August 17, 2016 Chicago Tribune Cubs relish Anthony Rizzo's award-worthy catch By Mark Gonzales Chants of “MVP, MVP” echoed through Wrigley Field after first baseman Anthony Rizzo performed another remarkable catch Tuesday night that reinforced his National League Gold Glove-caliber credentials. But the Cubs’ first baseman, in keeping with the Olympic Games spirit, had another thought. “Maybe the Final 6,” quipped Rizzo, referring to the U.S. Gymnastics “Final 5” team of Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, Madison Kocian and Laurie Hernandez. Rizzo performed a somewhat similar catch nearly one year ago – Aug. 12, 2015, to be exact. And like last year, Jason Hammel was on the mound for the Cubs facing the same Milwaukee Brewers team. This time, Rizzo didn’t have to step on the tarp along the first base line, but he ran behind the tarp before stepping on the top of the thick wall and quickly gaining his balance before reaching into the stands to make the catch. This time it was Keon Broxton, not Ryan Braun, who was robbed by Rizzo, who broke out a big smile as he returned to the field. “I got a good dismount,” Rizzo quipped. “I feel like I do a good job that when it’s a foul ball, getting to the spot, and looking up. And when I looked up, the ball was still very high. I had time to get up there and make the play. I surprised myself that I caught it, to be honest.” Rizzo said he’s thought about the catch New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter made in 2004 when he crashed into the seats to rob Jeremy Giambi of the Boston Red Sox, and that he and his older brother would make over-the-shoulder football catches on passes thrown by their father when they were younger. “It’s one of those fun plays where if you make it, you look great,” Rizzo said. “If you don’t make it, you‘re a fool. It’s nice I made it.” Manager Joe Maddon also was in the Olympic spirit as he assessed Rizzo’s fearless catch. “I was hoping for a 9.5 from the Luxembourg judge,” Maddon joked. “It was a great play. I watched it again. He did a nice job of getting there and looking to step up, stepped up.” The coincidence of Rizzo’s catch wasn’t lost on Hammel. “It takes a special athlete to be able to do that,” Hammel said. “He may not look like a great athlete, but he is a great athlete.” Hammel laughed before saying, “I love you, Riz.”

“It’s crazy. Talk about irony. I pitched the last time when he did it, and it was against the Brewers. Literally at the same time against the same team, same place. I’m very appreciative of the play, for sure.” Rizzo said winning a Gold Glove award for exceptional defense has crossed his mind, but he warned reporters that there are more than six weeks left in the regular season in response to his National League most valuable player candidacy. But Maddon and Hammel were more forthcoming in their support of Rizzo. “I know there are a lot of pretty good defensive first basemen, but Rizz is right at the top off the list for me,” said Maddon, who has coached or managed the likes of Gold Glove winner J.T. Snow as well as James Loney, Carlos Pena, Darin Erstad and Wally Joyner. Rizzo leads Cubs regulars with a .292 batting average and 85 RBIs, causing Hammel to reflect on his development. “It’s been fun to watch Rizz grow over the past few years,” said Hammel, who collected two hits and reached the .500 mark (82-82) for the first time in his career. “I remember my first year in 2014. He was a little more vocal than what I remember seeing him as a rookie with San Diego. But that’s the thing. He wants to be the leader. He really wants that role. He really relishes and cherishes that. That’s the type of guy he is, the personality. He carries. A lot of guys joke with him and give him a hard time because he tries to be a leader, He really is. “He exudes his confidence in a different way. But it’s fun to have a guy like that, a young guy who takes the team where he wants to go – to win.” -- Chicago Tribune Joe Maddon not afraid to call squeeze play even when opponents expect it By Mark Gonzales The Brewers are aware of Joe Maddon's habit of calling for squeeze plays, but that didn't stop the Cubs manager from calling for one on a 3-2 count to pitcher Trevor Cahill that scored an important run in their 4-0 victory in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader. Cahill's bunt came in the fourth inning after the Brewers held a conference on the mound. "When the ball is put in the right spot, it's hard to defend it," Maddon said. Maddon called for the squeeze play on a 3-1 count and didn't back off after Cahill foul his first bunt attempt. His second try went in the direction of first baseman Chris Carter, whose throw home was too late to nail Chris Coghlan. "I think it helped me out getting ahead in the count so I knew (Brewers pitcher Matt Garza) was going to lay one in there," Cahill said. Scuffling Smith: The struggles of reliever Joe Smith continued in the first game. He was pulled after walking two of the first three batters he faced in the ninth with a four-run lead. "Walking two guys isn't who he is," Maddon said. Maddon said he had a "good conversation" with Smith and felt optimistic Smith would revert to his successful ways. Smith has allowed six hits and walked four in 3 2/3 innings over six appearances.

"Obviously, he's trying too hard," Maddon said. Jugular jive: The Cubs were only 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position, but Maddon didn't seem concerned about their lack of clutch hitting. "The thing about not getting the big hit, it's coming," Maddon said. "It's just the ebb and flow of a season. We'll start getting them in droves. I'm not worried about it." But the lack of a big lead led Maddon to pull left-hander Mike Montgomery after Manny Pina opened the eighth with a single and the Cubs up 3-0. Maddon said he had hoped Montgomery would pitch the final four innings but felt the need to bring in Hector Rondon, who preserved the three-run lead. -- Chicago Tribune Strong pitching, Anthony Rizzo's defense boost Cubs in doubleheader By Mark Gonzales John Lackey's right shoulder is sore enough that the Cubs are considering numerous options that range from giving him an addition day or two of rest before his next scheduled start to placing him on the 15-day disabled list. But from the dependable pitching of Trevor Cahill and Jason Hammel to a superb defensive play by first baseman Anthony Rizzo, the Cubs showed Tuesday they may have enough depth to absorb a loss as significant as Lackey. Cahill, making his first appearance of the second half, pitched five scoreless innings in a 4-0 victory over the Brewers in the first game of a doubleheader. He would be a logical replacement if Lackey isn't ready. "It's obvious (Cahill) gave us something to talk about," manager Joe Maddon said. Maddon added that the Cubs must make a roster move before Wednesday's game because Cahill was activated as the 26th player for the doubleheader, which was capped by seven shutout innings from Hammel that allowed the Cubs to hold on for a 4-1 win. Hammel extended his scoreless streak to 22 innings, and it didn't hurt that Rizzo came up with another Gold Glove-worthy play. Rizzo sprinted toward the seats behind the first-base tarp before measuring the available space, putting his right foot on top of the short wall, briefly gaining his balance with both feet before reaching into the stands to catch a foul pop by Keon Broxton for the second out of the fifth. "It's one of those fun plays where if you make it, you look great," Rizzo said. "If you don't make it, you look like a fool." "I was hoping for a 9.5 score from the Luxembourg judge," Maddon quipped. "It was a great play." Javier Baez's two-run home run padded the lead to 4-0 in the sixth and allowed the Cubs to shift their attention to the next few weeks. Lackey declined to talk to reporters before the doubleheader, saying he hadn't "checked in" with the medical staff. But Maddon confirmed after the first game that Lackey's soreness, which caused him to leave Sunday's game in the seventh inning, persisted.

Lackey, 37, who leads the Cubs with 24 starts and 158 1/3 innings, would miss at least two starts if he was placed on the DL, retroactive to Monday. Cahill threw only 84 pitches Tuesday and could take Lackey's turn Saturday against the Rockies. "Whatever they do, I'll do it," Cahill said. "I don't want to speculate." Hammel limited the Brewers, who lost slugger Ryan Braun to a leg injury in the fourth, to two hits. Hammel threw a season-high 109 pitches. Travis Wood allowed a home run to Hernan Perez with two outs in the ninth, and closer Aroldis Chapman loaded the bases but struck out Martin Maldonado to earn his sixth save. Chapman earned his fifth game in the first game after Joe Smith walked two of the first three batters he faced to start the ninth. -- Chicago Tribune Tuesday's recap: Cubs 4, Brewers 1 (Game 2) By Mark Gonzales Jason Hammel allowed two hits in seven innings Tuesday night as the Cubs pulled away to a 4-1 win over the Brewers and cap a sweep of their doubleheader at Wrigley Field. The Cubs broke the game open with three runs in the sixth, capped by a two-run home run by Javier Baez. At the plate Kris Bryant ripped a line drive that struck Jimmy Anderson in the left quadriceps and caused him to leave the game with two out in the first. David Ross grounded into an inning-ending double play with a runner at third to end the fourth. Matt Szczur was thrown out at home plate trying to score on a single by Anthony Rizzo in the fifth. On the mound Hammel allowed only one runner to reach third. Travis Wood allowed a home run to Hernan Perez with two out in the ninth. In the field Rizzo stepped onto the short wall and reached into the stands in foul territory to catch a foul pop by Keon Broxton in the fifth. Key number 0.95 – Hammel’s second-half ERA The quote “We count on every single individual in the clubhouse, and it’s very important for the team in order for us to win.” – Miguel Montero Up next Vs. Brewers at Wrigley Field, 7:05 p.m., CSN --

Chicago Tribune Tuesday's Game 1 recap: Cubs 4, Brewers 0 By Mark Gonzales Treevor Cahill, making his first appearance of the second half, pitched five scoreless innings Tuesday as the Cubs cruised to a 3-0 victory over the Brewers 3-0 in the first game of their split doubleheader at Wrigley Field. At the plate The Cubs loaded the bases in the first against former teammate Matt Garza but had to settle for a sacrifice fly by Addison Russell. But Cahill helped his cause by executing a squeeze bunt on a 3-2 count to score Chris Coghlan in the fifth. On the mound Left-hander Mike Montgomery pitched two-plus scoreless innings in relief of Cahill. But Joe Smith walked two batters in the ninth. In the field Cahill picked Jonathan Villar off first base in the first, and Montero threw out Kirk Nieuwenhuis on a steal attempt to end the second. First baseman Anthony Rizzo made a diving stop and threw to Cahill at first to rob Nieuwenhuis of a hit in the fifth. Key number 8 – Starters used by the Cubs this season The quote “When you play every day, to me the good teams, you don’t know if they won or lost the previous day. So that’s the point I’ve been trying to get across.” – Joe Maddon Up next vs. Brewers at Wrigley Field, 7:05 p.m., WPWR-50 -- Chicago Tribune Cubs' Joe Maddon: No Jonathan Papelbon discussions By Mark Gonzales Despite injuries and struggles to the Cubs bullpen, manager Joe Maddon said Tuesday he hasn't been contacted about reliever Jonathan Papelbon. “There really isn’t," Maddon said of discussions involving Papelbon, who was 2-4 with a 4.37 ERA in 37 appearances with the Washington Nationals, who released him. "The guys have not discussed him with me. I’ve not heard a whole lot of scuttlebutt about the clubhouse yet, either. I like our group right now. I’m not saying it can’t happen. Don’t get me wrong. But for right now, there is nothing happening." It's possible the Cubs could sign Papelbon to a minor league contract and call him up when 25-man rosters are expanded on Sept. 1.

Papelbon, 35, has 368 career saves, but his performance diminished to the point where the Nationals traded for Mark Melancon of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Maddon reiterated he's willing to settle with his current group despite struggles that surfaced in losses to St. Louis on Saturday and Sunday. "We’ve gone back and forth with different guys this year," Maddon said. "As long as these guys are well, I have a lot of faith in the group in there right now.” Maddon added there was no updates on infielder Tommy La Stella, who remains on the voluntarily inactive list at Triple-A Iowa. -- Chicago Tribune Cubs assessing options for John Lackey By Mark Gonzales John Lackey will get an extra day of rest before his next scheduled start Saturday night at Colorado, but the Chicago Cubs haven't ruled out giving their 37-year-old starter even more rest. "That’s something we want to consider, just looking forward," manager Joe Maddon said Tuesday, two days after Lackey was pulled after experiencing stiffness in his right shoulder in the seventh inning against the St. Louis Cardinals. "We haven’t determined anything yet. Based on (Monday's) day off, the doubleheader, the pitchers available to us, there are things we can do to extend it if we want." One option would be to insert Trevor Cahill into the rotation on Saturday and perhaps for the rest of August if Lackey is placed on the 15-day disabled list. Cahill threw five shutout innings in an 84-pitch effort as the Cubs cruised to a 4-0 win over Milwaukee in the first game of Tuesday's split doubleheader. Lackey leads the Cubs with 24 starts and 158 1/3 innings. After Tuesday's first game, Maddon said Lackey's shoulder felt sore but they hadn't made a decision. The Cubs could put Lackey on the DL, retroactive to Monday. That move would cause Lackey to miss at least three starts. "The fact that (Cahill) pitched that well, as he did, and he’s stretched out, opens possibilities," Maddon said. "We have not decided anything." -- Chicago Tribune Miguel Montero provides value to Cubs By Mark Gonzales A miserable start and the ascent of Willson Contreras have cut into the playing time of Miguel Montero. But the Cubs’ veteran catcher doesn’t appear to be a victim of a roster move, based on comments by manager Joe Maddon before Montero handled pitcher Trevor Cahill in a deft manner and chipped in with a single in helping lead the Cubs to a 4-0 victory Tuesday in the first game of a doubleheader. “To catch Willson will be the No. 1 priority but not beat him up,” Maddon said. “David (Ross) is still going to play. Miggy is still going to play.

“Of course, Miggy’s time has been lessened because of (Contreras). But I’ll say it again. He’s been incredibly good to the whole group. Going through this particular moment, he’s been a positive.” Montero has been paired up with ace Jake Arrieta but has rarely caught the Cubs’ other four starters since Contreras was promoted in mid-June. But his work with Cahill dated back to their days with the Arizona Diamondbacks and wasn’t lost on Cahill, who threw five scoreless innings. “I’ve thrown to him quite a bit, maybe more than any other catcher I’ve ever thrown to,” Cahill said. “It’s not a personal thing. He knows when he’s got to yell at me, try to give me a pat on the back. Going into it, our goal is to try to get as many innings out of me as possible. I went five. I wish I could have gone more. We got the win, so all that matters.” Montero praised Cahill for getting back on track after a few minor glitches but was philosophical about his decline in playing time. “Obviously, it’s hard to go out there and play maybe once every five days,” said Montero, whose batting average (.187) has stayed below .231 since May 25. “It’s something I don’t think about. I go out there and whenever I play, I try to have fun. Because once I start putting pressure on myself, ‘I need to get a hit, I need to get three hits the next day to get in the lineup the next day,’ that’s not going to happen. “It’s a lot more stress on my shoulders. I might as well go out there and have fun.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Wall Classic: Another injury-defying catch in stands for Rizzo By Gordon Wittenmyer When Cubs manager Joe Maddon saw his MVP-candidate first baseman jump onto the narrow ledge of the wall in foul territory trying to make a catch, he had only one thought: “Just that he would stick the landing,” Maddon said. “I was hoping for at least a 9.5 from the Luxembourg judge.” Anthony Rizzo used the rolled-up tarp on his dismount Tuesday night during the second game of the Cubs’ doubleheader sweep of the Brewers after he made the catch that electrified the crowd – maybe even his best catch yet. That he’s starting to make a habit of using brick walls, tarps and folding seats as props for some of his fielding tricks only underscores why Maddon calls him a “no doubt” Gold Glove candidate on a team that some defensive metrics say is the best in fielding team in the majors. And why he might have his best shot yet at his first career Gold Glove this year. “I was surprised myself that I caught that, to be honest,” Rizzo said after providing the highlight reel for a night of Cubs pitching and defense in 4-0 and 4-1 wins. In his 14th inning of a long day of baseball, with one out in the fifth inning of a one-run game, tracked the ball to the wall, looked up, jumped on the ledge near trap, then leaned over two rows of seats to make the catch – then tip-toed along the all to keep his balance until jumping back onto the field. After the catch, a chant of “MVP!” “MVP!” “MVP!” rose from the crowd. “It was unbelievable,” said starter Jason Hammel (13-5), who also was the starting pitcher when Rizzo made a similar play a few feet away a year ago this week to steal an at-bat from the Brewers’ Ryan Braun — standing on the tarp, stepping on a seat and making the catch before losing balance.

“I remember the last one like it was yesterday and that one was even better,” Hammel said. “Rizzo’s Gold Glove caliber at first base, there’s no doubt in my mind,” Maddon said. Rizzo also had the defensive play of Tuesday’s opener, knocking down a shot near the line by Kirk Nieuwenhuis, then crawling after it as it rolled into foul territory, to grab and throw from the ground to pitcher Trevor Cahill. Cahill stretched to drag his foot across the bag just as he caught the ball on the run. Maddon has managed or coached Gold Glove first basemen J.T. Snow, Darin Erstad, and Carlos Pena, and says of Rizzo: “He’s right up at the top of the list.” Rizzo said he thinks about the Gold Glove. “It’s something that all of us infielders are [striving for], and none of us have cracked it yet,” he said. “We’re hopefully on our way.” Finishing touch for Hammel? Cubs starter Jason Hammel, who has focused since the end of last year on second-half fades in recent seasons, suddenly looks like the best second-half pitcher in baseball. With seven shutdown innings in Tuesday’s nightcap, he ran his career-best winning streak to six consecutive starts – making him 6-0 with a 0.95 ERA since the All-Star break (38 innings). Hammel (13-5) hasn’t allowed a run in August, running his scoreless innings streak to 22, and on Tuesday had as many hits in three trips to the plate (two) as he allowed to the Brewers in 24 – leading the Cubs to their 16th win in 19 games. “He was really, really good again, and it’s been fun to watch,” Maddon said. In their 14 games this month, Cubs starters are 10-0 with a 1.12 ERA. Notes: Reliever Pedro Strop, who on Friday underwent surgery for a meniscus tear in his left knee, was walking without crutches Tuesday. …Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun left the nightcap in the fourth inning with a left knee injury after sliding into the wall chasing a foul fly ball. The severity was not immediately known. Braun walked without help, limping slightly, as he left field. … Brewers Game 2 starting pitcher Chase Anderson suffered a quadriceps bruise when he took a Kris Bryant line drive off his left leg in the first inning, and left the game. … If the Cubs were wrong about Joe Nathan when they released the former All-Star closer, it could be a costly mistake since Nathan signed Tuesday with the potential playoff-rival Giants, his original team. -- Chicago Sun-Times Could Cubs clubhouse handle reputed bad boy like Papelbon? By Gordon Wittenmyer Don’t count on the Cubs signing former closer Jonathan Papelbon to push into the revolving door they’ve spun through their transformed bullpen over the last month. Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Tuesday he hasn’t heard anything from the front office about getting the former Red Sox All-Star who was released by the Nationals last week. That’s because it’s not going to happen, a source said later in the day. But contrary to what seemed to be conventional wisdom from the anti-Papelbon crowd, the issues with the right-hander are more about the quality of pitching that caused the contending Nats to jettison him than the bad-boy image underscored by his choking of teammate Bryce Harper in the dugout last September.

As one longtime National League scout said: “They don’t need him.” In fact, when it comes to potentially adverse personalities, Maddon said he believes his clubhouse can absorb Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he’s heard no indication the Cubs are trying to add veteran closer Jonathan Papelbon to their bullpen, but he believes his clubhouse these days is strong enough to absorb it without disruption. “I’ve never been opposed to that, the [negative] perception of outside looking in, because I do have a lot of faith in our guys,” Maddon said. “When you’ve got a good room with good people in it, I think if you look at really good teams throughout different sports they’ve bee able to take people that come in that maybe weren’t viewed well outside, and all of a sudden they become model citizens. “That’s not because of the manager or the coach. That’s because of the room, that’s because of that group. I really have a lot of faith in our players that regardless of who we put in that room, these guys would pretty much have the new person understand this is how we do things here or even more importantly that’s not how we do things here.” With Pedro Strop on the disabled with a knee injury and other relievers struggling in recent days, the Cubs have been viewed by many as a natural landing spot for Papelbon – who recorded the final out of the 2007 World Series for Theo Epstein’s Red Sox. “The guys [in the front office] have not discussed him with me,” Maddon said before the opener of a doubleheader Tuesday against the Brewers. “I have not heard a lot of scuttlebutt about the clubhouse, either. I like our group right now. “I’m not saying that it can’t happen; don’t get me wrong. But for right now there is nothing happening.” Papelbon, 35, has supporters in the clubhouse among former teammates that include John Lackey, David Ross and Jon Lester. “I know things probably didn’t go the way he wanted them to in Washington, but as far as his persona and his personality and the way he goes about things on the mound, I think he could definitely help,” Lester said. Lester talked with team president Theo Epstein Monday night about Papelbon, mostly to explain that comments he made over the weekend in support of Papelbon weren’t meant to suggest he was lobbying the front office for him. “I didn’t say sign him or get him,” Lester said. “I just kind of defended him not being a Loony Toon more than anything.” As much as anything, Lester defended Papelbon’s character after it took a major public hit last fall when he scuffled in the dugout with Harper, as TV cameras caught it for posterity. He drew a team suspension and didn’t pitch the final week of the season. “I don’t know what Theo and those guys are thinking, but as far as a clubhouse guy, he’s a good clubhouse guy,” Lester said. “I think people just assume based on one event he’s an a—— and a troublemaker and all that stuff. I played with him a long time and never had an issue with him, ever.” Some reports suggested Papelbon would sign with a new team by Wednesday. “Most closers are a little different,” Lester said. “He’s going to have that different mentality and people can misconstrue that as being a little crazy. But he’s no crazier than the rest of us on the day we pitch.”

-- Chicago Sun-Times After 5 scoreless, Cubs’ Cahill could be cure to what ails Lackey By Gordon Wittenmyer The powers of Trevor Cahill on the mound for the Cubs were so impressive Tuesday in a 4-0 victory over the Brewers that they might expand to healing powers by next week. Cahill quickly became the key to the John Lackey Recovery Plan after allowing just two hits over five innings in his first start as a Cub – leading the Cubs to their 12th victory in 13 games in the opener a doubleheader. “The fact that he pitched as well as he did, and he’s stretched out as he is, just opens up possibilities,” manager Joe Maddon said. “He obviously gave us something to talk about.” Lackey was still sore two days after leaving Sunday night’s start in the seventh inning because of shoulder tightness, and the Cubs are looking at options for pushing his next turn back a few days, if not skip it entirely. Maddon, who said the club will have a decision Wednesday, did not rule out the disabled list – although Lackey hasn’t had an MRI and the Cubs appear to be trying to avoid that. “We’re absolutely looking at different scenarios,” Maddon said. Cahill (2-3) faced just two over the minimum in his first start since April of last year when he was with Atlanta. Until activated for his start, he had been on the DL with a knee injury since the All-Star break. Cahill was allowed to be added to the roster as a 26th man Tuesday because of the doubleheader, giving the Cubs a deadline of Wednesday’s game for finding a corresponding move to keep him on the roster. Recently acquired reliever Joe Smith, who walked two of the three he faced in Tuesday’s opener, has struggled in six appearances with the club and could be the odd-man out if the DL isn’t used. Cahill, who also made a highlight-reel play covering first for an out in the fifth after bunting for safety squeeze and RBI in the fourth, said he doesn’t know what’s next for his role. And he won’t guess. “I don’t want to speculate,” he said. “Whenever I speculate, it always seems like it ends up completely different. But I felt a lot better today, and whatever they want me to do, I’ll work hard and go out there and compete and do the best I can.” Cahill, a 2010 All-Star as a starter when he won 18 games, was acquired by the Cubs a year ago this week after being released by both the Braves and Dodgers in 2015. He became a significant part of the Cubs’ playoff push as a reliever and made six postseason appearances for them. What would it mean to be able to pitch his way into another important role down the stretch for a transformed staff this time around? “A lot,” he said. “I like the guys in the clubhouse; I respect them all. Whatever they have me do, I’ll just try and go out there and do my best. Beyond that, whatever happens, happens.” -- Daily Herald Chicago Cubs' Rizzo gets into Olympic spirit with great catch By Bruce Miles It seems everybody is into the spirit of the Olympics these days.

That goes for the Chicago Cubs and first baseman Anthony Rizzo. He did it again Tuesday night, hopping up onto the wall in foul territory to catch a popup by the Milwaukee Brewers' Keon Broxton in the fifth inning. Almost exactly a year ago, Rizzo climbed the tarp to make a catch, also against the Brewers and with Jason Hammel pitching for the Cubs. "That's twice now; it was unbelievable," said Hammel, the winning pitcher in the Cubs' 4-1 victory in the night portion of Tuesday's doubleheader. "I remember the last one like it was yesterday and that one (Tuesday) was even better, especially in Olympics time. "He stuck the landing. It was a great dismount. I don't know what you would call it, whether it's the pommel horse or the vault, whatever. That was unbelievable. "For him to know that corner so well, that's a tough corner to make plays. To be in the right place at the right time, on the ledge, that's a great play, unbelievable. It takes a special athlete to be able to do that. He may not look like a great athlete, but he is a great athlete." Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he's OK with his MVP candidate making risky plays. "Just that he would stick the landing," Maddon said. "I was hoping for at least a 9.5 from the Luxembourg judge. It was a great play. I watched it again when they showed the replay. He did a nice job of getting there and just looking to step up, stepped up and then he did the same thing last year against (Ryan) Braun. "I"m fine with all that stuff. Just go play the game. He does, and he has a lot of fun with it. He knows the wall. He knows the area. He did a great job." Rizzo was all smiles about the play. "It's awesome," he said. "Maybe The Final Six, Final Five, the girls gymnastics team. I've been watching them the last week-and-a-half, two weeks. Got a good dismount. Could have stuck the landing a little better. I was pleased with it." Rizzo heard chants of "MVP, MVP" from the crowd after the play. "It's really cool to hear the fans say that, but there's a long way to go," he said. Happy with the pen: The Cubs' bullpen has been an evolving story this year, and that's not likely to change any time soon. Relievers have come and gone, and one key member, Pedro Strop, is in the early stages of a disabled-list stint as he recovers from a knee injury. Over the past few days, Hector Rondon and Carl Edwards Jr. have had their ups and downs, while Justin Grimm has looked better since his return from the minor leagues. In Tuesday's 4-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of a day-night doubleheader, lefty Mike Montgomery took a step in the right direction with 2 scoreless innings in relief of spot starter Trevor Cahill. Right-hander Joe Smith struggled again, walking two of the three batters he faced. "Right now, Stropie being injured, obviously, that's the big one, trying to fill that spot," manager Joe Maddon said. "CJ (Edwards), I think, is definitely able to do that. I think Grimmer, the way he's throwing the baseball right now, is able to do that.

"I think Montgomery has been really good lately. I think he's been really showing his chops as to where that's what people have been talking about before. And, of course, we have Aroldis (closer Chapman). I like the bullpen right now. We just have to get them defined again and get them out there." Montgomery came to the Cubs in a trade with Seattle on July 20. He said he his beginning to feel more comfortable with the Cubs. "I've been here for a couple of weeks now," he said. "I feel more comfortable within myself, how I get guys out. It's just going out there and doing it. First game here, you have those nerves, and new team. I really didn't feel like myself, and I'm definitely getting back to that." -- Daily Herald Cahill kicks off sweep for Chicago Cubs By Bruce Miles Trevor Cahill has given them something to talk about. The big right-hander returned Tuesday to the Cubs after month on the disabled list, and he looked hale, hearty and healthy during a 4-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of a day-night doubleheader. In Game 2, Jason Hammel pitched 7 shutout innings as the Cubs completed the sweep with a 4-1 victory. Cahill was the so-called 26th man teams were able to use in doubleheaders, but he may put himself into the mix as one of the five, or six, starting pitchers the Cubs may use the rest of the season. A member of the bullpen until coming down with tendinitis in his right knee, Cahill got stretched out to start at Class AAA Iowa during his minor-league rehab stint. Manager Joe Maddon likes to plug in a sixth starting pitcher now and then, but with No. 3 starter John Lackey coming up with a sore shoulder Sunday night, Cahill may have to step in again sooner rather than later. The Cubs say they don't believe Lackey's shoulder is serious, but a little time off as a precaution could keep him fresh for the stretch. As for Cahill, the Cubs have to figure out something quickly. "No, it's obvious he gave us something to talk about," Maddon said. "We will discuss that. We have to have an answer by tomorrow. We're looking at the different scenarios. We have not decided on anything. Those are different things that are within our purview right now. "The fact that he pitched as well today as he did and is stretched out as he is just opens up possibilities. We have not decided anything." Cahill has worked as a starter and reliever in his career and says he's OK with anything. He's just not sure what that might be. "I don't know," he said. "Who knows? I'm just here. Whatever they do I'll do it. I don't want to speculate. Whenever you speculate, it always seems like ends up really different. I felt a lot better today. Whatever they want me to do, I'll work hard, go out there and compete and do the best I can. 1"I like the guys in the clubhouse. I respect them all. Whatever they let me do, just go out there and do my best. Beyond that, whatever happens, happens."

Cahill pitched 5 solid innings, giving up 2 hits. The Cubs scored single runs in the first, third and fourth innings, with Cahill bunted home a run in the fourth. He also made a nice play in the field, covering first base and staying on the bag after Anthony Rizzo fielded Kirk Nieuwenhuis' grounder behind first base. In the second game, Hammel continued his impressive run. He improved to 13-5 overall with a 2.74 ERA. Since the all-star break, his ERA is 0.95 with a 6-0 record. He also lowered his home ERA from 1.99 to 1.79. -- Cubs.com Top shelf: Rizzo scales wall to make foul grab By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- If the U.S. gymnastics team is looking for a sixth member, they might want to call Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who showed off his acrobatic skills once again in Tuesday night's 4-1 win in the nightcap of the doubleheader that completed the day-night sweep against the Brewers. "I got a good dismount, could've stuck the landing a little better, but I'm pleased with it," Rizzo said of his play in the fifth inning. With one out, Rizzo chased Keon Broxton's popup in foul territory near the rolled-up tarp, then stepped onto the top of the wall with his right foot, reached over the fans to catch the ball and somehow maintained his balance. Rizzo hopped on one foot, then jumped to the ground. "I looked up there and the ball was still pretty high and I had time to get up there and make the play," Rizzo said. "I surprised myself that I caught the ball, to be honest. It's one of those fun plays -- if you make it, you look great, and if you don't, you look like a fool." What was Cubs manager Joe Maddon thinking as he watched Rizzo's feat? "Just that he would stick the landing,' Maddon said. "I was hoping for at least a 9.5 from the Luxembourg judge. It was a great play. He did a nice job of getting there. ... He knows the wall, he knows that area. He did a great job. It was a big play." The crowd of 39,420 responded not only with an ovation but also chants of "M-V-P, M-V-P." Maybe it's the Brewers who inspire Rizzo. On Aug. 13, 2015, the All-Star first baseman jumped onto the rolled tarp next to the brick wall, and stepped into the seats, yet somehow was able to catch Ryan Braun's popup. Jason Hammel started that game, and started Tuesday as well. "I remember the last one like it was yesterday, and this one was even better," Hammel said. "Especially at Olympics time, he stuck the landing. It was a great dismount -- I don't know what you'd call it, if it's the pommel horse or the vault or whatever, it's unbelievable. For him to be in the right place at the right time on the ledge, that's a great play, unbelievable play." Second baseman Ben Zobrist felt Rizzo should be in the balance beam competition. Rizzo said he used to do crazy catches with his father and older brother when he was younger. "You see the plays Derek Jeter would make running into the stands, and that's what you think of," Rizzo said. "He does a great job of knowing his home park, and knowing what he can and can't do in this park," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "You saw him take a peek right before he went up there and made the step. That's still incredible athleticism to take the step and keep your eye on the ball. It's really impressive." Counsell then paused.

"I'd be more impressed if I hadn't seen it already," he said. "That's one of the best plays I've seen," Chicago catcher David Ross said. "He did it last year and took me by surprise. People don't understand -- it's the second game of the doubleheader, he plays every day, and how tired he is. It's hot out there and humid and the guy is making plays for his pitcher like that -- it's pretty impressive. It means he cares about winning, he cares about his teammates. It's a powerful thing." Plays like that would justify the "M-V-P" chants. "He wants to be the leader, he really wants that role," Hammel said. "I think he relishes and cherishes that. ... It's fun to have a guy like that, a young guy who wants to take the team where he wants to go, and that's obviously to win." -- Cubs.com Sweep success: Hammel leads Cubs past Crew By Carrie Muskat and Adam McCalvy CHICAGO -- Jason Hammel continued his stingy ways, and got some stellar help from his defense, including daredevil first baseman Anthony Rizzo, as the Cubs beat the Brewers, 4-1, on Tuesday night to sweep the doubleheader. Chicago won Tuesday's first game at Wrigley Field, 4-0. Javier Baez smacked a two-run homer, and Willson Contreras and Kris Bryant each hit RBI singles for the Cubs, who held the Brewers scoreless for more than 17 innings over the two games before Hernan Perez hit a solo home run off Travis Wood with two outs in the ninth inning of the nightcap. After Chris Carter followed with a single, the Cubs called upon Aroldis Chapman, who eventually recorded the final out -- a bases-loaded strikeout of Martin Maldonado -- for his second save of the day. Rizzo showed no fear in the fifth when he jumped onto the brick wall near the tarp to catch a popup. Hammel helped himself defensively in the sixth after he had walked Scooter Gennett with one out. The right-hander got Ramon Flores to hit a comebacker, and then Hammel turned a 1-6-3 double play. What was Cubs manager Joe Maddon thinking as his All-Star first baseman was teetering on the ledge? "Just that he would stick the landing," Maddon said. "I was hoping for at least a 9.5 from the Luxembourg judge. It was a great play. He did a nice job of getting there." It's the first doubleheader sweep since Sept. 11 last year against the Phillies, and first at home since July 7, 2015, when the Cubs took two against the Cardinals. The Cubs now have won 16 of their last 19 games, and are 22-8 since the All-Star break, the best record in the Major Leagues. Milwaukee not only lost both games, it lost starter Chase Anderson and left fielder Ryan Braun to injuries. Bryant lined a ball off Anderson's left leg that knocked him out of the game in the first after just 11 pitches, while Ryan Braun limped off the field with a a sprained left knee and a sprained ankle after sliding into the wall in foul territory. "It's a long day," Braun said. "Obviously, everybody is here for a long time, and it's a lot more fun when you win at least one of the two games in a doubleheader. When you lose both games, and you're here for 15, 16 hours, that's a long day." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Start me up: Hammel gave up two hits over seven innings, striking out seven. He has not given up a run in his last 22 innings, and has won six straight starts for the first time in his career. The right-hander, now 8-1 at Wrigley

Field, apparently is over the second-half struggles he's had in the past, improving to 6-0 with a 0.95 ERA (four earned runs over 38 innings) since the All-Star break. "When he fell behind, he made pitches when he had to," Cubs catcher David Ross said of Hammel. "He was throwing strike one, being aggressive. I think that's a better lineup than people give them credit for." Can't buy a run: The Brewers' scoreless streak chugged along in the fourth inning thanks to some quick reflexes from the Cubs' middle infielders. With two on and two outs, Ross tried to throw behind the runner at second base but was wild. Second baseman Ben Zobrist was able to recover the baseball and flip it to shortstop Baez, who dove toward the bag to retire Chris Carter before the big Brewers first baseman could reach second. The out ended the inning, and by the eighth, the Brewers had played 17 innings without scoring. "We're struggling sustaining some rallies and putting at-bats together with men on base," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "But we'll just keep at it." Cirque du Soleil: Rizzo showed his acrobatic skills in the fifth. With one out, Rizzo chased Keon Broxton's popup in foul territory near the rolled up tarp, then stepped onto the ledge in front of the fans, leaned over, and caught the ball. Somehow, he maintained his balance and jumped back onto the field. The Brewers have seen this before. On Aug. 13, 2015, Rizzo jumped onto the rolled tarp next to the brick wall, and stepped into the seats, yet somehow was able to catch Braun's popup. "He lives for those moments," Zobrist said of Rizzo. "When he sniffs that, he can't wait to get up on that wall and try to do that. You could tell it was a fun moment for him and the crowd." BREWERS BANGED UP Losing Anderson after 11 pitches presented the Brewers one immediate problem, and losing Braun three innings later presented another. Braun injured his left knee and one of his ankles sliding hard into the padded wall along the left-field line in an effort to catch a foul ball. He walked in the outfield with head athletic trainer Dan Wright and Counsell before slowly turning toward the dugout. Braun was 0-for-3 Tuesday, including a pinch-hit flyout in Game 1, but he entered the day hitting .392 with nine home runs over his last 22 games. Anderson, meanwhile, was diagnosed with a bruised left quad from the 107-mph Bryant comebacker that struck him two batters into the bottom of the first. Anderson tried to remain in the game, but was forced to exit after a few practice tosses from the mound. QUOTABLE "I thought our bullpen did a heck of a job. Your bullpen starts covering in the first inning of the second game of a doubleheader, and keeps you in the ballgame, they did a really nice job. We hung in there, and then we gave ourselves a chance in the ninth inning. I was proud of them for doing that." -- Counsell, praising the work of relievers Jhan Marinez, Blaine Boyer, Rob Scahill, Corey Knebel and Tyler Thornburg in Game 2 REPLAY REVIEW With one out in the Chicago fifth, Matt Szczur tried to score from second on Rizzo's single and was called out after a strong throw home from Braun's replacement, Ramon Flores. The Cubs challenged the ruling, and after a review, it was ruled that the call stands and Szczur was out. "Ramon's throw kept us in the game," Counsell said. WHAT'S NEXT Brewers: Entering Wednesday's 7:05 p.m. CT start at Wrigley, Jimmy Nelson has lost his past five starts, and he has a 7.43 ERA in that span. He's 0-5 lifetime against the Cubs in 10 games (eight starts), despite a 2.91 ERA in those outings.

Cubs: Jon Lester will start Wednesday, making his 24th start of the season. The lefty is 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA in his last three starts. He has 18 quality starts so far. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT. -- Cubs.com Hammel's MLB-best post-break ERA at 0.95 By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- As Cubs pitcher Jason Hammel was leaving the interview room Tuesday night, he quipped: "It only took me 10 years to get to .500." Hammel improved to 82-82 in his career and 13-5 for the season with a 4-1 win over the Brewers in the second game of a day-night doubleheader at Wrigley Field. The right-hander now has won a career-high six straight decisions, and he has a 0.95 ERA since the All-Star break, which leads the Major Leagues. Teammate Kyle Hendricks is second with a 1.31 ERA. Hammel has not given up a run in his last 22 innings, all at Wrigley Field. "He was really, really good again and it was fun to watch," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "I'm just going out by out," Hammel said. "I had good fastball command except for three or four hitters. The walks are bugging me. I could do without the walks -- unnecessary stress with those walks. If I could clean those up, we'd be in a good place." Hammel walked three and gave up two his while striking out seven over seven innings. Does he remember the last time he gave up a run? "I know the last few [starts] have been real good," Hammel said. "It's a different chess match each time you go out." For the record, the last run was July 27 when White Sox pitcher Anthony Ranaudo led off the fifth with a home run. Hammel is part of a good trend for the Cubs. Chicago's starting pitchers are 10-0 with a 1.12 ERA in 14 games this month, and the rotation has given up two or fewer runs in 11 straight games. And Hammel is the fourth starter. For a pitcher who has struggled in the second half in the past, he's on a good roll. "He was throwing strike one, being aggressive," Chicago catcher David Ross said. "[The Brewers are] a better lineup than people give them credit for. -- Cubs.com A welcome return: Cahill & Co. shut out Crew By Adam McCalvy and Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- Cubs starting pitchers have been on a roll this month, and Trevor Cahill kept it going on Tuesday afternoon. The right-hander threw five shutout innings, drove in a run on a successful bunt, and showed some nifty footwork on a play at first in the Cubs' 4-0 win over the Brewers in the first game of a day-night doubleheader. Addison Russell hit a first-inning sacrifice fly to back Cahill, who was making his first start since April 26, 2015. They helped the Cubs improve to a Major League-best 21-8 since the All-Star break. Chicago's starting pitchers now are 9-0 with a 1.20 ERA in 13 games in August.

The Cubs made Matt Garza work, and he threw 103 pitches over five innings to take the loss against his former team. The Brewers totaled three hits against five Cubs pitchers, who combined for Chicago's 11th shutout of the season, tied with the Phillies for the most in the National League. "They just executed better than we did," said Garza. "That's kind of where we're at. That's what it is. But I liked the way we kept fighting and kept going." Aroldis Chapman got the final two outs for his fifth save in six opportunities since joining the Cubs. Game 1 of the doubleheader was a makeup of an April 27 game that was postponed because of rain. MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Start me up: Cahill had been on the disabled list because of patellar tendinitis in his right knee. Activated and added as the 26th man for the twin bill, he gave up two hits over five scoreless innings, walked two and struck out three. He also helped himself in the fourth. Chris Coghlan had doubled and advanced on Miguel Montero's single, and he scored on Cahill's bunt for a 3-0 lead. Cahill also made a nice defensive play when he was able to get to first in time for first baseman Anthony Rizzo's off-balance throw to get Kirk Nieuwenhuis for the second out in the fifth. "He's a really good athlete," manager Joe Maddon said of Cahill, who may get another start, depending on what the Cubs decide to do regarding John Lackey, who has some soreness in his right shoulder. "Did you see his swings when he fouled the ball back? Covering first base, he did a nice job of that. He's a good athlete. He bounces around out there really well. He handles himself at the plate." Power outage: The Brewers' streak of 17 consecutive games with a home run came to an end, three games shy of the franchise record. The Brewers could have used a homer in the eighth, when Ryan Braun, coming off a two-homer performance on Sunday against the Reds, came off the bench to pinch-hit and flew out to center field on the first pitch from reliever Hector Rondon. The Cubs righty went on to retire Orlando Arcia and Scooter Gennett to strand a pair of runners on base. "We had independent baserunners, but no big threats to score," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. Right place, right time: The Cubs loaded the bases in the first and took a 1-0 lead on Russell's sacrifice fly, his 21st RBI since the All-Star break, second most on the team. Russell was also at the plate for the Cubs' next run in the third. Dexter Fowler walked to lead off the inning, moved up on Rizzo's opposite-field single and, one out later, scored on a wild pitch by Garza during Russell's at-bat. Running into trouble: The Brewers made outs on the bases in each of the first two innings to help Cahill's cause. Jonathan Villar led off the game with a single but was promptly picked off first base. In the second, Nieuwenhuis singled with two outs but was caught stealing second, face-planting in the dirt as he was tagged for the final out of the inning. "We didn't have a lot of hard-hit balls or things like that. You know, we're going to take chances. I think we have to take some chances," Counsell said. "[Cahill] did a good job. He threw a lot of good changeups with two strikes. That's probably the pitch that got us the most today." SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Cahill was the eighth starting pitcher the Cubs have used this season. Only the Cardinals (seven), Giants (seven) and Mets (six) have used fewer. REPLAY REVIEW Brewers reliever Damien Magnifico's Major League debut didn't go as planned in the eighth, as a four-pitch walk, a hit batsman and a wild pitch put Cubs runners at second and third for Coghlan, whose sacrifice fly scored Ben Zobrist for a 4-0 lead. Counsell challenged the close call at home plate, but it stood.

"I know we've had a lot of challenges just like that, where the guy's foot goes up in the air and the tag appears to go on," Counsell said. "But the replay system, I don't have it figured out. I mean, I didn't see a definitive [replay], but the stuff we saw on the scoreboard, it looked like his foot was in the air and there was a tag on him." WHAT'S NEXT Brewers: Entering Wednesday's outing, Jimmy Nelson has lost his past five starts, and he has a 7.43 ERA in that span. He's 0-5 lifetime against the Cubs in 10 games (eight starts), despite a 2.91 ERA in those outings. Cubs: Jon Lester will make his 24th start on Wednesday. He's 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA in his past three starts, and he has 18 quality starts so far. First pitch at Wrigley Field is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT. -- Cubs.com Lester looks for more home cooking vs. Brewers By Adam McCalvy Jon Lester will try to keep the Cubs rolling while Jimmy Nelson tries to reverse the Brewers' recent results when the teams continue their series on Wednesday at Wrigley Field. The Cubs have won each of Lester's last five starts and he has been particularly good of late, allowing four earned runs over his last 19 innings over three games. He has 18 quality starts in 23 tries, and the Cubs are 17-6 in those games. The Brewers, meanwhile, need innings from Nelson after losing starter Chase Anderson two batters into the nightcap of a doubleheader on Tuesday. That's been a challenge of late for the right-hander, who has not pitched more than five innings in any of his last five starts, all Brewers losses. Things to know about this game • Nelson owns a 2.91 ERA in 10 games (eight starts) against the Cubs, yet is 0-5 in those games. He has limited the Cubs to three earned runs in 17 2/3 innings over three starts this season, but the Brewers lost all three games. • Ryan Braun is 7-for-16 with two doubles lifetime against Lester. • The Friendly Confines have been just that to Lester. He has a 2.07 ERA in home games this season, with a .196 opponents' average and 78 strikeouts in 74 innings. -- Cubs.com Cubs may give Lackey extra time before start By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- The Cubs may give John Lackey an extra day before his next start to give the veteran some time to recover from right shoulder stiffness, which forced him to exit Sunday's game early. Manager Joe Maddon said the Cubs are considering their options. If Lackey stays on schedule, he will start Saturday against the Rockies. However, Monday's off-day allows the Cubs to shuffle the order. "I'm hearing [Lackey] feels good, but we haven't decided anything yet," Maddon said on Tuesday.

Lackey did not undergo an MRI on his shoulder. He felt part of the problem was throwing two bullpen sessions last Thursday. One was a regularly scheduled session between starts, but he also warmed up during the Cubs' extra-inning game against the Cardinals. "Based on the day off, the doubleheader, the pitchers available, there's things we can do to extend it," Maddon said. Trevor Cahill was activated from the disabled list to start the first game of the doubleheader against the Brewers, and Maddon was not sure what the right-hander's role would be after Tuesday's outing. • Maddon said he's not heard anything from Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein or general manager Jed Hoyer regarding Jonathan Papelbon, who was released by the Nationals on Friday. The Cubs have added several relievers over the past few weeks, including closer Aroldis Chapman. "The [front office has] not discussed him with me," Maddon said. "I have not heard a whole lot of scuttlebutt in the clubhouse, either. I like our group right now. I'm not saying it can't happen, but for right now, there is nothing happening. As long as these guys are well, I have a lot of faith in our group right now." Epstein and Hoyer know Papelbon well from their time together in Boston. This season, the right-hander had 19 saves in 22 opportunities and a 4.37 ERA for the Nationals. If he joined the Cubs, he would have to accept a role as setup man. Maddon feels the Cubs' clubhouse is strong enough to handle any personality. "I have a lot of faith in our players that regardless of who we put in that room, these guys would have the new person understand how we do things here, or more important, that's not how we do things," Maddon said. "I do have a lot of faith in our guys." • Maddon complimented catcher Miguel Montero for being a good mentor to rookie Willson Contreras and dealing with not getting as much playing time as he has in the past. "The fact that Willson has done so well has put us in a good bind," Maddon said. "I give Miggy absolute credit. He's been fabulous internally with me and everybody else. He's not playing as much as he thought he would now, because this kid has come up. I cannot give him enough credit." "It's obviously hard to go out there and play maybe once every five days," Montero said. "It's something I don't think about. Whenever I play, I try to have fun. If I start putting pressure on myself -- I need to get a hit, I need to get three hits to make the lineup the next day -- it's a lot more stress. I just go out there and have fun." • Pedro Strop, who had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Friday to repair a torn meniscus, was walking without crutches on Tuesday. He is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks. • How are the Cubs able to put aside losses so quickly? "One of my main objectives with any team I'm with is you win hard for 30 minutes and you lose hard for 30, and you move on," Maddon said. "I don't see anything productive about carrying a loss to the next day. There's nothing positive or good that comes from that." -- Cubs.com Cahill could give Cubs options down the stretch By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- Trevor Cahill not only stepped up in his spot start for the Cubs, but he gave the front office another option as it tries to manage innings for the starting pitchers.

Cahill threw five scoreless innings in the Cubs' 4-0 victory on Tuesday afternoon over the Brewers in the first game of a day-night doubleheader. What's next for the right-hander? It's tough to say. "He gave us something to talk about," manager Joe Maddon said. The Cubs are trying to determine if John Lackey needs more time after coming out of his start on Sunday because of soreness in his right shoulder. Lackey was scheduled to start Saturday in Denver, but with an off-day on Monday, the Cubs could adjust the rotation and give Lackey more time. Cahill didn't want to predict anything. "Who knows? I'm here," Cahill said. "Whatever they want me to do, I'll do it. I don't want to speculate -- when I speculate, things end up being different." Cahill had been on the disabled list since July 9 because of patellar tendinitis in his right knee, and this was his first big league start since late April 2015. It helped having a familiar catcher. Miguel Montero and Cahill were together on the D-backs, and they were matched up again on Tuesday. "I've thrown to him quite a bit, maybe more than any other catcher," Cahill said of Montero. "It's a personal thing. He knows when he has to yell at me, he knows when he has to give me a pat on the back." "[Cahill] made a lot of good pitches," Montero said. "When he got a little out of sync, I could tell him a couple things that I knew he was doing and get him back on track. Other than that, I thought he threw the ball well." Cahill finished with 83 pitches, the most since Aug. 6, 2015, in the Minor Leagues. It was his first scoreless outing of at least five innings since April 14, 2013, with the D-backs. Yep, Montero was catching that game, too. Cahill also helped in other ways. He executed a bunt to drive in Chris Coghlan from third in the fourth inning. He also made a nice defensive play when he was able to get to first in time for Anthony Rizzo's off-balance throw to get Kirk Nieuwenhuis for the second out in the fifth. "He's a really good athlete," Maddon said of Cahill. "Did you see his swings when he fouled the ball back? Covering first base, he did a nice job of that. He's a good athlete. He bounces around out there really well. He handles himself at the plate." The defensive play was tough. "That was a do-or-die play," Cahill said. "Just fire it at me -- if you kill me, that's fine. I was lucky to stay on the bag. It was a big out." Cahill began last season with the Braves, then signed with the Dodgers on June 30. Both teams released him. He signed a Minor League deal with the Cubs on Aug. 18 and joined the big league team on Sept. 1, helping in the stretch run. He could be a secret weapon in the second half. "Whatever they have me do, I'll try to do my best," Cahill said. -- ESPNChicago.com Mike Montgomery settling into bullpen role just in time for Cubs By Bradford Doolittle CHICAGO -- When you think about it, there was a micro-second there when it appeared that the Chicago Cubs' marquee trade deadline acquisition was going to be Mike Montgomery.

Montgomery was plucked from the Seattle Mariners on July 20, along with minor league starter Jordan Pries, in exchange for two Cubs prospects: pitcher Paul Blackburn and first baseman Dan Vogelbach. Vogelbach had been lingering on the organization’s prospect lists for a few years but was blocked at the big league level by Anthony Rizzo. Nevertheless, his name had just enough cachet to suggest that the Cubs must think pretty highly of Montgomery. “You can’t just build the bullpen or your rotation one offseason at a time. You have to look down the line,” Cubs president Theo Epstein said at the time. “If we hit on this deal, and Montgomery becomes someone who can help us now as we head down the stretch and help us later, then we’ll be very happy about this transaction.” When Montgomery was acquired, the Cubs badly needed another quality lefty in the bullpen, and though the Aroldis Chapman speculation was already building a buzz, that transaction was still a week from happening. Montgomery, once an elite prospect, had a chance to make his mark before Chapman ever arrived. Things didn’t start out so great. The first batter Montgomery saw as a Cub was the Brewers’ Kirk Nieuwenhuis in a game July 23 at Milwaukee. Nieuwenhuis not only entered that game hitting .195 but also entered the plate appearance with a grand total of one home run off lefties in his five-year big league career. What did Nieuwenhuis do? He homered, of course, by poking a Montgomery offering down the left-field line and just inside the foul pole. “Montgomery, that’s just unfortunate,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said after the game, “for your first moment right there. I hope he just files that [away] very quickly because it looked like his stuff was outstanding.” That was pretty much Maddon’s refrain when it came to Montgomery, who went on to allow a run in each of his first three Cubs outings. Against his old team on July 29, he allowed five of the 11 Mariners he faced to reach by a hit or a walk. He bounced back in his next appearance but then didn’t appear in a game between Aug. 1 and Aug. 10. Maddon chalked it up to a numbers game and bemoaned his inability to get Montgomery game action. Sure enough, things have been looking up lately for Montgomery, who seems noticeably more at home both on the mound and in the Cubs' clubhouse. “I feel more comfortable,” Montgomery said. “I’ve been here for a couple of weeks now.” The results show it. After throwing two scoreless innings in the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader, a 4-0 Cubs win, Montgomery has put up four straight scoreless outings. Maybe the best part of his appearance Tuesday came in the seventh inning, when he fanned Nieuwenhuis on three pitches. Although Montgomery was removed in the eighth, Maddon said he considered trying to stretch Montgomery out over the final four innings. “If he had gone through that whole inning, he would have gone back out there [for the ninth],” Maddon said. “If it was 3-0, Aroldis was going out there. If it was 4-0, [Montgomery] was going back out.” Montgomery’s acclimation couldn’t be better timed for the Cubs, who are trying to work around the knee injury suffered by setup guy Pedro Strop and some shoulder soreness that might or might not push starter John Lackey back a few days. “I think any time you go out there and get the job done, opportunities are going to come up even more,” Montgomery said. “That’s what I’m trying to do. Just go out there and put up zeros.” Montgomery, a starter in the minors who finished his Seattle stint in the rotation, gives Maddon all sorts of options as he shuffles bullpen roles. No longer does it appear that Montgomery’s short-term gig will be as a lefty-killing specialist.

“I made a couple of starts in Seattle, and starting is kind of what I’ve done my whole career,” Montgomery said. “This year I’ve had the transition to the bullpen. I’m learning how to physically prepare my body. I feel ready, whatever situation this team needs.” But getting lefties out remains Montgomery’s bread and butter. Lefties are hitting just .202 against him this season. Since he’s been with the Cubs, Montgomery has allowed a .316 batting average and a .824 OPS against lefties. After his slow start in Chicago, lefties have hit just .167 against him since July 31. “I felt that [pressure] right away,” Montgomery said. “I think now I know that pressure is going to be there, and I’ve felt that pressure. I feel good about things right now, going out there with big smiles and performing.” -- ESPNChicago.com Cubs snag a doubleheader sweep of Brewers By Bradford Doolittle CHICAGO -- It takes a whole sleuth of Chicago Cubs to sweep a doubleheader, or at least, it did on Tuesday, with a full moon glowing over Wrigley Field. With 21 players -- everyone but the unavailable starting pitchers and reliever Carl Edwards Jr. -- contributing in two games, the Cubs polished off the Milwaukee Brewers 4-1 in the nightcap of Tuesday's twin bill. Jason Hammel (13-5) remained one of the hottest pitchers in baseball, as he threw seven shutout innings to extend his streak to 24 consecutive scoreless frames. "Looking at it, I was trying to count the number of guys from the first game to the second game," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "I really believe in everybody taking a piece of ownership. I know the only way to do that ... is to get them into the game and have them participate and get them to do something to help a team win." Things got a little hairy for the Cubs in the ninth inning of the second game. After Hernan Perez's solo homer, the Brewers loaded the bases. But Aroldis Chapman struck out Martin Maldonado to end the game and get his second save of the day. "He makes guys take some pretty silly hacks," Hammel said of the Cubs' closer. "Any time you can have that coming out of the bullpen to finish a game, it's going to be a win-win for us." The Cubs got contributions from everywhere during the doubleheader: Twelve players got a hit, reached base or both. Nine players scored a run, drove in a run or both. Eight pitchers retired at least one batter. That's the kind of depth that has the Cubs perfectly positioned for the stretch drive, especially now that they've extended their lead in the NL Central to 12.5 games over St. Louis. But no one chipped in (pun intended) more than Hammel during the nightcap. He held the Brewers to two hits and struck out seven, one off his season high. Hammel is now 6-0 with a big league-best 0.95 ERA since the All-Star break. His 1.79 home ERA this season ranks fifth in the majors -- but third on the Cubs. Kyle Hendricks (1.31) and Jake Arrieta (1.70) have done even better at the Friendly Confines. Hammel seemed slightly stunned when asked if he could remember the last time he gave up a run. "I know the last few have been really good," Hammel said. "I try not to pay attention to that. Each game is its own game. It's a different chess match every time you go out. It's been nice."

Hammel also had two hits, including a double. His 14 hits match Arizona's Patrick Corbin for the most among major league pitchers. And, of course, Hammel kept up the potato chip regimen that has become something of a superstition for him. "That last inning, he probably had his best stuff," Maddon said. "The ball was really jumping at the end. Strike zone, fastball -- everything was working tonight. Plus the good at-bats." Rizzo showed again why he's a Gold Glove candidate with an amazing play in the fifth. Keon Broxton lofted a pop foul near the dugout. Rizzo raced over, hopped on top of the brick wall and reached into the stands to snap the ball away from a fan. After the play, a chant of "MVP! MVP!" broke out in the stands. "Just stick the landing," Maddon said, when asked what he was thinking when his first baseman jumped onto the wall. "I was hoping for at least 9.5 from the Luxembourg judge, I would hope. It was a great play." Meanwhile, Baez made a sneaky outstanding play in the fourth, when he caught a throw on the move and tagged Chris Carter at second to end the inning. The game had a weird feel. The Cubs shined on the mound and in the field while getting plenty of baserunners, yet they led just 1-0 through five innings, after Matt Szczur was thrown out at home. Replays at the park showed that Szczur maybe got his hand in before the tag, but after a replay delay of more than four minutes, the call on the field stood. No matter. Before any lunar-related lunacies could overtake the proceedings, Baez was at the center of the Cubs' only real breakout offensive inning of the day, the sixth. After Willson Contreras singled home Ben Zobrist to push the Cubs' lead to 2-0, Baez hammered his 13th home run well into the left-field bleachers. "He got loud," Maddon said. "When you're on the field like that and a guy hits a ball like that, it sounds like an explosion." After stalled rallies in the third, fourth and fifth, the Baez blast was all the firepower the Cubs needed. They had gotten just enough from just about everyone. "When you refrain from using somebody for a long period of time, it absolutely wears him out," Maddon said. "Even if he might be going well, this guy does not feel included. I want everybody to feel included." -- ESPNChicago.com How the Chicago Cubs won: making sacrifices to score (and prevent) runs By Jacob Nitzberg The Chicago Cubs defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 4-0 and 4-1 in their day-night doubleheader on Tuesday, and they did so with a little bit of sacrificing on both the offensive and defensive ends. All four of the Cubs’ runs in the opener scored without the benefit of a hit. The team had two run-scoring sacrifice flies and a run-scoring sacrifice bunt, and the other run scored on a wild pitch. The four runs tied for the most scored by any team without the benefit of a hit in a single game this season. The Cubs' four runs also tied for the most such runs by the Cubs in a single game in the past eight seasons (as far back as our automated database goes for this information). They scored four runs without the benefit of a hit on May 16, 2015, in a 4-1 win against the Pirates. It was the second time this season that the Cubs won a game in which none of their runs scored off a hit. The other game was a 2-1 win over the Brewers on May 18.

The Cubs activated Trevor Cahill from the disabled list prior to today's games to make his first start of the season. He delivered with five scoreless innings, his first scoreless start since 2013. In the nightcap, first baseman Anthony Rizzo made one of the most amazing catches of the season by standing on the barrier separating the field from the stands to catch a popup. That Rizzo made the catch isn't that surprising. He's tied for third among first basemen with seven defensive runs saved, one behind Brandon Belt and Chris Davis. His 23 runs saved over the past three seasons are the most in the majors at the position. -- ESPNChicago.com Anthony Rizzo makes a crazy wall-hopping grab for Cubs By Bradford Doolittle CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo showed again why he's a Gold Glove candidate and one of the most acrobatic first-baggers around with a ridiculous play during the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against Milwaukee. With one out in the fifth, the Brewers' Keon Broxton lofted a pop foul near the visiting team's dugout. Rizzo raced over, dodged the rolled-up tarp, hopped on top of the brick wall and lunged with his glove to snap the ball away from an out-reaching fan. “I feel like I do a good job on a foul ball of just getting to the spot,” Rizzo said. “I looked up and the ball was still pretty high, so I had time to get over there and make the play. I was surprised that I caught it, to be honest.” Rizzo, who made a similar play last season when he hopped over the tarp and ended up in the seats, smiled as he trotted back to his position. After the play, a chant of "MVP! MVP!" broke out briefly at Wrigley Field. “That’s twice now. It was unbelievable,” said Cubs starter Jason Hammel, who was on the mound when Rizzo made his on-the-wall play last season too. “I remember the last play like it was yesterday, and that one was even better.” Gold Glove talk for Rizzo is a subject that Joe Maddon brings up a few times a week, and Tuesday’s play didn’t do anything to quell the Cubs manager’s gusto. “I’ve had a lot of good first basemen,“ Maddon said, “and he’s right on top of the list.” Maddon added that he’s fine with his players going for the spectacular, making plays and having fun on the field, and it shows with some of the plays his players make. Still, Rizzo knows the catch is the kind of play that will land you on either the highlight reel — or among the bloopers. “It’s one of those fun plays where, if you make it, you look great,” Rizzo said. “If you don’t, you like a fool. It’s nice that I made it.” -- ESPNChicago.com Trevor Cahill shines in Cubs' shutout of Brewers By Bradford Doolittle CHICAGO -- Given the volatility of pitching and pitcher health, not even a juggernaut such as the Chicago Cubs can get too comfortable over the course of 162 games. Luckily, on a day when staff-related questions again cropped up for the Cubs, Trevor Cahill showed he’s ready to provide some answers.

Pitching in the majors for the first time since he was placed on the disabled list July 9 with patellar tendinitis in his right knee, Cahill shut out the Brewers on two hits for five innings. He drove in a run with a squeeze bunt, picked off a runner and made a nifty play at first base as the Cubs blanked Milwaukee 4-0 in the first game of a doubleheader. “It was good,” Cahill said. “Doubleheader today, so I was just trying to go out deep as I could, was fortunate to get five. Was able to not beat up the bullpen too much for the next game.” Cahill threw 83 pitches, a high-water mark for his time in Chicago and the most since he last started a big-league game on April 26, 2015, when he was with Atlanta. He extended the rotation’s streak of games allowing two runs or fewer to 10. “He had really good stuff,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “Much better command of his fastball. Curveball, changeup was outstanding. He and [catcher Miguel Montero], I think he’s really worked well with him in the past. We wanted to have them work together. It was outstanding.” Cahill’s performance was the highlight of a day on which the Cubs bounced back from two eighth-inning collapses that cost them the final two games of their weekend series against St. Louis. Lefty Mike Montgomery threw two-plus scoreless innings in relief of Cahill and has now registered four straight scoreless outings. “I feel more comfortable within myself, how to go out and get guys out,” said Montgomery, who has righted the ship after struggling upon being acquired from Seattle last month. “First getting here, you have those nerves, new team. I really didn’t feel like myself. I’m definitely getting back to that.” Hector Rondon escaped a minor jam in the eighth while rebounding from the four runs he allowed against St. Louis on Sunday, his first game back after a bout of soreness in his triceps. “It was nice to see Ronny come in and be Ronny again,” Maddon said. “That was outstanding to watch.” The Cubs scored all four of their runs without the benefit of a hit. Addison Russell and Chris Coghlan hit sacrifice flies, Cahill had his squeeze bunt, and Dexter Fowler scored on a wild pitch by former Cub Matt Garza. According to ESPN Stats & Info, that tied an MLB-high for runs scored without a hit in a game this season. It was the Cubs’ 11th shutout of the season, which ties the Philles for most in the majors. Although the Cubs mostly restored order in their bullpen, a few pressing issues remain with the pitching staff. Maddon continues his search for a second setup man to pair with Rondon in wake of the knee injury that will sideline Pedro Strop well into September. Veteran Joe Smith started the ninth in the doubleheader opener with the Cubs up by four runs, but he was pulled after he put two Brewers on via walks. “I’ve already had a good conversation with him,” Maddon said. “He’s a great guy. He’s working hard. Obviously, he’s trying a little bit too hard right now. For him to walk two guys, that’s not who he is at all.” Aroldis Chapman needed 12 pitches to finish the game for his fifth Cubs save, but the outing cast his availability for Tuesday’s nightcap in doubt. “He didn’t throw that many pitches, only had to get two outs,” Maddon said. “That’s the importance right there of not having to bring a guy into the game if you can avoid it.” Meanwhile, Cahill was activated under MLB’s “26th Man Rule” that allows a team to carry an extra player in certain circumstances, as in a doubleheader. However, the Cubs need to clear someone off the roster by Wednesday night’s game, and Cahill’s outing didn’t make an already problematic roster crunch any easier to figure out.

“Obviously, he gave us something to talk about,” Maddon said. “We’ll discuss that. We have to have an answer by tomorrow.” On top of that is the sudden uncertainty surrounding starter John Lackey, who left his start Sunday night in the seventh inning because of a tight shoulder. Although Lackey said he felt fine after the outing, Maddon said after Tuesday’s first game that Lackey’s status remains unclear. “No clarity yet,” Maddon said. “A little bit sore today, so we’re still talking about it. We haven’t concluded anything yet. “We're absolutely looking at different scenarios. We have not decided on anything. [There] are different things that are within our purview right now.” It doesn’t seem like things should be so complicated for a team that is now 31 games over .500, but such is the nature of pitching -- even for the Cubs. “Everybody has to contribute, some way, somehow,” Montero said. “Cahill stepped it up today.” -- ESPNChicago.com Joe Maddon not panicking over Cubs' bullpen By Bradford Doolittle CHICAGO -- You can’t blame Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon if he’s not exactly on red alert because his team lost two straight games entering Tuesday’s day-night doubleheader against Milwaukee. And as far as he knows, even a yellow alert won’t necessarily result in a call to a certain free-agent closer. A quick reality check: The Cubs lead the National League Central by 12 games. They won a season-high 11 straight before dropping the last two games of a weekend series against St. Louis. Before losing those games, Chicago’s run differential on the season climbed over plus-200 for the first time since 1945, according to team historian Ed Hartig. Everything is copacetic. And yet ... those losses to the Cardinals were so similar. In both instances, the Cubs led going into the late innings. In both instances, the games got away because of eighth-inning bullpen failures, first by young righty Carl Edwards Jr., then by veteran Hector Rondon. And those losses came in the aftermath of injuries to elite setup men Pedro Strop (out with a knee injury) and Rondon (freshly returned from minor triceps soreness). Coincidence? Problematic? Maddon isn't buying any of it. “Listen, the series against the Cardinals, two guys who are really good had bad days,” Maddon said. “That's it. I have no problem with that. I don’t expect perfection.” Still, even the Cubs' voice of reason acknowledges that with Strop out another five or six weeks, a new pecking order needs to emerge within his relief staff. We know Aroldis Chapman will close games. We know that Rondon will still be the primary setup guy. But after that, Maddon is still figuring things out. On his potential menu: • Joe Smith: The sidearming double-play specialist has been hammered since being acquired from the Angels before the trade deadline. Smith has an 8.10 ERA with the Cubs and has allowed three homers in 17 total batters faced. “Smitty’s going to pitch better, I know he is,” Maddon said.

• Trevor Cahill: Cahill was activated to make a start in the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader. He had been on the disabled list since July 9 because of patellar tendinitis. Cahill was a key member of last season’s bullpen, but struggled with command this season before going on the shelf. Beyond the spot start, Cahill’s next step is unclear. “We’re going to go through today and then create the plan. We haven’t decided or determined anything yet. We have to do something very quickly.” • Justin Grimm: Maddon says he likes the way Grimm (who turned 28 on Tuesday) has been throwing since a brief demotion to Triple-A Iowa. Grimm has rung up 14 straight scoreless outings since June 28. • Travis Wood: The versatile lefty has a 2.87 ERA and ranks third in the NL with 58 appearances. • Mike Montgomery: Montgomery’s usage has been sporadic since he was acquired from Seattle on July 20; he has a 4.05 ERA in 6 2/3 innings. But he has registered three straight scoreless innings and struck out seven over four innings. “Montgomery, I think he’s been really good lately,” Maddon said. “He’s been really showing his chops.” • Edwards: Edwards lost command in the first of those two St. Louis losses but otherwise has been dazzling, especially in high-leverage situations. • Jonathan Papelbon: Yes, the free-agent reliever is out there after being released by Washington, and given his ties to several members of the Cubs organization, his name keeps popping up in the rumor mill. But as far as Maddon knows, it remains in the realm of speculation. “The [front office] has not discussed him with me,” Maddon said. “Neither have I heard a lot scuttlebutt about the clubhouse, either. I like our group right now. I’m not saying it can’t happen, but for right now, there is nothing happening.” Maddon has plenty of time and a huge buffer in the standings to figure all of this out before October. And besides, he likes his options. “I like the bullpen right now,” Maddon said. “I really do. We just have to get them defined again.” -- ESPNChicago.com Can Chris Coghlan fill the Cubs' need for a left-handed bat? By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- He's in a fight for playing time while trying to find his hitting stroke, but the one thing Chicago Cubs outfielder Chris Coghlan has going for him is that he's left-handed. Right now he's the only potentially dangerous left-handed bat off the bench. The continued absence of Tommy La Stella has allowed the Cubs a longer look at Coghlan as the regular season winds down. "I haven't put up the same production I did the last couple of years," Coghlan said recently. "The last two years my production against right-handed pitching speaks for itself. I had to make some adjustments here. I'm content to help the team anyway I can in whatever role. It's easier because we're chasing history right now." As much as Coghlan's batting average has struggled, his on-base percentage with the Cubs isn't that bad. After starting two games over the weekend against the Cardinals -- his first two since Aug. 2 -- Coghlan raised his OBP to .385. That’s not far off the guy that he replaced, as La Stella's on-base percentage before being sent down -- and then going home to New Jersey -- was .388. Coghlan has had a strange season at the plate, but has improved since rejoining the Cubs. His 34 percent line-drive percentage since returning is very good, though his problem comes when he hits the ball on the ground. According

to ESPN Stats and Information he's 6 for 68 on ground balls this year split between the Cubs/A's. That includes just a .128 batting average hitting into the shift. The answer? Get the ball in the air -- a lot easier said than done. But at least he's taking his walks. The key point here is the Cubs need left-handed help. Can Coghlan provide it? "He's undergone a lot of changes the last couple of years," manager Joe Maddon said. "Just keep doing what he's been doing. He's been wonderful. And he's played a good outfield." Coghlan added: "You can't control how many at-bats you get. You just try to produce when you get a shot. It's such a special group it's easy to put your own ego aside." Coghlan has reached out to La Stella after returning from injury, as Coghlan wants to stress this isn't a teammate vs. teammate thing. The front office made the decision to keep Coghlan while sending La Stella down, though most believed La Stella's demotion was temporary. "He was very productive when he was here," Coghlan said. "I sent him a text when he got sent down. It's not me vs. him. Everybody in baseball, if you play long enough, the game gets you where it's not fair. I support Tommy as a friend. I hope he comes back." While Coghlan has had his struggles this season, there is no doubt there will be times the Cubs want a lefty in the lineup against certain right-handed pitchers. Javier Baez's OBP versus righties this season is only .273 while Jorge Soler has sported a .324 mark. Coghlan needs to be ready because he could be called upon off the bench to face a tough right-handed reliever at any moment. "It's very difficult," Maddon said of staying ready as a non-starter. "It's one of the things you have to learn how to do." It's up for debate if Coghlan has completely learned, as both La Stella and Matt Szczur have proven more valuable in a limited/pinch-hitting role. But a .385 on-base percentage speaks for itself, even if Coghlan's .216 batting average with the Cubs isn’t jumping off the page. Can he keep getting on-base while perhaps showing some more pop? He'll only be given sporadic chances, but Coghlan is just fine with that in his second go-round with the Cubs. "I want to help in any way I can," Coghlan said. "This team is special and being part of it is special." -- CSNChicago.com Anthony Rizzo delivers MVP moment as Cubs sweep Brewers in doubleheader By Patrick Mooney “MVP! MVP! MVP!” the crowd chanted Tuesday night at Wrigley Field, Cubs fans recognizing Anthony Rizzo’s acrobatic catch and thanking the All-Star first baseman for what has so far been a magical season for the best team in baseball. Jason Hammel stepped off the rubber in the fifth inning and allowed Rizzo to soak in the standing ovation. Rizzo waved his glove after a Derek Jeter moment, the highlight-reel play that will be remembered from this 4-1 Game 2 win and a doubleheader sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers. Milwaukee rookie Keon Broxton fouled off a 3-1 pitch that drifted out toward the blue rolled-up tarp, where Rizzo had made a spectacular diving catch into the stands almost exactly a year ago against the Brewers, while Hammel stood on the mound watching and a young team began to find its identity.

Rizzo tracked the ball, planted his right leg onto the ledge and lifted himself up, sticking out his right arm into two rows of seats while balancing his left leg in the air. Rizzo snapped his glove, raised his arms and hopped back onto the dirt with a huge smile on his face, signaling two outs with his left hand. “I was surprised myself when I caught that, to be honest,” Rizzo said. “It’s one of those fun plays where if you make it, you look great. If you don’t make it, you kind of look like a fool.” The balance-beam catch became an amazing routine for a player listed at 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, at a time when Rizzo has been watching the “Final Five” U.S. women’s gymnastics team during the Rio Olympics. “Maybe ‘Final Six?’” Rizzo said. “I got a good dismount and could have stuck the landing a little better, but I was pleased with it.” “I was hoping for at least a 9.5 from the Luxembourg judge,” manager Joe Maddon said. “It takes a special athlete to be able to do that. He may not look like a great athlete, but he is a great athlete,” Hammel said, laughing in the middle of his postgame press conference. “I love you, Rizz.” Rizzo always brings pieces of flair to the Cubs, as a clubhouse DJ, Party Room designer and theme-trip enthusiast. That attitude – relaxed while focused, supremely confident, hypercompetitive without letting it become all-consuming paralysis – pushes the Cubs toward October. “He wants to be the leader,” Hammel said. “He wants that pressure. I think he really relishes and cherishes that (role). That’s just the type of guy he is, the personality he carries. A lot of guys joke around with him – and give him a hard time – because he really does try to be a leader. “He exudes his own confidence in a funny way, different than other people. (But) it’s fun to have a guy like that, a young guy that really wants to take the team where he wants to go.” Combine that relentlessness with Gold Glove-caliber defense and heart-of-the-order production (25 homers, 85 RBI, .966 OPS) and you have a leading National League MVP candidate. “I never really seen that before in a stadium where the crowd basically wants you to take a bow out in the field,” second baseman Ben Zobrist said. “He does it all. He really works hard over at first to try and get to every ball he can. “What he does offensively and brings to the table every day – you really can’t ask a guy to do any more to carry a club.” Even if Rizzo might not have been the most valuable Cub on a night where Hammel (13-5, 2.75 ERA) didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning, striking out six of the first 12 batters he faced, chipping in with two hits of his own – while limiting the Brewers to just two – and extending his scoreless streak to 22 consecutive innings. Or in the middle of a lineup where Kris Bryant knocked out Brewers starter Chase Anderson (left quadriceps contusion) after 11 pitches with a first-inning line drive back to the mound – and keeps making his own MVP case as an All-Star third baseman with 28 homers and 73 RBI and the ability to play all over the outfield. But in so many ways, this franchise revolves around Rizzo, who only turned 27 last week and could have fallen into the trap of putting up good numbers on a decent team and enjoying life in The Show. The Cubs (75-43) won their 75th game last year on Sept. 1 and surged ahead toward 97 victories and through two playoff rounds. That won’t be enough in 2016. Rizzo wants to be great on the team that lives forever in Chicago. MVP? MVP? MVP? “We have six-plus more weeks left,” Rizzo said. “We got to finish strong. It’s really cool to hear the fans say that, but there’s a long way to go.”

-- CSNChicago.com Trevor Cahill beats Brewers in Game 1, looking like good insurance if Cubs put John Lackey on DL By Patrick Mooney In a perfect world, the Cubs wouldn’t need to start Trevor Cahill again, riding arguably baseball’s best rotation into October and then figuring out which pitcher to drop for the playoffs. But everything hasn’t gone according to The Plan, even as the Cubs pile up the most wins in baseball and the computer simulations on Baseball Prospectus and FanGraphs almost give them a 100-hundred percent chance to win the National League Central. Whatever the Cubs decide to do with their 25-man roster crunch, Cahill made a strong impression in Game 1 of Tuesday’s doubleheader at Wrigley Field, shutting down the Milwaukee Brewers for five innings during a 4-0 victory. The 26th man maxed out at 84 pitches and allowed only two hits to a weakened lineup that no longer has Jonathan Lucroy (traded to the Texas Rangers) while Ryan Braun came off the bench to get booed as an eighth-inning pinch-hitter. “It’s obvious he gave us something to talk about,” Maddon said. “We will discuss that. And we have to have an answer by tomorrow.” One potential way to keep Cahill around would be putting John Lackey on the disabled list after the veteran right-hander exited Sunday night’s start against the St. Louis Cardinals with a tight shoulder. “No clarity yet” on Lackey’s health situation, Maddon said. “He felt a little bit sore today, so we’re still talking about it, and we haven’t concluded anything yet.” Cahill stretched out with six starts at Triple-A Iowa after going on the disabled list with patellar tendinitis in his right knee on July 15, becoming an insurance policy the Cubs hoped they wouldn’t really need, but might have to cash in again if Lackey’s shoulder issue is more serious than first believed. “We’re absolutely looking at different scenarios,” Maddon said. “Those are different things that are within our purview right now – poom! – Larry David (reference). The fact that (Cahill) pitched as well as he did today – and he’s as stretched out as he is – just opens up possibilities.” A strong pitching infrastructure helped Cahill revive his career and reinvent himself as a playoff-caliber reliever late last season – after getting released by the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers – and score a one-year, $4.25 million contract to return to Chicago. Maybe Cahill can again help stabilize a bullpen filled with questions marks, though Mike Montgomery and Hector Rondon did combine for three scoreless innings before Aroldis Chapman (fifth save in a Cubs uniform) bailed out Joe Smith (two walks) in the ninth. “Who knows?” Cahill said. “Whatever they want me to do, I’ll do it. I don’t know. I don’t want to speculate. Whenever you speculate, it always seems like it ends up completely different.” While Cahill, a one-time All-Star, rebooted his game, Matt Garza (4-5, 4.87 ERA) has struggled to find focus and consistency since getting traded from the Cubs to the Rangers in the summer of 2013, one of many win-later deals that transformed this franchise. The Cubs wore down Garza, making him throw 103 pitches across five innings and manufacturing three runs with an Addison Russell sacrifice fly, a wild pitch that scored Dexter Fowler and Cahill’s RBI sacrifice bunt.

For all the contributions they’ve gotten from all over the roster, Cahill is only the eighth starting pitcher the Cubs have used this season. Veteran catcher Miguel Montero – who worked with Cahill extensively on the Arizona Diamondbacks – briefly turned away from some of the reporters at his locker and did the knock-on-wood motion. “We count on every single individual in the clubhouse,” Montero said. “Everybody has to contribute someway, somehow. Cahill stepped it up.” -- CSNChicago.com Cubs still figuring out next step for John Lackey By Patrick Mooney John Lackey hasn’t gotten an MRI for his stiff right shoulder, manager Joe Maddon said before Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers, but the Cubs also didn’t have a definitive plan for one of their most valuable pitchers. Less than 48 hours earlier at Wrigley Field, Maddon had pulled Lackey after watching him shake his right arm in the seventh inning of Sunday night’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Lackey had looked sharp to that point, giving up one unearned run before getting a no-decision in a 6-4 loss to his old team. “We’ll know more soon,” Maddon said. “I’m hearing that he feels good. But we haven’t decided anything yet.” Whether that means putting Lackey on the disabled list or pushing back his next start, the Cubs will have to take the long view and think about the “Big Boy Games” in October. Lackey, a two-time World Series champion, has lived up to his reputation in the first season of a two-year, $32 million contract, going 9-7 with a 3.41 ERA and accounting for 158-plus innings. The Cubs are also facing a decision with Game 1 starter Trevor Cahill, the 26th man activated for the day-night doubleheader. “We’re going to go through today and then create the plan,” Maddon said. “We haven’t decided or determined anything yet. But we’re going to have to do something very quick.” -- CSNChicago.com Cubs could handle it, but Joe Maddon doubts Jonathan Papelbon will walk into Wrigley clubhouse By Patrick Mooney Cubs manager Joe Maddon says Jonathan Papelbon’s name hasn’t come up during his conversations with Theo Epstein’s front office. “The guys have not discussed him with me,” Maddon said before Tuesday’s day-night doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. “I’ve not heard a whole lot of scuttlebutt about the clubhouse yet, either. “I’m not saying it can’t happen – don’t get me wrong – but for right now, there is nothing happening.” With reports signaling that Papelbon will make his decision within the next 24 hours, all signs now point to the Cubs not adding a combustible element to their clubhouse. But that would mostly reflect Papelbon being a diminished pitcher who just got released by the Washington Nationals – a first-place team the Cubs could ultimately face in the playoffs – and not the WWE villain caught choking Bryce Harper in the dugout last September.

The Cubs have Boston Red Sox wings in their front office (Epstein, Jed Hoyer, Jason McLeod) and clubhouse (Jon Lester, John Lackey, David Ross), which made the best team in baseball an attractive destination from Papelbon’s perspective. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Papelbon winds up back at Fenway Park. “You should be able to absorb a personality that (from the outside) people might view in a different way,” Maddon said. “I’ve always had faith that if you do the right thing in that room, the next person that comes in (gets) the message – ‘This is how we do it here’ – without me having to say it. Or if they’re going against the grain: ‘We don’t do that here’ is also a good way of putting it. “If you look throughout really good teams in different sports, they’ve been able to take people that come in that maybe weren’t viewed as well outside. (But then) – all of a sudden – they become model citizens. And that’s not because of the manager or the coach. That’s because of the room. That’s because of that group. “I really have a lot of faith in our players that regardless of who we put in that room, these guys would pretty much have the new person understand: ‘This is how we do things here.’ Or maybe even more importantly: ‘That’s not how we do things here.’ So I’ve never been opposed to that – the perception from outside looking in – because I do have a lot of faith in our guys.” Papelbon no longer inspires the same faith in the ninth inning – or fear factor for opponents – at the age of 35 and near the end of a career that has seen him make six All-Star teams, save 368 games and earn a World Series ring with the 2007 Red Sox. For now at least, the Cubs believe Pedro Strop will return from knee surgery next month and Hector Rondon won’t go on the disabled list with a triceps injury. The hope is Joe Smith (8.10 ERA) is better than his five-game sample size since getting traded from the Los Angeles Angels. And that Carl Edwards Jr. (27 strikeouts in 19-plus innings) and Justin Grimm (zero runs allowed in his last 14 outings) can keep evolving into trusted setup guys. “I like our group right now,” Maddon said. “We’ve gone back and forth with different guys this year, and as long as these guys are well, I have a lot of faith in the group in there right now.” --