July 18, 2017 Lester bounces back in big way for Cubs Lackey off DL as Cubs go for 5th straight win Bryant Cubs' Heart and Hustle Award winner

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1 July 18, 2017 Daily Herald, Lester bounces back in big way for Cubs Cubs.com, Lackey off DL as Cubs go for 5th straight win Cubs.com, Bryant Cubs' Heart and Hustle Award winner Cubs.com, Lester bests Braves as Cubs win fourth straight Cubs.com, Schwarber tumbles over wall after foul grab Cubs.com, Lester does it all to keep Cubs rolling Cubs.com, Maddon: Heyward 'as good as I've seen him' ESPNChicago.com, This is John Lackey's chance to hit the reset button on his rough season ESPNChicago.com, Cubs tap into 2016 staples to extend post-break streak CSNChicago.com, Jon Lester And Jose Quintana Give Cubs A One-Two Punch For This Pennant Race And Beyond CSNChicago.com, Kyle Hendricks Perfect In Rehab Start CSNChicago.com, Heading To Triple-A Iowa, Dillon Maples Could Be X-Factor For Cubs Chicago Tribune, Jon Lester finds his pitching groove for Cubs against Braves Chicago Tribune, Cubs insist minor-league cupboard isn't bare after Jose Quintana trade story.html

2 Chicago Tribune, Cubs' pitching faces many questions especially the status of John Lackey Chicago Tribune, John Lackey returns for Cubs, not about to make second-half predictions story.html Chicago Tribune, Jon Lester after strong start: 'My stuff had a little more crispness to it' Chicago Sun-Times, Start of something? Jon Lester gives Cubs rotation another lift in win Chicago Sun-Times, How hard can Cubs lean on catcher Contreras without veteran backup? Chicago Sun-Times, MORRISSEY: How to demote John Lackey without getting killed Chicago Sun-Times, Kosher food coming to Wrigley Field Chicago Sun-Times, Baseball by the numbers: Who did best after a Cubs-White Sox trade? Daily Herald Lester bounces back in big way for Cubs By Bruce Miles Bit by bit, piece by piece, the Chicago Cubs may be getting ready to make a serious run at the first-place Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central. Of course the big piece most recently added was left-handed pitcher Jose Quintana, who came over in a blockbuster trade with the Chicago White Sox and pitched 7 scoreless innings Sunday to help the Cubs sweep the Orioles in Baltimore. The Cubs moved on to Atlanta on Monday, hoping ace pitcher Jon Lester would rebound from a pair of poor starts, including a July 9 disaster against the Pirates at Wrigley Field, where Lester failed to get out of the first inning, giving up 10 runs (4 earned). The Cubs held on to defeat the Braves 4-3, and they moved within 3½ games of first-place Milwaukee in the NL Central. The Brewers lost 4-2 to the Pirates at Pittsburgh. Lester started the weather-delayed game at new SunTrust Park, and he looked like the Lester who has been the ace of the staff for the better part of two seasons. He worked 7 innings, giving up 3 hits and 1 run, on an RBI single by Brandon Phillips in the third. Lester lowered his ERA from 4.25 to He was good on the other side of the ball, too, adding a double and a stolen base. One other player who seems to be putting things together is right fielder Jason Heyward, who was on the disabled list from June 22-July 4 with a hand abrasion. Over the weekend in Baltimore, Heyward went 6-for-13 with a double, a triple, a homer and 6 RBI. That brought his season batting line to.265/.324/.416 with 7 homers and 37 RBI.

3 "He's looking really good right now," manager Joe Maddon told reporters before the game. "It's as good as I've seen him swing the bat, personally, plus he's always played that great level of defense. When you can hit him in the lower part of the batting order right now, then you have a chance to score up and down, and I kind of like that, although right now he's hitting like a guy that would hit much higher in the batting. "He's playing really well, and it's a big part of what we're doing. The whole group, we had a nice opening salvo into the second half offensively. We really started utilizing the entire field a lot better up and down the lineup. It's one of those things that can become contagious. You all know that he really, verbally leads, and he's doing a great job right now." The Cubs took the lead against the Braves on a 2-run single by Ben Zobrist in the. Anthony Rizzo homered to center field in the seventh, his 23rd of the year. Cubs.com Lackey off DL as Cubs go for 5th straight win By Jaylon Thompson John Lackey is expected make his return to the Cubs' starting rotation Tuesday night against the Braves at SunTrust Park. Chicago will be trying for its fifth straight win coming out of the All-Star break. Lackey has been sidelined on the 10-day disabled list with right foot plantar fasciitis. He owns a 5.20 ERA in 17 starts this season. He has also dealt with location issues and is tied for second in the Majors with 24 home runs allowed. However, Lackey has pitched well against the Braves. He has given up eight runs and struck out 21 batters in four career starts. "He is a guy that, even if he struggles early in a game, he gets better as the game progresses," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "Beyond any physical number that you can look at, don't underestimate how competitive he is, and that is what I am really looking at." The Braves will counter with rookie Sean Newcomb as he looks to rebound from two tough starts against the Astros and Nationals. He has given up 11 runs in his last 7 1/3 innings pitched, including six walks in that span. Newcomb has never faced the Cubs but owns a 4.57 ERA in four home starts. He has also pitched better against right-handed hitters. Righties are batting.235 against him this season. Three things to know about this game Braves outfielder Nick Markakis has hit Lackey well in his career. He has 23 hits and 10 walks in his 73 career atbats. Lackey's most recent outing, prior to his stint on the DL, was just his third this season in which he didn't allow a home run. Opponents have gone deep on 3.1 percent of their swings against the veteran this year, tied for the third-highest rate among pitchers who have generated at least 500 swings. Newcomb has averaged 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings this season. Cubs.com Bryant Cubs' Heart and Hustle Award winner By Manny Randhawa

4 The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association revealed the 30 preliminary winners of the 2017 Heart and Hustle Award on Tuesday. The honor is the only one voted on by former players, and is bestowed each year upon the active player who most represents a passion for the game of baseball, and best embodies the values, spirit and tradition of the game. Past winners of the Heart and Hustle Award include David Eckstein (2005), Hall of Famer Craig Biggio (2006, 2007), Grady Sizemore (2008), Albert Pujols (2009), Roy Halladay (2010), Torii Hunter (2011), Mike Trout (2012), Dustin Pedroia (2013), Josh Harrison (2014), Anthony Rizzo (2015) and Todd Frazier (2016). The 30 preliminary winners for 2017 are: AMERICAN LEAGUE Baltimore Orioles: Adam Jones Boston Red Sox: Rick Porcello Chicago White Sox: Avisail Garcia Cleveland Indians: Jose Ramirez Detroit Tigers: Ian Kinsler Houston Astros: Josh Reddick Kansas City Royals: Eric Hosmer Los Angeles Angels: Andrelton Simmons Minnesota Twins: Byron Buxton New York Yankees: Brett Gardner Oakland Athletics: Yonder Alonso Seattle Mariners: Nelson Cruz Tampa Bay Rays: Logan Morrison Texas Rangers: Elvis Andrus Toronto Blue Jays: Kevin Pillar NATIONAL LEAGUE Arizona Diamondbacks: Paul Goldschmidt Atlanta Braves: Nick Markakis Chicago Cubs: Kris Bryant Cincinnati Reds: Adam Duvall Colorado Rockies: Charlie Blackmon Los Angeles Dodgers: Justin Turner Miami Marlins: J.T. Realmuto Milwaukee Brewers: Hernan Perez New York Mets: Jay Bruce Philadelphia Phillies: Freddy Galvis Pittsburgh Pirates: Adam Frazier San Diego Padres: Clayton Richard San Francisco Giants: Brandon Crawford St. Louis Cardinals: Jedd Gyorko Washington Nationals: Anthony Rendon "This year's Heart and Hustle Award winners are a true representation of the legacy of the game and the players who have come before them," said Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson, president of the MLBPAA. "It is clear that these 30 men chosen all play the game with relentless pursuit." Voting for the 30 preliminary players took place before the All-Star break. Thirty voting committees were formed, comprised of alumni players with established relations to each team, to select the winners. Each of the winners will be recognized prior to an upcoming home game for their team, beginning with the Braves on Wednesday.

5 Toward the end of the season, all alumni and active players will vote for a final winner from among the 30 teams. The final winner will be announced on Nov. 14, during the 18th annual Legends for Youth Dinner in New York City. The Legends for Youth Dinner is the primary fundraiser for the series of free Legends for Youth clinics that are held around the country, which have enabled more than 16,000 kids to learn from and interact with players who have left a lasting impact on the game. Cubs.com Lester bests Braves as Cubs win fourth straight By Mark Bowman and Jaylon Thompson ATLANTA A little more than a week later, Jon Lester and the Cubs have distanced themselves from the frustration they carried into the All-Star break. The veteran left-hander helped the defending World Series champs remain perfect in the second half with Monday night's 4-3 win over the Braves at SunTrust Park after an hour-long rain delay before first pitch. "We got a good feeling as our pitchers are coming out dominating and our hitters are having really good at-bats," Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. "It is a good formula." Pitching for the first time since allowing the Pirates 10 runs in just one inning on July 9, Lester limited Atlanta's potent lineup to just three hits and one run over seven innings. Ben Zobrist's two-run single off Julio Teheran in the fifth inning provided the lead for the Cubs, who have won four straight to remain third in the National League Wild Card race, 1 1/2 games ahead of the Braves. Lester's effort was preserved when the Cubs gained a necessary insurance run courtesy of the consecutive two-out doubles Javy Baez and Addison Russell in the eighth inning. "There have been some things in the last couple of starts that haven't felt right, but I was able to get my body to repeat better tonight," Lester said. "My stuff had a little bit more crispness to it than in the last couple of starts. That is a positive and I will build off of that." The Braves, who opened the second half by sweeping the D-backs, gained an early lead via Brandon Phillips' thirdinning single and saw Teheran keep the Cubs scoreless until he began the two-run fifth by walking Jason Heyward. Freddie Freeman made a couple of run-saving plays at first base during the fifth and sixth innings. He also singled in the two-run ninth Cubs closer Wade Davis endured before escaping a bases-loaded jam to remain perfect through 18 save opportunities. "It was exciting, kind of like a playoff game with the energy and everything else in that stadium," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "It was good to see the guys come back. It was a good, hard-fought game by both sides." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Aiding the sacrifice: After Javier Baez followed Heyward's leadoff walk with a single in the fifth, Teheran's attempt to pitch inside on Lester's sacrifice-bunt attempt resulted in a wild pitch that advanced the runners and put them in position to score when Zobrist bounced his two-run single through the middle of the infield. Rizzo and Willson Contreras drew consecutive two-out walks to load the bases before Freeman prevented further damage by snaring a Kyle Schwarber hot shot that would have reached the right-field corner. "One mistake right there, walking the leadoff hitter cost me two runs, but overall, I think I did pretty good," said Teheran, who had allowed four earned runs or more in five of the previous nine starts he had made at home. Welcome cushion: After Teheran pitched around Ian Happ's sixth-inning leadoff double, Rizzo gave Lester some cushion when he drilled a one-out seventh-inning home run against left-handed reliever Ian Krol. The Cubs first

6 baseman's 23rd homer of the season was a liner over the center-field wall that had a mph exit velocity per Statcast. "We are always looking to add-on, as we call them, 'jug runs,'" Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "That is either the top of the ninth on the road or bottom of eighth at home when you have the lead and going for the jugular. We got the jug run and it was pretty large." SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Lester became the first Cubs pitcher to collect an extra-base hit and steal in the same game since Rick Sutcliffe did it on July 29, Lester accomplished the feat by doubling off the right-field wall in the third inning and swiping a bag in the sixth inning, his first career stolen base. Teheran produced a season-best 92.6-mph average velocity with his four-seam fastball. His three highest average velos have been produced within his past three starts 92.4 mph on July 8 at the Nationals and 92.2 mph on July 2 at the A's. UPON FURTHER REVIEW The Cubs were unsuccessful in their replay challenge as Braves outfielder Ender Inciarte was called safe after stealing third base in the third inning. The call was confirmed, as Inciarte got in under the tag. In the eighth, the Cubs challenged the ruling that Happ was out trying for a leadoff double, but the call was ruled to stand following a review. WHAT'S NEXT Cubs: John Lackey returns from the disabled list in the second game of this series on Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. CT. The veteran is 1-1 with a 2.59 ERA in four career starts against Atlanta. Braves: Sean Newcomb will take the mound when this three-game series resumes Tuesday at 7:35 p.m. ET. Newcomb was impressive in his first four career starts, but he struggled while facing the Astros and Nationals in his final two starts before the break. Cubs.com Schwarber tumbles over wall after foul grab By Jaylon Thompson ATLANTA Best known for his big bat, Kyle Schwarber made the highlight reels for a tumbling catch on Monday night. The Cubs catcher-turned-outfielder made a running catch in foul territory, diving and finding himself upside down in the stands at SunTrust Park in the sixth inning of Monday's 4-3 win over the Braves. Schwarber dashed into foul ground to chase a pop fly off the bat of Freddie Freeman. He covered 106 feet, according to Statcast, before securing the catch at the very edge of the playing surface. His momentum then carried him toward the seats, and Schwarber plowed into the low wall and tumbled into the seating area. The catch ended the Braves' threat in the sixth and preserved a 2-1 lead at the time. Schwarber, who came up as a catcher, has played 63 games in left field this season. He got some props from his teammates, especially starter Jon Lester, who was on the mound at the time. Lester credited Schwarber with his ability to stay with the play and never give up.

7 "Honestly when [Freeman] hit it, I thought it was way into the stands," Lester said. "Schwarber stayed with it, especially playing in a new area for the first time. You don't know where the wall is or how many steps. To me, that is the most impressive part. It is a field that he hasn't been on before and he was able to stay with the ball and get a huge out." Cubs.com Lester does it all to keep Cubs rolling By Jaylon Thompson ATLANTA If the Cubs are to make a deep run at the National League Central crown, they are going to need Jon Lester to return to his dominant ways. He did just that on Monday in the Cubs' 4-3 win against the Braves, as he shut down a hot offense for seven innings. He only allowed one run on three hits and struck out six batters. It was a far cry from his prior two starts, in which he posted a ERA in 5 2/3 innings pitched. "I think it is kind of like a bullpen guy or cornerback in the NFL," Lester said. "You got to forget about it and move on to the next one. Obviously, it was a lot longer layoff than normal [because of the All-Star break], but it got to fester and I got to think about that one for a while." Lester moved on quickly and pushed all the right buttons against the Braves. The southpaw, who now makes his home in the Atlanta area, also become the first Cubs pitcher since Rick Sutcliffe in 1988 to have an extra-base hit and a stolen base in the same game. According to Statcast, Lester worked down in the zone a lot against the Braves. His cutter topped out at 89.8 mph and he got a total of 15 called strikes. Lester said that the cutter was a big pitch for him to get back into counts against the Braves. He credited catcher Willson Contreras for calling pitches inside to right-handed hitters, as it got them to pull off the ball. He said that the location was helpful in getting out some hitters like Matt Kemp and Nick Markakis. "I gave up a couple of hits on it with the Markakis hit and the [Brandon Phillips] hit," Lester said. "But other than that, we were able to expand in and get some weak ground balls down the third-base line, into our dugout. Usually, when my cutter is right, it is a lot of foul balls down the line." Lester's performance continued a string of great outings from Cubs starters. The team has a four-game winning streak, and Lester is now 3-0 with a 0.63 ERA in his last four games against the Braves. With Lester pitching well and the addition of Jose Quintana to the rotation, the Cubs have started to get their pitching staff together. They could get another boost with Kyle Hendricks nearing a return from right hand tendinitis. He pitched a scoreless outing in a Double-A rehab start on Monday. For manager Joe Maddon, he is happy to see the team right the ship. But he knows that he will need Lester to continue to pitch well for his club to make a run at the Brewers, who are 3 1/2 games ahead in the NL Central. "When Jon is really in a good vibe, he always finishes strong, and he finished strong tonight," said Maddon. Cubs.com Maddon: Heyward 'as good as I've seen him' By Jaylon Thompson ATLANTA After an injury-riddled first half of the season, Jason Heyward feels like he has turned a corner in his return to the Cubs' lineup.

8 Heyward has been solid since his July 4 return from a left-hand abrasion that sidelined him on the 10-day disabled list. He also missed time in early May with a right finger sprain. "It is good to be back, and I am trying to take care of just being on the field and getting the most out of every day," Heyward said. "I am doing everything with a purpose and staying in tune with what I can do every night to make adjustments from pitch to pitch." On the Cubs' current six-game road trip, Heyward entered Monday's series opener in Atlanta having hit.462 (6-for- 13) with three extra-base hits and six RBIs. He also helped the Cubs score 27 runs in their three-game sweep of the Orioles over the weekend. Heyward entered Monday hitting.265 with seven home runs and 37 RBIs in 63 games played. Cubs manager Joe Maddon credited Heyward's presence in the lineup and said that Heyward has helped deepen the team. Maddon also liked how Heyward's professionalism is helping to balance an already-stacked offensive attack. "He is looking really good right now, and is as good as I've seen him swing the bat, personally," Maddon said. "He has always played that great level of defense. When you can hit him in the lower part of the batting order right now, then you have a chance to score up and down, and I kind of like that." Heyward returned to play the Braves, his former club, at SunTrust Park. Entering Monday's game, the Georgia native had a.289 average against the Braves in his career. "It is good to see family and easier for them to come and see me play here than having them go out of town," Heyward said. "But it is just another game that we are trying to win." The Cubs are chasing the first-place Brewers in their quest for their second-consecutive National League Central crown. They also entered Monday 5 1/2 games back of the Rockies in the NL Wild Card race as well. "I like where we are at right now, and I think we are coming into the second half rested," Maddon said. "Guys are getting over injuries, and we haven't run anybody into the ground, as the pitchers are in good order, too. It is a lot to like right now, and every team goes through that good moment. Hopefully we have gone through the bad one and we have a lot to look forward to [for the remainder of the season]." ESPNChicago.com This is John Lackey's chance to hit the reset button on his rough season By Jesse Rogers ATLANTA If Chicago Cubs hitters are taking a mulligan for the second half, why can t pitcher John Lackey? He ll restart his season on Tuesday night against the Atlanta Braves after a short stint on the disabled list (plantar fasciitis). And with his lofty 5.20 ERA from the first three months of the season in tow, it begs another question: While a positive case can be spun for the Cubs' other four starters moving forward, can a convincing one be made for Lackey? Manager Joe Maddon thinks so. Don t ever underestimate how competitive he is, Maddon said. That s what I m really looking at the inside of this guy. He likes this time of the year, so let s see how this plays out. Lackey is definitely a "rise to the occasion" player, but if his stuff isn t there, will his competitive drive be enough for him to be effective? He leads the National League in home runs given up (24). The break was nice, for sure, Lackey said on Monday. A lot of guys needed to get away from it and reset.

9 The foot injury he s been nursing isn t bad, but Lackey took the All-Star break to get completely healthy. And while the numbers don t show it, Maddon actually thinks the righty hasn t lost much. I don t think the stuff has been that bad, Maddon said. It s not off from what he was last year, if it s been off at all. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Lackey s fastball velocity is down about 1 mph from last season, but the tracking system this year actually leans toward a higher number, so he might actually be down a little more than that. And last year his slider was a go-to pitch, but that s not the case this season as opposing hitters missed it 11 percent more in 2016 and "chased" it 9 percent more. Nevertheless, Maddon remains optimistic. I m watching him right now, Maddon said. He looks very focused. I believe he s going to have a really good second half. Maddon says the Cubs haven't discussed the possibility of Lackey going to the bullpen at all, and it s doubtful that scenario would work for either him or the team. Lackey can simply be considered a No. 5 starter now, with the addition of Jose Quintana and the imminent return of Kyle Hendricks. And don't forget he threw seven scoreless innings at Colorado earlier this year, along with four other outings that produced two runs or fewer. You can't say it's not in him. Of course, all things are subject to change based on performance, and the front office could always add another arm. But neither Lackey nor Maddon is thinking about any of that right now. As long as he s healthy, I think you re going to see a better version than you saw in the first half, Maddon said. He likes this time of the year. He likes being part of this moment. Maddon didn t dismiss peer pressure as a motivating factor for Lackey in addition to everything else. The Cubs' starting staff just strung together three straight days of stellar pitching that began with Jake Arrieta, who pitched into the seventh inning of Saturday's win over Baltimore, scattering four hits and two runs. Quintana followed with seven shutout innings in his debut on Sunday, then Jon Lester surrendered just one run in seven innings on Monday. There s all those little things going on that kind of pushes veteran players this time of the year, Maddon said. You have to be in a race to push a guy that s won three World Series. Lackey kept it short, per usual, when asked what he sees for himself in the second half. I m not into predicting the future, Lackey said. I m going to try hard. ESPNChicago.com Cubs tap into 2016 staples to extend post-break streak By Jesse Rogers ATLANTA If you re looking for more indications of whether the Chicago Cubs are starting to resemble their old selves, look no further than Monday night s 4-3 win over the Atlanta Braves. They got fantastic starting pitching for the third straight day a constant in 2016 and tallied runs late in the game to secure the victory. Add-on runs are a really important part of the game, manager Joe Maddon said. We re always looking to add on late. Your last at-bat, top of the ninth on the road, bottom of the eighth at home. We got the [jugular] runs. It was pretty large. Another staple of last season was a game the Cubs called Screw the Closer. It entailed scoring enough in their final at-bats to ruin a save opportunity for their closer. It happened often in 2016, but not so much this season.

10 On Monday, Anthony Rizzo hit his 23rd home run in the seventh inning, and then a hot-hitting Addison Russell came off the bench to drive in another run with a double in the eighth. Suddenly, a tight 2-1 game became a 4-1 lead. There was still a save chance, but with a little margin for error. And the Cubs would need it. Jug runs are awesome, Maddon said. How about Addison coming off the bench? He s really been swinging the bat well. Russell is 5-for-13 (.385) since the start of the second half, while the Cubs are 4-0, with all victories coming on the road. That winning vibe is beginning to return with a combination of great starting pitching and a suddenly versatile offense. Ben Zobrist s two-run single erased a 1-0 deficit in the fifth, then came the add-on runs while starter Jon Lester was doing his thing. In addition to allowing just one run over seven innings, the lefty hit a double, drew a four-pitch walk and notched his first career stolen base. Ultimately, closer Wade Davis needed every bit of the three-run lead to escape the ninth inning, but he was able to get Johan Camargo on a fly out with the bases loaded. The winning streak remained intact. Willson [Contreras] said it the other day, Rizzo said of the catcher's proclamation over the weekend that the Cubs are back. It s good. We have a good feeling. Our pitchers come out dominating, and our hitters are having really good at-bats. It s a good formula. And a winning one. CSNChicago.com Jon Lester And Jose Quintana Give Cubs A One-Two Punch For This Pennant Race And Beyond By Patrick Mooney BALTIMORE A media scrum that began with Theo Epstein s classic Ask wetbutt response to what the Cubs do next ended with the team president laughing as he concluded a long answer on the Jose Quintana/Jon Lester comparison: I think Jose s got him on throwing to first base. And Jon s got him on throwing the cutter, so I think they re probably even, Epstein said after literally knocking on the bench in the visiting dugout at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. A Cubs team that at times has seemed too quiet came out firing one-liners after the All-Star break, hitting bombs all over the stadium and onto Eutaw Street, sweeping the Orioles and feeling the bounce from that blockbuster trade with the White Sox. For some of the same reasons that the Cubs invested $155 million in Lester, Epstein sacrificed top prospects Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease to get another All-Star lefty who can anchor the rotation through There are some similarities in their delivery, their effort levels and how clean their arms work, Epstein said. And knock on wood how clean their injury histories have been, how consistent they ve been. They manipulate the baseball a little bit differently. Jon obviously cuts the ball a lot more than Quintana does. But, yeah, they re pretty good comps. They re right next to each other on the most valuable pitchers (rankings) the last three, four years in baseball. Lefties with great deliveries repeatable deliveries excellent command, the ability to get soft contact and miss a bat now and then, and not beat themselves.

11 The Cubs purposely gave Lester some extra rest coming out of the All-Star break and will start him against Julio Teheran and the Atlanta Braves on Monday night at the new SunTrust Park. The hope is that will help Lester recover from the worst outing of his career giving up 10 runs and getting two outs in an ugly loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates that ended the first half and a workload that includes nine playoff series across the last four years. Teheran actually tops the Similarity Scores on Quintana s Baseball-Reference page, a top-10 list that also includes Dallas Keuchel, Chris Archer, Marco Estrada and Yu Darvish. We re completely different pitchers, Lester said. I think people want to compare because we re left-handed. I don t like putting two people together. We re all different. We all go about things a different way. I know he s a very solid, good pitcher and has been doing it for a while. The thing I respect, obviously, is his ability to take the ball every five days. He pitches 200 innings and goes about his business the right way. As far as the other stuff on the field, I don t like pigeonholing people. Lester is five years older than Quintana, who at 28 already has four consecutive seasons with 32 or 33 starts on his resume (while playing for White Sox teams that averaged almost 90 losses a year). Between 2013 and 2016, Lester (18.3) and Quintana (18.1) rank sixth and seventh in terms of pitcher WAR on the FanGraphs database, trailing only Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer, Chris Sale, David Price and Corey Kluber. The history of nine-figure megadeals for pitchers shows Lester should crash at some point. But there are also reasons to believe that Quintana could rise while pitching in the National League with a Gold Glove-level defense behind him and Bryzzo Souvenir Co. generating more offense. First impression: Quintana looked extremely comfortable in a pennant race, putting up seven scoreless innings, 12 strikeouts and zero walks in his Cubs debut. The Cubs believe they ve found the one-two punch that can get them back to October, year after year. Left unsaid: Your move, Brewers. Well, Jon is the best left-hander in the league, Quintana said, and now he s my teammate, so that s an honor for me. I m real excited. I can t wait to work with him and learn with him and help this team (show) what we can do. CSNChicago.com Kyle Hendricks Perfect In Rehab Start By Staff More help is on the way for the Cubs' rotation. Jose Quintana arrived and had one of the best starts of his career in his Cubs debut on Sunday. Now, Kyle Hendricks is nearing a return and appears to be in good form already. Hendricks made his second rehab start with AA Tennessee on Monday and was perfect. He retired all 15 batters in five innings of work and struck out three. He also got five flyouts, five groundouts, a line out and a pop up. Last week, Hendricks gave up a run in 3 1/3 innings and threw 45 pitches. This time out, Hendricks totaled 63 pitches, 43 of which were strikes. Duane Underwood Jr. came on in relief of Hendricks and took the perfect game into the ninth before giving up a single with one out. After giving up the no-hitter, Underwood later gave up the lead and the Smokies needed a run in the bottom half of the ninth to win 3-2. Hendricks has been out since June 4 with right hand tendinitis. His seemingly imminent return, coupled with Quintana's recent arrival, could force some tough decisions in the Cubs' rotation.

12 CSNChicago.com Heading To Triple-A Iowa, Dillon Maples Could Be X-Factor For Cubs By Patrick Mooney Whether or not the Cubs add a high-octane reliever before the July 31 trade deadline, Dillon Maples is lurking as an X-factor in the second half for the defending World Series champs. The Cubs are planning to promote Maples to Triple-A Iowa, sources said Monday, after the right-hander blew away hitters at Double-A Tennessee, pitching backwards and unleashing a wipeout slider to notch 28 strikeouts in 13.2 innings. Maples had never pitched above the A-ball level until this season, putting up a 5.33 career ERA and staying far off the radar after getting a $2.5 million bonus as a 14th-round pick in the 2011 draft, the last one overseen by former general manager Jim Hendry. That s when chairman Tom Ricketts wisely authorized a spending spree before a new collective bargaining agreement would radically change the spending limits on amateur talent. Ricketts fired Hendry in a secret meeting that summer, but asked him to stay on and close a draft class headlined by Javier Baez. Maples Gatorade s North Carolina high school player of the year had options as a punter/kicker with a football scholarship to the University of North Carolina. While that athleticism hasn t translated into the frontline starter the Cubs once envisioned Maples has dealt with injuries and thrown only innings across the last five seasons combined something clicked out of the bullpen this year. The Cubs see Maples as having an 80 slider on the scouting scale and encouraged him to use that as his primary weapon, understanding there will still be a learning curve in the Pacific Coast League. Maples also gave up 11 hits and 11 walks in those 13.2 innings with the Smokies after a strong showing at advanced Class-A Myrtle Beach (4-0, 2.01 ERA, 44 strikeouts in 31.1 innings). That s probably not where Maples envisioned beginning his age-25 season. And Joe Maddon s bullpen with All- Star closer Wade Davis and setup guys Carl Edwards Jr., Koji Uehara and Pedro Strop has been a real strength for a team. But all these years later, Maples will soon be one phone call away from Wrigley Field. Chicago Tribune Jon Lester finds his pitching groove for Cubs against Braves By Mark Gonzales With an extended break after a disastrous start, Jon Lester had ample time to get straightened out. Lester provided plenty of quality pitching and some amusement Monday night while leading the Cubs to a 4-3 victory over the Braves and extend their winning streak to four games. The victory, coupled with the Brewers' loss to the Pirates, cut the Cubs' deficit in the National League Central to 3 1/2 games. "We have to pitch like that to get a run together," manager Joe Maddon said. Closer Wade Davis allowed two runs and loaded the bases before inducing Johan Camargo to fly to left to end the game.

13 Davis was credited with his 18th save in as many chances. But the biggest development was that Lester was able to sustain the momentum the Cubs built over the weekend thanks in part to consecutive quality starts by Jake Arrieta and Jose Quintana. "When Jon is in a good vibe, he always finishes strong." Maddon said. Lester (6-6) looked much sharper and stronger than in his last start on July 9, when he allowed 10 runs and lasted only two-thirds of an inning in a loss to the Pirates. Lester didn't allow a hit after the third inning, and he retired the final 10 batters he faced in a 102-pitch effort. Before the Cubs' offense gradually warmed up, Lester tried to take matters into his own hands by ripping a double off the right field wall in the third. In the sixth, Lester drew a walk and stole second base without a throw becoming the first Cubs pitcher with an extra base hit, a walk and a stolen base in a game since Charlie Root on May 3, Cubs starters have allowed two earned runs in their past 20 2/3 innings. Meanwhile, the Cubs finally started to wear down Braves starter Julio Teheran who was scouted by the Royals in the fifth. Teheran walked three in the inning and hurled a wild pitch that saw the Cubs take the lead on a tworun single by Ben Zobrist. Anthony Rizzo hit his third home run in as many games, a solo shot that barely cleared the center field wall in the seventh. Without the designated hitter that was employed in Baltimore, Maddon admitted he was forced to become more resourceful with his lineup. "One of the most difficult things I got going on is placing everyone every day," Maddon said before the game. "Our depth is that good. Everyone is healthy. That's part of the game plan right now. (Jon) Jay should be in the lineup more often, but how do you do that? "It's a good problem to have. That's all it is." Javier Baez started at shortstop for a resting Addison Russell, but Baez's errant throw in the third as he attempted to turn a double play sailed into the Braves dugout, where it struck a tablet. The error cost the Cubs as Brandon Phillips singled to score Ender Inciarte, who stole third after being awarded second base on Baez's throw. Baez made up for his miscue in the eighth by hustling for a double and scoring on Russell's pinch-hit double. Ian Happ, who was visibly upset with a called third strike by umpire CB Bucknor with a runner at second to end the fourth, gained some redemption by leading off the sixth with a double. Chicago Tribune Cubs insist minor-league cupboard isn't bare after Jose Quintana trade By Mark Gonzales The Cubs' well of minor-league talent isn't completely dry after dealing top prospects Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease on Thursday.

14 But there is a need to develop the young talent the Cubs still possess particularly their pitching at the lower levels. "I have all the faith in the world that we'll continue to draft and sign players to restock our farm system," President Theo Epstein said after trading Jimenez, Cease and minor-league infielders Matt Rose and Bryant Flete to the White Sox for durable left-hander Jose Quintana. "The best farm system in the world is on your big league team." Epstein's point is proven by his first four first-round picks since he took over baseball operations Albert Almora (2012), Kris Bryant (2013), Kyle Schwarber (2014) and Ian Happ (2015) currently on the Cubs roster. Nevertheless, there is a void at the top caused by the trades of infielder Gleyber Torres (as the centerpiece of a deal for Aroldis Chapman), Jimenez and Cease in the past 13 months. The Chapman deal helped the Cubs win their first World Series since 1908, but one veteran scout who recently watched the Cubs' prospects observed that the talent required for acquiring ace Sonny Gray from the Athletics would "wipe out the farm system." Nevertheless, "we have really talented players on the farm who we believe in and who are going to play for the Cubs," Epstein said. "It's been a very good year for pitching development in our system." Here's a look at some of their remaining top pitching prospects: Adbert Alzolay, RHP, Double-A Tennessee In his first start for the Smokies on July 9, Alzolay struck out 10 and allowed only two hits in five innings. He's a combined 7-2 with a 2.95 ERA in 17 starts for Tennessee and Class A Myrtle Beach. Thomas Hatch, RHP, Class A Myrtle Beach Hatch has allowed one earned run or fewer in seven of his past 10 starts and is pitching more comfortably as he settles in his first full professional season. Oscar De La Cruz, RHP, Class A Myrtle Beach De La Cruz hasn't pitched since May 25, when he struck out 10 in 5 2/3 innings against Winston-Salem. The 6-foot- 4 De La Cruz has been sidelined due to a right elbow injury. Dillon Maples, RHP, Triple-A Iowa Although Maples is 25, he's turned a corner thanks to a sharp slider to complement a fastball in the high 90 mph range. Maples has struck out 72 in 45 innings while limiting opponents to a.195 batting average at Myrtle Beach and Tennessee and was promoted to Iowa on Monday. Chicago Tribune Cubs' pitching faces many questions especially the status of John Lackey By Paul Sullivan Jose Quintana's masterful performance in his Cubs debut could spark a late-season renaissance for the rotation, which underachieved in the first half after the 2016 championship run.

15 "A lot of guys would reiterate we didn't perform the way we'd like," Jake Arrieta said. "We expect better things from ourselves and as a team overall. That's the competitive nature of all the guys in this clubhouse. We want to get back to where we were last year." Injuries have played a part in the rotation's backslide. Those injured include Brett Anderson, who remains on the disabled list, and Kyle Hendricks, who makes his second rehab start for Double-A Tennessee on Monday but is due to return later this week. "Everybody was pitching well (last year)," Jon Lester said. "So there was no microscope on why we're doing what we're doing. Obviously this year it hasn't gone as well, and I think people look for reasons to justify those numbers. "We all go through times where we don't feel well, but we go out and pitch." Eddie Butler and Mike Montgomery were inserted into the rotation, with inconsistent results for the most part. Butler is out, and Montgomery may be next. "For the most part Mike has thrown the ball well," pitching coach Chris Bosio said. "But I think the bottom line is the five guys that we had last year, the names are different." If Montgomery heads back to the bullpen upon Hendricks' return, the biggest question mark will be the status of John Lackey. With a 5.20 ERA and league-worst 24 home runs allowed, the 38-year-old has been the weakest link of the returning starters. Whether it's the plantar fasciitis in his right foot or just that he's old, something has been amiss. "Have you ever tried to throw a baseball on one leg?" Bosio asked last week. That would be difficult, but Lackey has gutted his way through it, making every start and throwing nearly 100 innings. Has the injury to his push-off foot affected his performance? "He doesn't say a whole lot," manager Joe Maddon said Sunday. "He doesn't complain a whole lot. So we'll see." Lester, who started Monday in Atlanta after what he called an embarrassing first-inning knockout in the final game of the first half, doesn't like using injuries as a reason for the Cubs' first-half pitching struggles. Everyone pitches with some sort of discomfort. "I think sometimes in this game you have people who are quick to pull the trigger on the DL deal, 'I can't make this start, I can't make that start,'" he said. "Well, try. Try. Figure it out. It's part of the game and you've got to figure out a way to take the ball every five days. "That's something I was taught at an early age. 'Lack' and Jose and Jake the last couple years (have done it). Not all of us are healthy all the time. You've got to figure out a way." Lackey comes off the DL Tuesday in Atlanta to make his first second half start. If the Cubs make it into the division series, he would appear to be the odd man out, just as Jason Hammel was last year. But Maddon said they haven't considered moving Lackey to the bullpen yet, despite the home runs, the foot injury and the addition of Quintana. Does Lackey get the benefit of the doubt the rest of the way, or will his performance dictate whether he remains in the rotation? "We're not there yet," Maddon said. "I believe he's going to have really good second half. (The foot) was bothering him a bit. I'm watching him right now. He looked very focused to me right now. I think the break helped him a lot, combined with getting well. For us there is no (bullpen) speculation internally right now."

16 Maddon said Lackey "likes this time of the year, he like being part of this kind of a moment," which should get his juices flowing. "You have to be in a race to really push a guy that's won three World Series," he said. Someone joked that if Lackey was sent to the pen they'd like to watch Bosio deliver the news, knowing Lackey's demeanor. "Just try to take him out of the game, and then try to tell him something like that," Maddon replied. "My God. Exponentially worse." Well, the other option is even worse. If Lackey doesn't improve, releasing him and paying off the remainder of his salary has to be considered. The Red Sox just did that with Pablo Sandoval, but the Cubs don't seem inclined to do likewise with Lackey, who is owed around $4.5 million of his $12.5 million salary. Arrieta also regressed in the first half, especially in comparison with his phenomenal 2015 season. He'll still get a mega-deal this winter, though it may not be quite as "mega" as he anticipated. "I joke with my friends, I kind of tell them how I think I'm going to finish the second half," Arrieta said. "I don't know if I'll verbalize that to you guys. But I'm very confident." Arrieta's performance on Saturday in Baltimore, primarily replying on an effective sinker and curve, bodes well for the second half. Getting adjusted to catcher Willson Contreras, after mostly working with Miguel Montero, is also a work in progress, though Arrieta seems to be comfortable now. Bosio blamed the "lingering" blisters on Arrieta's thumb for his lack of consistent outings in the first half. "There are days he can throw and days he can't throw," Bosio said. "The thumb thing seems to be resolved, but it's the work in between that's affected." Arrieta said he is using Permabond on the thumb to heal the skin and suggested the baseballs everyone has been debating this summer could be a factor in causing so many blister problems around the league. "It's tough to say," he said. "But you know what? At the end of the day, as long as everybody is using the same baseball, I don't care." As long as the Permabond works, Lackey can pitch on one leg and Hendricks' hand is healed, the Cubs rotation should be in good shape for the stretch run. Chicago Tribune John Lackey returns for Cubs, not about to make second-half predictions By Mark Gonzales John Lackey insists his right foot won't limit him when he takes the mound for the Cubs on Tuesday night for the first time since July 5. "I'm all right," said Lackey, who has been coping with plantar fasciitis. "Everyone is dealing with something." But Lackey tempered manager Joe Maddon's observation that Lackey looks "focused" and is going to have a "good second half." "I'm not into predicting the future," Lackey said. "I'm going to try hard."

17 Lackey will remain in the rotation despite his 5.20 ERA after Thursday's day off. The Cubs will reset their rotation for a stretch of 10 games in 10 days against the Cardinals, White Sox and Brewers. "Even if (Lackey) struggles early, you notice he gets better game-in-progress," Maddon said. "That's the competitive side of him. Beyond any kind of physical number you might look at, don't ever underestimate how competitive he is. "He likes this time of year, so let's see how it plays out." Hendricks dominates: Kyle Hendricks pitched five perfect innings in his second rehab start for Double-A Tennessee and could rejoin the rotation no later than next week against the White Sox. Hendricks, recovering from a strained tendon in his right middle finger, struck out three and walked none while throwing 43 of 63 pitches for strikes against Mobile. Hendricks hasn't pitched for the Cubs since June 4 against the Cardinals. He has allowed one earned run on two hits in 8 1/3 innings in his in two rehab starts. Favorable impressions: Kyle Schwarber was one of a few Cubs who worked out early at the Braves' new SunTrust Park and came away impressed. "It's very nice," Schwarber said after taking batting practice and fielding drills. "The ball flies a bit. Jason (Heyward) said people forget that Atlanta has the (third)-highest elevation in the game. "The field is pretty fast out there, and it snakes pretty well. That's something we'll have to have a heads-up on. But it's manicured well, and they did it right." Chicago Tribune Jon Lester after strong start: 'My stuff had a little more crispness to it' By Mark Gonzales Jon Lester didn t want to elaborate on his double and his steal of second base, but he took great satisfaction that his teammates were able to donate money to charity by retrieving the base that he swiped in the Cubs 4-3 win over the Atlanta Braves. I m carrying that son of a gun home with me, Lester quipped with the base at the foot of his locker. I m just a five-tool player. I ambushed a heater and actually put the ball in play. But Lester was more serious about not being the weak link in the Cubs rotation, which is getting stronger after he pitched seven innings of three-hit ball. Cubs starters have allowed two earned runs in their past 20 2/3 innings, and Kyle Hendricks should join them soon after pitching five perfect innings in his second minor league rehab start for Double-A Tennessee. They pulled him? Anthony Rizzo deadpanned after learning that Hendricks threw 43 of 63 pitches for strikes against Mobile. Got to keep going, right? Lester doesn t want to use the word competition in assessing the merits of the Cubs pitching staff. But he often said he didn t want to be the weak link, especially after allowing 10 runs in two-thirds of an inning in his last start on July 9 against Pittsburgh. It s like being a bullpen guy or cornerback in the NFL, Lester said. You get burned and move on to the next one. It was a lot longer layoff than normal between starts. You let it fester and think about it for a while. But I think a lot of times you don t read too much into it and not try to revamp your mechanics.