The Cubs figure to get the Nationals in the first round, and Lester has good numbers against most of their tougher hitters. “I really anticipate better,” Maddon said of Lester’s assignment Monday in St. Louis. “He has had to work through coming off his injury. Physically he’s well. There’s nothing unwell about him. As long as he’s well and healthy, he’s going to be fine.” All of which adds an extra layer of significance to the final week of games, perhaps none more significant than Lester on Monday. “Let’s just play this out, when it comes down to that moment to really evaluate what we want to do,” Maddon said. “Hopefully, we get to the playoffs and when you get there, then you make your best guesses based on who you’re going to play — that could also be part of it.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs beat Brewers, swagger into St. Louis: ‘We intend to clinch there’ By Gordon Wittenmyer MILWAUKEE — John Lackey, perhaps the man of the fewest words in the Cubs’ clubhouse, had a few for teammates before the series opener Thursday against the Brewers: “This is not a small series, boys.”

Three 10-inning games and a pitching gem later, the Cubs had won three of four against the Brewers and headed to St. Louis looking for a National League Central clincher that could happen as soon as Tuesday. If anyone doubted it before the series, veteran Ben Zobrist made it clear after a 5-0 victory Sunday at Miller Park. “It’s the playoffs already for this team,” said Zobrist, whose two-run homer in the seventh inning helped back a three-hitter by Jose Quintana — the Cubs’ first shutout in more than a year. “We’re in postseason mode, and we intend to continue that for the next month.” In the short term, they have their sights set on a celebration at Busch Stadium against the arch-rival Cardinals. A victory Monday would eliminate the Cardinals from the division race and drop the magic number to one for eliminating the Brewers, who are idle Monday. “It will be nice to do it there. I’ll just say that,” said Zobrist, who related the big-series message from Lackey. “So we knew it was a big one here in Milwaukee, and it’ll be another big one in St. Louis. “We intend to clinch there, and for a lot of guys that have been around here for a long time, it’s going to be very satisfying.” It would be the Cubs’ first title clinch in St. Louis since 1938 (that one for the NL pennant). “That would mean a lot,” said catcher Willson Contreras, who beat out an infield hit ahead of Zobrist’s homer — two weeks after returning from a hamstring injury. “Our team is really special, and we’re going to be ready for every game in St. Louis.” The Cubs came from behind Thursday and Friday to beat the Brewers in extra innings before blowing leads in the ninth and 10th in a loss Saturday. Sunday belonged to Quintana (7-3 with the Cubs), who struck out 10 and walked just one in his second career shutout. He nursed a 1-0 lead through six before Zobrist extended it. “The thing I like is that we reacted in a playoff manner for these four games,” manager Joe Maddon said. “Our mental intensity could not be beat.” Nobody seems to have had more playoff-race intensity than Quintana, the left-hander acquired from the White Sox during the All-Star break who has talked openly and emotionally about the chance to pitch in the playoffs for the first time. On Sunday, he said his goal was to preserve the recently taxed bullpen, and he only seemed to get sharper as the game went on, needing just 13 pitches to get through the final two innings. “It’s huge when you get that confidence [from the manager],” Quintana said of Maddon’s willingness to let him bat in the top of the ninth, knowing he’d get the ball in the bottom of the inning. “It’s special.” Even playoff-like in September in Milwaukee? “I think so,” Quintana said. “I don’t know because I haven’t been there. But this series was huge.” Quintana is 2-0 with a 1.63 ERA in four starts in September, a stretch that began with a 1-0 team victory in Pittsburgh and a vow to be in the playoff rotation. “Once he got over here, he was really jacked up about having a chance to play in the playoffs, and he’s showing you that,” Maddon said. “Games like that to me could be kind of career-altering for a pitcher. When you pitch a complete-game shutout on the road under these circumstances, that hopefully does something for your interior. It definitely fluffs it up a little bit.

“I’m curious as he continues to move forward from that game.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs weigh in on Bruce Maxwell, MLB’s first player to kneel in protest By Steve Greenberg MILWAUKEE — Cubs reliever Carl Edwards Jr. has an insider’s point of view with regard to Bruce Maxwell, the Oakland A’s catcher who took a knee during the national anthem Saturday. Edwards calls Maxwell a ‘‘great guy’’ and one of his best friends. But does he support Maxwell’s actions in becoming the first major-leaguer to follow in the footsteps of former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick? ‘‘I’m behind it, too, but it’s not something I would do,’’ Edwards said. ‘‘I play this game because of love. There’s nothing bad about what Bruce did, but I don’t really follow that stuff. It’s just how the world is now.’’ Shortstop Addison Russell played with Maxwell in the A’s farm system and describes him as a ‘‘cool, chill dude.’’ Russell is pleased to see Maxwell receiving support from the A’s organization, but how would he feel if a member of the Cubs followed in Maxwell’s footsteps? ‘‘Hopefully, a teammate would be kind of conscious of warning the team before doing that,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s a pretty bold move, I feel like, and we definitely want to back up our teammates, that’s for sure. Just let it be known. If you’re feeling some type of a way, then I guess as teammates and friends we definitely have to back him up.’’ Not all of the Cubs were willing discuss an issue that has been a hot potato since Kaepernick took a knee in support of Black Lives Matter and in protest of police violence against black people — and has exploded in its divisiveness, thanks in large part to the president and tweeter-in-chief of the United States. Your thoughts on Maxwell, Anthony Rizzo? ‘‘I play first base for the Chicago Cubs,’’ he said. Asked whether he would support a teammate who felt the need to protest as Maxwell did, Rizzo didn’t exactly elaborate. ‘‘I play first base for the Cubs,’’ he repeated. Catcher Alex Avila was blunt, too, but a bit more nuanced. ‘‘I don’t really give a [bleep] what you do or how you live your life as long as you produce on the field,’’ he said. ‘‘That’s your right and your prerogative. You get the freedom to make your own decisions. As a teammate, being in the clubhouse is very much like a family: We support each other no matter what.’’ If a Cubs player does put himself — even with the postseason drawing near, presumably — at the intersection of sports and public activism, he won’t have to worry about president of baseball operations Theo Epstein getting all bent out of shape. ‘‘Like our country, our team is a collection of individuals with different backgrounds and beliefs,’’ Epstein said via text, ‘‘and it is better for its diversity. I support our players’ rights to express their opinions in any peaceful and respectful manner they choose.’’

Manager Joe Maddon has no rules when it comes to the anthem. He allows players to duck into the clubhouse or anywhere else out of sight during that time, and many of them take advantage. Would one of his players taking a knee on the grass, as the crowd sang and the flag waved, be a different story? ‘‘If [a player] does, that’s fine,’’ he said. ‘‘I have no issues. I’m all into self-expression. If a player feels he needs to express himself in that matter, then so be it.’’ Outfielder Albert Almora Jr., like most of his teammates, it seems, is trying to stay away from the whole issue. But he gets the final word here: ‘‘I respect what [Maxwell] is doing; I respect everybody that’s doing it. As an American, I just want to see everybody come together.’’ -- Chicago Sun-Times Maddon: Comments to Sun-Times not shots at athletes critical of Trump By Gordon Wittenmyer MILWAUKEE — A day after facing some social-media backlash stemming from comments he made to the Sun-Times, Cubs manager Joe Maddon tried to clarify his thoughts, saying he didn’t understand the full context of the question and wasn’t criticizing LeBron James, Stephen Curry or any other athletes engaged in Twitter battles with President Donald Trump. ‘‘I’ve always spoken what’s on my mind, and I’ve always respected other people doing the same,’’ Maddon said Sunday. ‘‘It’s that simple. I just did not know the context of the question [Saturday] at all. And then I read about it when I got back to my room, and I could understand what all the uproar was about.’’ After Maddon finished his postgame media session Saturday, he was asked if he was willing to take a question about the developing controversy over the Warriors’ scuttled White House visit, given that the Cubs and Patriots were the two professional champions to visit the Trump White House. Maddon was told Curry had said publicly he didn’t want to make the visit, which led to Trump tweeting the invitation was rescinded. That led to James tweeting about a lack respect for the White House since Trump took office. Among his brief comments, Maddon called it ‘‘dangerous when folks in our country stop respecting the White House and the seat of the president.’’ It was a theme he expressed during the Cubs’ trip to Washington in June and again Sunday, when he was asked the original question anew. ‘‘Again, I have respect for the government of the United States. I have respect for the office. I have respect for the seat of the presidency,’’ Maddon said. ‘‘When it comes down to individual battles, I have nothing to do with that. All I’m saying is that I understand why the players responded the way they did. After I read the comments, it was very clear why they would respond the way they did. ‘‘It’s just unfortunate that we’ve arrived at this point where it’s so easy to have this dialogue between the highest office in the country and everybody else in such a negative way. That’s the part that’s really disappointing.’’ -- Daily Herald Chicago Cubs' Maddon says athletes have right to express opinions By Bruce Miles

MILWAUKEE -- Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Sunday he has no policy on players lining up for the national anthem before games and that he respects players expressing themselves in whichever way they choose. Maddon also said he did not know the context of a question Saturday by a Chicago Sun-Times reporter when he was asked to weigh in on athletes being upset by comments made by President Trump about anthem protests. On that, Maddon was quoted as saying: "It's dangerous when folks in our country stop respecting the White House and the seat of the president. It's not a good situation. With all due respect to everybody, I just believe that we need to get our acts together collectively, all of us." The question came a few minutes after Saturday's extra-inning loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, and Maddon said he was not aware Trump had called for anthem protesters to be fired, using a derogatory term for them. "I had no idea what the president had said prior to being asked that question," Maddon said Sunday. "I wasn't commenting on what the president had said. I had no idea it was in that context whatsoever. I had no idea what he said. I mean, how would I? I had no idea what was said prior to asking me that question. "So my response was typical: Always respect the office and the White House and the seat of the presidency, like I said before when we attended (a White House ceremony with Trump this season). That was what my response was all about. It had nothing to do with the situation. "It's understandable why these people, the players, jumped back at him the way they did. It's very understandable. Absolutely, I had no idea." Maddon said he has no set policy on lining up for the anthem because players have different pregame routines. "That's up to them," he said. "I've never really had a policy regarding being out there for the anthem or not. A lot of times guys like to do different things right before the game begins." Hendricks the leader? If the Cubs make the playoffs, it sounds like Joe Maddon might be leaning toward starting Kyle Hendricks in Game 1 of the National League division series. If the series were to go five games, the Game 1 starter could be used again in the finale. "It is a tough one," Maddon said about choosing a Game 1 starter. "Right now Kyle Hendricks is pitching as well as anybody on this team and among the best in the league. "Even (Saturday), when I took him out of the game, (the pitch count) was like 112, he wanted to go back out, sincerely wanted to go back out, he felt that good. I had to hold him back a little bit. "I really believe, like I always believe, that let's just play this out. When it comes down to that moment to really evaluate what we want to do … hopefully we can get to the playoffs. You get there and then you make your best guesses based on who you're going to play. That's going to have to be part of it, also." -- Daily Herald Quintana, Chicago Cubs reduce magic number to 2 By Bruce Miles MILWAUKEE -- The playoffs have not yet officially begun for the Chicago Cubs. Just don't tell that to anyone inside their clubhouse.

"It's the playoffs -- already -- for this team," declared Ben Zobrist after Sunday's 5-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. The Cubs took three of four over the weekend. Jose Quintana, who is looking to pitch in his first postseason, helped the Cubs reduce their magic number to clinch the National League Central to 2 by tossing a complete-game 3-hitter. The Cubs improved to 87-68 and moved 5½ games ahead of the Brewers and 6 ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals in the Central. The Brewers (82-74) are off Monday, so the Cubs can't clinch until Tuesday at the earliest. But they have the delicious possibility of doing so this week in St. Louis, where they begin a four-game series Monday night against the Cardinals (81-74), who lost Sunday at Pittsburgh. The Cardinals are the Cubs' Gateway Arch rivals and longtime tormentors, so clinching on Busch Stadium turf and spraying champagne in the visitors clubhouse this week would leave a mark. Zobrist, who hails from Eureka, Illinois -- which is home to many Cardinals and Cubs supporters -- did his best to sound diplomatic about the possibility of the Cubs clinching in St. Louis. "It will be nice to do it there, I'll just say that," he said. "But we've got to win the games. This series (against Milwaukee), as (pitcher) John Lackey said before the series, 'This is not a small series, boys.' We knew it was a big one here in Milwaukee, and it will be another big one in St. Louis. "We intend to clinch there, and I think for a lot of the guys that have been around here for a long time, it's going to be very satisfying." Zobrist, the MVP of last year's World Series, hit a 2-run homer in the seventh inning to increase a Cubs lead from 1-0 to 3-0. They added 2 more in the eighth on a 2-run double by Anthony Rizzo. But the real star of the day was lefty Quintana, who pitched the second shutout of his career. He moved to 7-3 since the Cubs acquired him in a trade with the White Sox in July. Quintana threw 116 pitches over 9 innings but only 13 over the final 2. He agreed that it's playoff time. "I don't know yet because I haven't been (to the playoffs), but this series was huge," he said. "Pretty tight games. Everybody keeps fighting all the innings. And the defense played really good, too." The Cubs acquired Quintana for the playoff push and beyond. His manager said he believes a game like Sunday's can provide a shot of confidence. "Once he got over here, he was really jacked up about having a chance to play in the playoffs," Joe Maddon said. "Games like that, to me, can be kind of career altering for a pitcher. When you pitch a complete-game shutout on the road under these circumstances, that definitely does something for your interior. It definitely fluffs it up a little bit." The Cubs have a chance this week to clinch their third straight playoff berth. Two years ago, they won the wild card and beat the Cardinals at Wrigley Field to clinch the division series. When Zobrist referenced Cubs players who have been with the team for a while, he might have been talking about first baseman Anthony Rizzo and the satisfaction he might take from clinching in St. Louis. "I would really love to be able to do it at Wrigley and use our new facilities even more," Rizzo said. "St. Louis is a good baseball city. They appreciate good baseball. We play them well. They play us well. So if we do clinch there, it will be nice. "They are our division rivals. To clinch anywhere, I don't think it's any different anywhere you can clinch."

-- Cubs.com Q quiets Crew; Cubs cut Central number to 2 By Adam McCalvy and Carrie Muskat MILWAUKEE -- There was no late drama this time. Jose Quintana and the Cubs made sure of that. After a trio of 10-inning thrillers to begin this four-game showdown of National League Central contenders, Quintana surpassed 200 strikeouts on the way to his second career shutout, and Ben Zobrist and Anthony Rizzo delivered late two-run hits for a 5-0 win over the Brewers in Sunday's finale at steamy Miller Park. "Winning three out of four here is a big boost to our confidence," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "The thing I like is that we reacted in a playoff manner in these four games. Our mental intensity could not be beat." Chicago's magic number to clinch the NL Central dropped to two over St. Louis, since the Cardinals lost Sunday in Pittsburgh. The Cubs' magic number over the Brewers in the Central is also two, so while the Cubs could knock the Cardinals out of the division race with a win in the series opener between the clubs on Monday, the earliest Chicago could clinch the division would be Tuesday, because the Brewers are off on Monday. "It will be nice to do it there, I'll just say that," Zobrist said about the Cubs possibly clinching against their rivals in St. Louis. "We have to win the games. It's a big series. This series [against the Brewers], as John Lackey said before the series, 'This is not a small series, boys.' We knew it was a big one here in Milwaukee and it'll be another big one in St. Louis. We intend to clinch there, and I think for a lot of the guys who have been around here for a long time, it'll be very satisfying." Milwaukee fell to 5 1/2 games behind the Cubs in the division, and two games behind the Rockies for the second NL Wild Card spot. Quintana, a trade target of the Brewers in July before the White Sox sent him to the Cubs, scattered three singles, two of which didn't get past the infield, and struck out 10 while going the distance on 116 pitches. With one regular-season start to go, he has 202 strikeouts this season. "That was outstanding," Maddon said of the lefty's outing. "Just from the beginning, you could see he wanted to do something like that today. He kept getting better [as the game progressed], kept hitting his spots." Quintana and Brewers starter Chase Anderson dueled in a 1-0 game until the seventh, when the Cubs began pulling away. Zobrist connected for a two-run home run off Anderson in the inning and Rizzo ripped a two-run double off Carlos Torres in the eighth to propel the Cubs to their third victory in the four-game series, and their 10th win in 12 games overall. "[Quintana] was on his game today, and I just did the best I could to match him," said Anderson, who will have to wait to see whether his final regular-season start in St. Louis proves meaningful. "Unfortunately, we couldn't come out with a win." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Jay takes flight: The Brewers were held without an extra-base hit for the seventh time this season thanks to Cubs outfielder Jon Jay, who robbed Jesus Aguilar of a likely double in the fourth. After scoring from first base on Kris Bryant's double for the game's first run in the top of the frame, Jay laid out for a diving catch of Aguilar's line drive toward the left-field corner to end the bottom of the frame. The Brewers' only hit off Quintana the rest of the way was Keon Broxton's infield single in the fifth. "To Jon Jay, I say, 'Thank you,'" Quintana said.

"He was a big thorn, for sure," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said of Jay. "He made the defensive play of the game today, for sure. He had a nice series." Game-breaker: Anderson, making his final home start of the regular season, had retired eight straight batters before Willson Contreras hustled for an infield single leading off the seventh. Zobrist hammered the next pitch, a fastball up in the zone and on the inner half of the plate, sending it 105.9 mph off the bat, according to Statcast™, and 403 feet to the second deck in right field for a 3-0 Cubs lead. It was Zobrist's first homer since Aug. 29 against the Pirates. "I tried to do the best I could to keep the score within range," Anderson said. "I probably should have gone with a different pitch to Zobrist. He always ambushes with guys on base. To his credit, he put a good swing on it, and that's what you're supposed to do with those pitches. I tried to throw a sinker away and I just cut it on accident. … It kind of went into his swing instead of away from his swing." "He throws a fastball and I hit a fastball," Zobrist said of Anderson. "He left a few over the middle of the plate today, and I took advantage of them. I was ready and he left it there and I took advantage of it." QUOTABLE "It was shaping up to be the same game [as the first three in the series]. … I couldn't be prouder of the way we played. One-hundred percent. It was a good baseball series, man." -- Counsell "We came to Milwaukee and we knew we were facing a tough team. These games have been tough. Our minds were ready for today. It was a big game. Now we're thinking about tomorrow." – Contreras SEEING 20/20 Brewers center fielder Broxton has taken some lumps this season -- he has the highest strikeout rate in the NL, and was briefly demoted to the Minors in July -- but he also added his name to the franchise record books on Sunday when he stole second base in the fifth inning. It made Broxton the eighth different player in Brewers history to hit at least 20 home runs and steal at least 20 bases in a season. The group has combined for 13 such seasons, led by Braun's four. Seven other Major League players have reached the milestone in 2017, and it's quite a list. Broxton joined Mike Trout, Jose Altuve, Mookie Betts, Wil Myers, Tommy Pham, Elvis Andrus and Brett Gardner in 20/20 territory. "That's something I've always dreamed about doing," Broxton said. "To accomplish that in the bad season I've had is really uplifting for me. But right now I'm thinking about the whole club." UPON FURTHER REVIEW Zobrist's home run was a two-run shot because Contreras had just beat a bouncer along the third-base line for an infield hit. The Brewers' Travis Shaw made a nice barehanded play and threw a one-hopper to first base that was so close the Brewers opted to challenge the safe call. It stood, and Zobrist hammered the next pitch into the seats. The Cubs have asked Contreras to take it easy running the bases because he injured his right hamstring doing just that and missed one month. "I knew I was going to be safe on that play, that's why I ran hard," Contreras said. "With it 1-0, I have to run to the bases hard. If we were winning by three or four [runs], I could take it easy." "From an experienced hamstring puller, it's really incredible to watch," Maddon said of Contreras' quick recovery. WHAT'S NEXT Cubs: Jon Lester will open a four-game series against the Cardinals on Monday at Busch Stadium. The lefty is coming off what was described as an awkward start as he struggled with his command against the Rays. He says

he's fine physically. This will be his fifth start against the Cardinals this season, and so far, he's 1-1 with a 3.28 ERA. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. CT. Brewers: After a day off Monday, Zach Davies and the Brewers begin their final push for a postseason berth with the first of three home games against the Reds, which will be followed by three on the road against the Cardinals. Tuesday's 6:40 p.m. CT series opener against the Reds offers Davies and the Brewers a chance to atone for getting swept in three games at Great American Ball Park earlier this month. -- Cubs.com Quintana's 3-hit shutout builds confidence By Carrie Muskat MILWAUKEE -- Jose Quintana has never pitched in the postseason, so he's not exactly sure how it feels. On Sunday, he tuned up perfectly for the playoffs. Quintana threw a three-hit shutout, the second shutout of his career, and helped the Cubs win the series with a 5-0 victory over the Brewers. The lefty struck out 10 and has reached 200 K's in a single season for the first time in his career. With the win, the Cubs' magic number to clinch the Central Division is two, and they can do so as early as Tuesday night in St. Louis. "Once he got over here, he was jacked up about having the chance to play in the playoffs," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of Quintana. "Games like that can be kind of career altering for a pitcher. When you pitch a complete-game shutout on the road under these circumstances, that definitely does something for your interior. It definitely fluffs it up a little bit." Quintana had thrown an efficient 109 pitches through eight innings, needing just six pitches to retire the side in the eighth. "When I got to the bottom of the eighth, Joe gave me the confidence to go out there [for the ninth]," Quintana said. "It's huge when you get a shutout game. It's not easy to do. I'm really happy, especially when you face a lineup like that. "When I walked back to the dugout, [Maddon] said, 'Man, you're back again,'" Quintana said of the brief conversation. "I said, 'All right.' "I tried to get quick outs," he said. "Today I got quick outs after the second time I saw the lineup. They are real aggressive." It was the first shutout by a Cubs pitcher since Kyle Hendricks did so on Aug. 1, 2016, against the Marlins, and only the second complete game by a Chicago starter this season. "'Q,' to me, he's a special kid," Cubs catcher Willson Contreras said. "He comes to the ballpark ready every single day, even if he's not pitching. He prepares himself, he asks a lot. Today was one of the biggest days of his career. We had a plan and he executed every pitch we wanted to." It was a frustrating day for the Brewers. "He was making good pitches in, and as righties, we're not really looking in, we're looking away," Milwaukee's Keon Broxton said. "The changeup, I think we saw pretty good as a unit, but he was flipping a curveball in now and then, which was a good pitch for him. He just hit his spots, man."

There was no real discussion about Quintana not finishing the game. Reliever Pedro Strop did warm up a couple of times, but that was it. "Just from the beginning, you could see he wanted to do something like that today," Maddon said of Quintana. "He kept getting better [as the game progressed], kept hitting his spots." In his Cubs debut on July 15 against the Orioles, Quintana struck out 12 over seven scoreless innings and got the win. He's now 7-3 with a 3.50 ERA with the Cubs. Did it feel like a playoff game on Sunday? "I think so -- I don't know yet, because I haven't been -- but this series was huge," Quintana said. "I'm just trying to help my team. It's really special when you get the opportunity. I have a huge opportunity here." "These were playoff games," Contreras said of the Cubs-Brewers series. "They're not easy." -- Cubs.com Maddon respects players' right to self expression By Carrie Muskat MILWAUKEE -- Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell chose to kneel during the national anthem on Saturday in an effort to raise awareness about brutality and injustice at the hands of authorities. Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Sunday he does not have a rule for his players and respects individuals' rights to express themselves. "I don't have [a rule]," Maddon said. "I think that's up to them. I've never really had a policy regarding being out for the anthem or not. A lot of times, guys like to do different things before the game begins. Sometimes you're on the road, you hit later, and you get in later, and your time is at a premium. I've never had a specific theory about the anthem." Did Maddon anticipate the gesture would continue? "I have no idea," he said. "We'll wait and see. If it does, that's fine. I have no issues. I'm all into self expression. If a player feels he needs to express himself in that manner, then so be it." Maxwell's decision came one day after President Donald Trump made reference to NFL players not standing for the anthem as employees who, as he put it, should be fired by their teams and after the president rescinded an invitation to Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors when Curry had said he wouldn't visit the White House for a congratulatory ceremony with Trump. After learning of the posts by the president and backlash from Curry and fellow superstar LeBron James, among many others, Maddon empathized with the players' views and suggested certain social media banter on topics that merit thoughtfulness and restraint arguably are beneath a commander in chief. "I understand why the players responded the way they did, after I read the comments," Maddon said. "It's just unfortunate we've arrived at this point where it's so easy to have this dialogue between the highest office in the country and everybody else in such a negative way. That's the part that's really disappointing." Worth noting • Lefty Justin Wilson had an impressive relief outing on Saturday, striking out three of the four batters he faced. Getting him on track would be a boost to the Cubs' bullpen. "There's situations, especially when the other team has lefties coming up and they're going to pinch-hit a righty and you know they're going to do it in advance," Maddon said. "He's so good against the opposite side. It's an easy

spot when you see it in the lineup, 'This is a Justin Wilson spot.' If they chose to leave the lefty, you're happy with that, too." The goal is to use Wilson as a setup pitcher for closer Wade Davis along with right-handers Carl Edwards Jr. and Pedro Strop. -- Cubs.com Cubs, Cards likely to answer Central question By Carrie Muskat No more scoreboard watching. The Cubs and Cardinals will be able to look each other in the eye as they battle for the National League Central, playing a four-game series at Busch Stadium, starting Monday night. "It doesn't matter who we're playing," Chicago outfielder Jason Heyward said. "It just works out that we're playing the team it affects. The only thing I like is we are where we are. That's the quote-unquote 'comfort' to have. Other than that, we're just having fun. We still have to punch our ticket to get in." Chicago's magic number to clinch the NL Central is two over St. Louis. The Cubs' magic number over the Brewers in the Central is also two, so while the Cubs could knock the Cardinals out of the division race with a win in the series opener Monday, the earliest Chicago could clinch the division would be Tuesday, because the Brewers are off on Monday. Cubs manager Joe Maddon also avoided looking too far ahead. "Of course, it'd be great to have that happen [and clinch], but it's a one-game-at-a-time situation, and we'll be facing some really good pitching," Maddon said. "That's my concern." Jon Lester (11-8, 4.56 ERA) will face the Cardinals' Luke Weaver (7-1, 2.05 ERA) in Game 1 of this pivotal series. Lester is 1-1 with a 3.28 ERA in four starts against the Cardinals this season, and his last start against them was his best of the year. On July 22 at Wrigley Field, he gave up two runs on three hits over eight innings, striking out 10. He had written "PLACT" on his cap in honor of his uncle, who passed away the day before. The uncle had attended Notre Dame and that acronym is familiar to Fighting Irish fans. It stands for "Play Like A Champion Today." Lester outdueled Adam Wainwright that day, and the Cardinals' ace was impressed. "He's been a fabulous pitcher over the years, and I love matching up against great quality pitchers like him," Wainwright said of Lester, 33. This will be Weaver's second career start against the Cubs and first since Aug. 13, 2016, which was his Major League debut. In that game, the right-hander lasted four innings and did not get a decision. A first-round Draft pick in 2014 by the Cardinals, Weaver, 24, will be making his ninth start of the season. When Lester was 24, he was winning 16 games with the Red Sox. Weaver hasn't lost since stepping into the rotation last month for an injured Wainwright. He's the first Cardinals rookie since 1944 to win seven straight decisions, and he has a 1.49 ERA over his last six starts. "This kid's been really good," Maddon said of Weaver. Lester had problems with his command in his last outing but Maddon said the left-hander is ready to go. "I anticipate better," Maddon said. "I think he has to work through stuff coming off his injury. Physically, he's well. I have so much faith in the guy. I'm anticipating good."

The Cubs are 11-4 against the Cardinals so far this season, including a three-game sweep from Sept. 15-17 at Wrigley Field. "We've got to find a way to win, and we've got to play them better," the Cardinals' Matt Carpenter said. "We haven't had enough to beat them to this point." The Cubs-Cardinals series usually isn't so one-sided. "Sometimes we can't take advantage of the big opportunities," St. Louis' Dexter Fowler said. "They make mistakes, and we have to capitalize on them. Likewise, when we have made mistakes, they've capitalized on them." The Cubs are close and could celebrate the division championship at Busch. "I haven't thought about that," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "We've seen celebrations before on our field. I don't spend a whole lot of time thinking about that. I just have my mind on the opposite, of what it looks like for us to go out there and play really good and come off the field with wins." Last year, the Cubs posted the best record in the Major Leagues and cruised in the division. This year has been more stomach-churning, including three extra-inning, playoff-intense games against the Brewers this past weekend. "I've done this multiple times," Heyward said calmly. "It's come down to the last game a few times, and that's part of the game. ... To me, it'll be more impressive this way to get in than it was last year, but it doesn't really matter at the end of the day. You just want to get in." Three things to know about this game • The Cardinals are unsure whether first baseman Jose Martinez will be an option to play on Monday as he continues to nurse a left thumb sprain. Martinez jammed his thumb during the team's last series against the Cubs and did not appear in either of St. Louis' games over the weekend. • The Cubs have a 44-23 record since the All-Star break, the second-best mark in baseball, trailing only the Indians. • Chicago's Wade Davis' streak of consecutive saves ended on Saturday at 32 in a row. Davis mentioned after the game that his arm was "dragging" but Maddon said that may be the right-hander's term for being off mechanically, not a sign of fatigue. -- ESPNChicago.com Cubs' Jose Quintana opens eyes with 'career-altering' performance By Jesse Rogers MILWAUKEE -- Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon isn’t yet willing to discuss a potential playoff rotation, but that might be because his starting staff is upside down at the moment and not the fact that the Cubs haven’t yet clinched their division. Maddon's Nos. 3 and 4 starters from a few weeks ago are looking more like his Nos. 1 and 2 after one of the finer outings of the year on Sunday: a complete-game 5-0 shutout by lefty Jose Quintana over the Milwaukee Brewers. It was an eye-opening performance by the Cubs' big midseason acquisition. “Games like that can be career-altering for a pitcher,” Maddon said. “When you pitch a complete-game shutout on the road, under these circumstances, that definitely does something for your interior [confidence].” Quintana was fantastic, striking out 10 over the course of 116 pitches. He gave up just three hits and one walk.

“Q is a special kid,” Cubs catcher Willson Contreras said. “He’s ready every single day, even when he’s not pitching. Today was one of the biggest days of his career, I think. He executed everything he wanted to.” Quintana came inside to righties, dipped balls below the knees against lefties and kept the Brewers off balance on a hot afternoon at Miller Park. The win reduced the Cubs’ magic number to win the National League Central to two, while giving Maddon something to think about when he does set up his postseason rotation. “Get to the playoffs and then you have to account for who’s pitching well, then who you’re playing against, then how do your skills match up against that group,” Maddon said. The Cubs are on a collision course with the Washington Nationals, who feature lefties Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy among a slew of good offensive talent. In reality, Quintana always had a spot in the playoff rotation, but until recently, his game wasn’t as sharp. He adjusted to how the Cubs go about their game plan. Now he is thriving. Over his past five starts, including Sunday’s masterpiece, he has a 2.14 mark -- compared to a 5.31 ERA in his seven previous starts going into the hot streak. “I was so happy to get this last game of the series,” Quintana said. “This was a huge series. I just tried to save my bullpen [because of] the last three days. ... When I got to the bottom of the eighth, Joe gave me the confidence to go back out there.” He looked just as strong in the ninth inning as he did in the first. It led to a round of postgame big hugs on the field and in the locker room. “Today was our day,” Cubs second baseman Ben Zobrist said. “Q was on from the start to the finish. ... He didn’t let up. He didn’t seem tired, and he was on point.” Quintana often has said he has been wanting to experience the playoffs, and he’s about to get the chance. The Cubs have to take care of some business in St. Louis over the next few days, then Maddon finally can discuss where Quintana and his other pitchers fit for the postseason. In Quintana’s estimation, getting the complete-game win was about as exciting as striking out 200 batters, which he accomplished on Sunday for the first time in his career. “I don’t have words to explain that,” Quintana said with a big smile. “It’s special. It’s really good when you get punches [strikeouts]. I’m happy for me to get that for the first time.” So are the Cubs. -- ESPNChicago.com Cubs hoping to clinch Central Division in St. Louis against archrival Cardinals By Jesse Rogers MILWAUKEE -- With a third consecutive postseason appearance in sight, the Chicago Cubs have four games in St. Louis beginning Monday with a chance to clinch the Central Division against their archrival Cardinals. They'd like nothing more than to do it in a place that has haunted the franchise for a very long time, and they should get their chance, considering their magic number is just two after a 5-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday. "It would be nice to do it there," Ben Zobrist said after the game. "I'll just say that." "We intend to clinch there. For a lot of the guys that have been around here for a long time, it's going to be very satisfying."

The Cardinals have long been a thorn in the Cubs' side, but the roles have been reversed the past couple seasons. Now it's St. Louis that is hoping to squeeze into a wild-card berth, while the Cubs are setting themselves up for another long postseason run. The defending champions put themselves in a great position by beating the Brewers in three out of four games this weekend. "It's a big series," Zobrist said. "This series, as John Lackey said, 'This is not a small series, boys.' We knew it was a big one here in Milwaukee. It will be another big one in St. Louis." The Cubs have seen St. Louis celebrate in their presence both at Wrigley Field and at Busch Stadium. Now they intend to be the ones popping champagne. "Woof, it would mean a lot," catcher Willson Contreras said. "We're human. We're thinking about clinching, but today [Sunday] we were thinking about winning the game." Zobrist added: "It's the playoffs already for this team. We're already thinking that way. It's a matter of wrapping up the division in the next few days and then playing well going into the postseason. We're in postseason mode right now, and we intend to continue that for the next month." Manager Joe Maddon was less forthcoming about his desire to clinch in St. Louis but plenty effusive about his team's play. The four-game series against the Brewers had a playoff vibe to it, especially considering that the first three games were decided in extra innings. But Sunday's complete-game shutout by Jose Quintana basically buried the upstart Brewers and reminded everyone who is in charge in the Central Division of the National League. "We reacted in a playoff manner for these four games," Maddon simply stated. "Our mental sense of the present tense was outstanding." --