May 2, 2018

• The Athletic, Bring out the python — Anthony Rizzo leadoff experiment fails to ignite Cubs offense https://theathletic.com/338683/2018/05/02/bring-out-the-python-anthony-rizzo-leadoff- experiment-fails-to-ignite-cubs-offense/

• The Athletic, How Jr. accepted the challenge from Cubs management and took over in center field https://theathletic.com/338552/2018/05/01/how-albert-almora-jr-accepted-the-challenge-from- cubs-management-and-took-over-in-center-field/

• Cubs.com, Rizzo's leadoff HR not enough to rally Cubs https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/anthony-rizzo-leadoff-hr-unable-to-rally-cubs/c-274766782

• Cubs.com, Cubs move Rizzo to leadoff spot, and he homers https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/cubs-move-anthony-rizzo-to-leadoff-spot/c-274711796

• Cubs.com, Cubs glad Farrell's 'invisible pitch' on their side https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/cubs-glad-to-have-luke-farrell-in-bullpen/c-274742316

• ESPNChicago.com, Struggling Anthony Rizzo gets leadoff call, hits HR in first http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/23376806/struggling-anthony-rizzo-batting-leadoff-chicago- cubs

• NBC Sports Chicago, The Invisi-ball: How Luke Farrell has emerged as a bonafide option in Cubs bullpen http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/invisi-ball-how-luke-farrell-has-emerged-bonafide-option- cubs-bullpen-eddie-butler-maddon-almora-rockies-arenado

• NBC Sports Chicago, Pythons, magicians, breakdancing, power sources and 'The Greatest Leadoff Hitter of All Time' http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/pythons-magicians-breakdancing-power-sources-and- greatest-leadoff-hitter-all-time-rizzo-maddon-harper-bryant

• Chicago Tribune, Kyle Hendricks feels squeezed in Cubs' 3-1 loss to Rockies http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-kyle-hendricks-20180501- story.html

• Chicago Tribune, Cubs offense fizzles after Anthony Rizzo's leadoff homer as 5-game win streak ends http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-rockies-20180501-story.html

• Chicago Tribune, Kerry Wood and ‘the greatest game ever pitched’: The oral history of May 6, 1998 at Wrigley Field http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-kerry-wood-20--anniversary- 20180501-htmlstory.html

• Chicago Tribune, Cubs battle strikeout trend by hitting to opposite field http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-joe-maddon-strikeout-trend- 20180501-story.html

• Chicago Tribune, Cubs' Laura Ricketts dedicates ball fields, announces plans for girls softball league http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-winnemac-park-dedication- 20180501-story.html

• Chicago Sun-Times, Anthony Rizzo homers before Cubs bats lost in Gray shadow as winning streak ends https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/anthony-rizzo-homers-before-cubs-bats-lost-in-gray-shadow- as-winning-streak-ends/

• Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo finds fresh start in May; and where’s ? https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-anthony-rizzo-homer-joe-maddon-eddie-butler-update/

• Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo reacts to Dexter Fowler’s wife moving due date for him https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-anthony-rizzo-dexter-fowler-react-moving-c-section- date/

• Daily Herald, Maddon likes what he sees in Farrell http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20180501/maddon-likes-what-he-sees-in-chicago-cubs-pitcher- farrell

• Daily Herald, Maddon shakes up Chicago Cubs' lineup; Rizzo leads off http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20180501/maddon-shakes-up-chicago-cubs-lineup-rizzo-leads- off

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The Athletic Bring out the python — Anthony Rizzo leadoff experiment fails to ignite Cubs offense By Sahadev Sharma

The Cubs’ five-game winning streak masked the issues, but their offense has been sputtering of late. It hasn’t helped that Anthony Rizzo just wrapped up the worst month of his career. His reward on May 1 was to hit leadoff against the .

“I really thought that we needed something like a 20-foot python, a magician or a break dancer in the clubhouse,” manager Joe Maddon said prior to the game. “Instead I chose to hit Rizzo leadoff. I thought it might pick the boys up a little bit.”

Oh, that quirky Maddon. But for those who follow Maddon’s teams, this is hardly an odd occurrence. As Maddon himself said on Tuesday, he likes to put some of his stars up top when they’re in a bit of a funk to “let them lighten up a little bit and just go play.”

While Rizzo did manage to hit a wind-aided leadoff home , cementing his title as the self-proclaimed Greatest Leadoff Hitter of All-Time, the Cubs offense faltered again, managing just that lone run on three hits and two walks. Kyle Hendricks was solid for 7 2/3 innings, but three solo home runs sunk him as the Rockies snapped the Cubs’ winning streak, topping them 3-1.

“Both sides pitched really well,” Maddon said. “They hit a couple fly balls that were homers. We only got one and that’s the game. Our reaction from our hitters indicated to me that their pitcher was pretty sharp.”

Colorado starter worked seven strong innings, giving up just one run on three hits while walking one and striking out six. Maddon pointed out that the Cubs were doing a good job of moving the ball early, and they didn’t strike out until the fifth when Gray whiffed the 7-8-9 hitters. However, prior to those , of the 13 balls they put in play, nine were ground balls. This off a pitcher who isn’t known for ground balls and one they roughed up in Colorado 11 days ago for seven runs in five innings.

“The thing that he did well today was first-pitch, breaking-ball strike,” Maddon said. “Whether it was his slider or his curve, he was uncanny at getting the call on that pitch. That was the separator for me. “

Gray got 22 called strikes on the night, seven on the slider and four on the curve. He faced 25 batters and got 19 first-pitch strikes. He started 15 batters off with breaking balls, 13 of which were strikes — five of those the looking variety.

But as good as Gray was, it’s hard not to look at an offense that’s scored 14 runs over its past seven games (five of which were wins, of course) and wonder what’s going on. There’s plenty of blame to go around, but if you’re wondering if we’ve ever seen a month for Rizzo as bad as this past April, you probably haven’t. Not unless you watched a lot of games at the start of the decade.

How rough was the first month for Rizzo? Since Rizzo drastically altered his mechanics and approach at the start of 2014, he’d gone 22-of-24 months in the regular season with a wRC+ above 100. The two months in which he didn’t were May and September/October of 2017, when he posted a 93 and 89 wRC+, respectively. This March/April, Rizzo finished with a ridiculously low 33 wRC+. His slash line was .149/.259/.189 with 15 strikeouts, four walks and just one extra-base hit, a homer he hit in the season opener on March 29.

With his team at 16-11, tied for first place and coming off a nice stretch of wins, Rizzo can take comfort in the fact that while he’s struggling to find a rhythm at the plate, the Cubs are managing to still come out on top more often than not.

“Winning definitely helps cope with that,” Rizzo said. “In the game of baseball, you have good days, bad days, good weeks, bad weeks, good months, bad months. I’m hoping to look at April as a quote-unquote best month of just learning what happened. Hopefully May 1 is a new story.”

Rizzo’s homer in the first — “Obviously, I got a little lucky there with the wind.” — seemed it might be the spark he and the offense needed to get going. However, even with a 16-mph wind howling out to center at first pitch, the Cubs bats stayed silent.

“Maybe you grip your [bat] a little harder,” Rizzo said. “Which is a negative in this game. You see the wind blowing so much here, you gotta really tell yourself to be more relaxed.”

Before the game, Rizzo lamented that he’d hit some balls hard over the past few days, with no results to show for it. But even with that in mind, he came into the evening with a 30.5 percent hard-hit rate, his lowest mark since joining the Cubs.

In terms of wRC+, Rizzo’s only month worse than this past April was July of 2011, when he posted an 8 wRC+ in 47 plate appearances as a rookie with the San Diego Padres. Rizzo’s line that season was a rough .141/.281/.242 and his inexperience kept him from really getting out of that July funk.

“It’s not the end of the world anymore,” Rizzo said. “I was really young — I’m still young, I’m gonna stay young — you just go through a time where, ‘Oh no, I’m never going to get out of this.’ I promise myself, I promise everyone, when you go through a skid, it’s going to turn eventually. And if it doesn’t, you gotta keep working. At the end of the day, if you come in, you do your work and you’re prepared and it doesn’t turn around, how much can you hang your head?”

Maddon pointed out that Rizzo seemed to be fouling off his pitch too often. Scouts I spoke with who have watched Rizzo this season haven’t seen anything wrong mechanically and multiple suggested that time off due to the back injury and the numerous rainouts has likely kept him from finding a rhythm at the plate.

In March and April, Rizzo saw 67.7 percent “hard” pitches, according to Pitch Info. That would be the highest percentage of those pitches — four-seamers, two-seamers and cutters — he’s ever seen in a single month in his career. From 2014-2017, Rizzo hit .263 with a .523 slugging on four-seamers, .331 with a .632 slugging against two-seamers and .331 with a .478 slugging against cutters. Those numbers are down to .143 and .250 off four-seamers, .250 and .250 against two-seamers and .167 and .167 off cutters. He’s supposed to mash hard pitches and he’s just not doing it.

Yes, others on the Cubs offense need to get going. is walking more and striking out less, but he’s not hitting the ball with authority and it’s led to a 74 wRC+. Ian Happ struck out twice on Tuesday and is down to an 84 wRC+.

But really, the overall numbers on the offense aren’t so bad, there’s just been zero consistency. The Cubs are second in the with 4.96 runs per game, but they’ve scored three or fewer runs in 14 of their 27 games played. Even though we’ve seen their approach improve, especially since their 8- 5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals nearly two weeks ago, it hasn’t led to the offensive outburst many expected.

The Cubs obviously need more than Rizzo and his bat to succeed and live up to expectations. However, his absence at the plate is being felt immensely and a turnaround would help get this offense going back in the right direction. Rizzo in the leadoff spot may have resulted in a , but it certainly didn’t help ignite a firestorm of runs.

But Rizzo isn’t losing patience. He’s no longer that frustrated 21-year-old flailing away in San Diego. He’s hit rough stretches before and found his way out. He knows he’ll do so again this time, too.

“I feel like I’m right there,” Rizzo said. “I’ve hit a few balls hard. They land, maybe I stop gripping that bat as hard. It’s just a matter just staying with the process.”

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The Athletic How Albert Almora Jr. accepted the challenge from Cubs management and took over in center field

By Patrick Mooney

Albert Almora Jr. heard what he wanted to hear when he met with Cubs management during . President of baseball operations Theo Epstein signed off on Almora as the first player drafted by his administration in 2012. Manager Joe Maddon felt comfortable enough to use the rookie in the 10th inning of a World Series Game 7. But the Cubs still hadn’t fully unleashed or empowered Almora, a young player stuck in a crowded outfield with other first-round picks and big-contract veterans.

“I feel like last year I played a little conservative,” Almora said. “It wasn’t me out there. This is what I’ve been doing all my life. We had a conversation this spring. They challenged me to just be myself, be the Albert that they know and they saw growing up and in high school. I said, ‘Consider it done.’ If you’re giving me that leeway of letting me be myself, then I’m going to do that.”

But those individual meetings are standard in Arizona. Ian Happ became the Cactus League flavor of the month. Maddon started Almora only four times within the season’s first 10 games, using him as a defensive replacement for Kyle Schwarber while test-driving Happ as a leadoff hitter and sometimes shifting Jason Heyward over to center field.

At a time when Almora could have complained or pouted or worried about becoming trade bait this summer, he patiently waited for his opportunity. Fast forward to May 1 and the official Cubs Twitter account released a slick video montage with this caption: “@albertalmora squeezed a full season’s worth of highlight-reel catches into about three weeks.”

There’s Almora diving to his right. There’s Almora charging forward into a catch-and-somersault. There’s Almora making an over-the-shoulder grab and smacking into the wall. There’s Almora leaping in left- center field. There’s Almora crashing into the wall and falling to the ground. There’s Almora hopping at the warning track. There’s Schwarber losing a ball in the sun and Almora sliding into the frame to make the play.

“I really truly believe he won himself a Gold Glove in the month of April,” Gold Glove first baseman Anthony Rizzo said during his weekly chat on WMVP-AM 1000. “It’s just one play after another after another after another.”

Now it’s news when Maddon gives Almora the night off — like he did during Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies at Wrigley Field — because the Cubs are 13-2 in his last 15 starts. That included an 11- game and part of a 20-for-64 audition in the leadoff spot. Look for Almora to start on Wednesday afternoon against Colorado lefty .

As the Cubs weighed their options with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2012 draft, their scouts and executives essentially viewed Almora as too good to fail. Between Almora’s Team USA experience, exposure to Miami’s elite year-round competition, connections to buddies like Manny Machado and strong Cuban-American family, the Cubs could expect a solid return on their investment over time (though not necessarily a franchise player).

“The biggest thing is you can tell when he’s being himself when he’s really aggressive on defense,” Epstein said. “His first couple years, he was a good defender, but he didn’t play it with quite the same conviction and aggressiveness in center field as he did in the minor leagues.

“You can tell he’s really feeling comfortable with his role — with his spot in the big leagues — by how he’s going to get the ball, how he’s finishing plays. That’s always who he was, all the way back to high school. He was always a guy who would make plays on balls you didn’t think he would get to. He would find ways to stay involved defensively, throw behind runners, leave his feet, but make the play.

“He did that in spurts his first couple years. Now you’re seeing it really consistently. He’s a guy who does that night in, night out.”

Almora debuted in the middle of the 2016 dream season, played in all three playoff rounds and earned a World Series ring. He decided to stop being quite as tentative at some point last season. This is the next step in the evolution from role player who crushed left-handed pitching last year (.898 OPS) and showed glimpses of that Gold Glove potential.

“It’s just natural for a young player breaking in on a good team,” Epstein said. “He’s playing a position in an outfield where we’ve had a lot of talented players, so sometimes you can be afraid to make a mistake and then you might not play for a few days.”

The Cubs have too many talented players and too much money to think that Almora, 24, now has the job security of a Supreme Court justice. Maddon will never stop tinkering with the lineup. The value of hitters like Schwarber and Happ will keep fluctuating and the #FreeAlmora movement could just as easily turn into #BenchAlmora the next time he goes into a slump.

But the Cubs needed Almora’s defense at time when the offense isn’t firing on all cylinders and Jon Lester is 34 years old and Yu Darvish is still adjusting to Chicago and Tyler Chatwood is constantly pitching through traffic on the bases.

“It kind of locks down that middle of the field,” Lester said. “When you have a guy in center that can go get it like that, it just takes pressure off of the two corner guys. And then when you got a guy like J-Hey in right, it kind of shrinks the outfield, so that’s just an added bonus for us as . We know that we don’t have to be perfect all the time.”

The big-name hitters attracted more attention, but that 2016 team won a World Series title with a pitching-and-defense formula. Almora existed only on the edges of that equation, but he still got onto the field for the biggest moment in franchise history.

When the Cubs ended April in first place, Almora said, “It’s where we belong.” This is someone who comes from the earliest stages of the Wrigley Field rebuild and the grassroots levels of The Cubs Way. There wasn’t an “aha” moment as much as the subtle adjustments and natural growth that Epstein has seen from several young players so far this season.

“It’s tough to explain, man,” Almora said. “I can’t put into [words] what I’m doing now. I’m having a lot more fun playing, and I had a lot of fun last year, so I don’t know. I’m just trying to get everything.

“I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make the play.”

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Cubs.com Rizzo's leadoff HR not enough to rally Cubs By Carrie Muskat

CHICAGO -- Anthony Rizzo provided a spark in his first at-bat at the top of the Cubs' lineup, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Rockies' efficient home run surge on Tuesday night.

Charlie Blackmon, and Nolan Arenado each hit solo homers to power the Rockies to a 3-1 victory at Wrigley Field over the Cubs and Rizzo, who opened the Chicago first with a blast of his own. The loss ended the Cubs' winning streak at five games.

Rizzo was surprised more balls didn't land in the bleachers or beyond because of the 16-mph southwest wind.

"It's crazy about Wrigley Field -- the wind's howling out and only [four] balls go out," Rizzo said.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon moved Rizzo into the No. 1 spot for the first time this season, and the first baseman launched the first pitch from Rockies starter Jon Gray into the left-field bleachers. It was his first homer since Opening Day and his second extra-base hit of the year.

"You go up there and [the score is] 2-0, which means you probably should take a pitch, but Joe put me up there to swing," Rizzo said. "Just go up there loose, have fun. I'm not a typical speed guy leading off."

But he was 0-for-3 the rest of the game, and the Cubs totaled just three hits against three Rockies pitchers, including closer Wade Davis, who had that role in Chicago last year.

"It was all there and I felt good about it," Maddon said of having Rizzo in the leadoff spot. "We weren't striking out, we were moving the ball. Gray got better, game in progress. He seemed to get sharper. The thing he did well today from the side was first-pitch breaking-ball strike, whether it was his slider or curve. It was uncanny getting the call on that pitch. That was the separator for me. Whenever you get a starter who continually throws his breaking-ball pitch [for] strike one, it really sets them up after that."

Rizzo will be back at either third or fourth in the Cubs batting order on Wednesday against lefty Tyler Anderson in the series finale.

There had been no home runs hit at Wrigley Field in the previous four games, partly because of the elements. On Tuesday, the wind favored the hitters and was blowing out for the second straight day, and the Rockies found the jet stream. Blackmon and Dahl connected against Hendricks in the first, and Arenado launched his fifth of the season leading off the fourth.

"It was a bad pitch to Blackmon -- I didn't want to walk him -- and the wrong pitch to Dahl but not a bad one," Hendricks said. "Overall, I felt really good about [the outing]. The fastball command was good. I got quick outs, went deep into the game. I've got to take the positives from that one."

"Those were good momentum-builders for us early in the game," Rockies manager Bud Black said of the first-inning home runs, "but we sort of slowed down after that. That was a product of Hendricks. He pitched very well."

With the win, Gray evened the score against Hendricks. Tuesday's game was a rematch from April 20 in Denver when Hendricks beat Gray, 16-5. Both starters lasted five innings in that game, which was played in 44-degree temperatures. It was a summery 84 degrees at game time on Tuesday, and Gray gave up three hits over seven innings. Hendricks went 7 2/3 innings, the longest outing by a Cubs starter this season.

Hendricks didn't think either team had an edge because of the recent meeting.

"They already know who I am and I know who they are for the most part," Hendricks said. "Facing them back to back, I really didn't pitch great in Colorado and didn't get to do everything I wanted [there], which maybe is good when you have to face a team back to back. When you're facing a team, no matter who it is, if you make good pitches, you'll get outs."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Leading off with liftoff: Cubs pitchers had not given up an earned run in three straight games for the second time in 25 years. The Rockies ended that streak quickly.

Blackmon led off the game with his 10th home run, tied for the National League lead, when he launched Hendricks' seventh pitch into the seats. Dahl followed with his first, connecting on a 73.3-mph curveball for a 2-0 lead. Hendricks is the first Cubs pitcher to serve up back-to-back home runs to lead off a game since Tex Carleton did so on Aug. 6, 1937, in the first game of a .

"If you make good pitches and get soft contact, you'll get outs," Hendricks said. "Those balls were barreled up and hit hard, and they're going to go out."

Rally tripped up: The Cubs missed an opportunity in the seventh. Kyle Schwarber tripled with one out against Gray, but the Rockies' starter then struck out Victor Caratini and got Jason Heyward to pop up to catcher Tony Wolters and end the threat. It was Schwarber's third career triple.

SOUND SMART Tuesday was the second time Hendricks has given up three home runs in a game in his career. He also served up a trio to the Pirates on Sept. 17, 2015.

HE SAID IT "I rode my bike into [the wind], and I can validate it. That was pretty firm." -- Maddon, of the windy conditions

UP NEXT Yu Darvish is still looking for his first win with the Cubs, and the right-hander will start Wednesday in the series finale against the Rockies. Darvish is coming off a solid start in which he gave up one unearned run over six innings against the Brewers, striking out eight. He also showed some skill at the plate with his second career double, which was his first hit with the Cubs. First pitch is scheduled for 1:20 p.m. CT.

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Cubs.com Cubs move Rizzo to leadoff spot, and he homers By Carrie Muskat

CHICAGO -- Did Cubs manager Joe Maddon ask Anthony Rizzo if he wanted to lead off on Tuesday or tell the first baseman he was batting first?

"A little bit of both," Rizzo said. "He asked what I thought of it, and I said, 'Perfect.'"

Maddon sent Rizzo a text Tuesday morning with the suggestion, the two talked, and for the first time this season, Rizzo is at the top of the order. It paid off immediately: The first baseman launched the first pitch from the Rockies' Jon Gray into the left-field bleachers for his second homer of the season, but that was all the Cubs' offense could muster in a 3-1 loss.

"I really thought we needed something like a 20-foot python, a magician or a break dancer in the clubhouse," Maddon said of his reasoning. "Instead, I chose to hit Rizzo leadoff. I thought it might pick the boys up a little bit."

The Cubs had won five in a row heading into Tuesday's game but Maddon wanted to try to get Rizzo on track plus give Albert Almora Jr. and Javier Baez, who have been batting one-two in all but one of the last 11 games, a breather. Rizzo finished 1-for-4, and the Cubs lost, 3-1, to the Rockies.

Rizzo, who ended April batting .149, the worst start of his career, has been taking extra batting practice the past two days at Wrigley Field.

"Leading off is leading off -- you're the first hitter in the game, you come up a lot, and I want all the at- bats I can get," Rizzo said.

Maddon asked Rizzo to just try to hit singles up the middle -- and have some fun. Last year, Rizzo went 15-for-50 in 14 games in the leadoff spot with five home runs, two doubles and 12 RBIs. He belted leadoff homers in four of his seven games from June 13-20, then jokingly proclaimed himself the greatest leadoff hitter of all time.

Rizzo did reach safely to start the game in his first seven contests as the leadoff man last year, and according to Elias, he was the only player in the past 60 seasons to do so in each of his first seven career games batting leadoff.

"He loves it. Riz digs it, he gets it," Maddon said. "He does like it, and that's a big part of it, and he is a big kid. He understands the fun part of the game."

And if Rizzo didn't want to lead off?

"If he wasn't [OK with it], I probably would've talked him into it anyway," Maddon said. "He was cool with it."

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Cubs.com Cubs glad Farrell's 'invisible pitch' on their side By Carrie Muskat

CHICAGO -- Manager Joe Maddon got his first look at Luke Farrell last season when the right-hander faced the Cubs twice while pitching in relief for the Reds.

"I like him because he's tall and throws the ball downhill," Maddon said of Farrell, who picked up his first Major League win on Monday, pitching in relief. "You don't see that too often any more. He does have a good slider and a split off of that. He's got carry on his ball.

"Beyond that, when he comes out of the bullpen, he throws harder. I think he's got superior makeup."

Part of that could be Farrell's genes. He's the son of former big league manager , and his two brothers work in the Cubs' organization. The Cubs acquired Luke in October when they claimed him off waivers from the Reds.

"There's nothing to not like [about him]," Maddon said. "I think he has the inner workings of being a successful Major League player beyond talent."

Albert Almora Jr. is glad Farrell is a teammate now.

"I always told him, facing him last year in Cincinnati, that it was a nightmare because he has an invisible [pitch]," Almora said. "It looks like it's going to be right at your barrel, and then you look at your bat, thinking there's a hole in the middle because you never hit it. I saw that firsthand [Monday] in the outfield, and it was awesome to see."

K's outnumber hits The Cubs are one of four National League teams who had more hits than strikeouts through April.

Any reason more Major League teams had more K's in the first month of the season? Part of it could be the weather teams had to deal with in April, Maddon said. Teams also have added plenty of power arms to their bullpens.

"Look at bullpens," Maddon said. "Bullpens right now, if you have a high-velocity situation, the information -- data, analytics -- benefits pitching and defense. ... If you know exactly where to go when you get to two strikes, and this guy will respond in a consistent manner, I think that benefits pitching."

Chicago's Anthony Rizzo has a simpler explanation.

"You've got guys throwing 98 [mph] now -- every starter or reliever is throwing that, except Kyle Hendricks, who is the new tough guy in the league because he gets guys out throwing 86," Rizzo said. "Guys throwing 95, 96, 97 with an 88-mph slider, [it's tough]. I think eventually strikeouts will cut down. It's just a month."

The Pirates, Dodgers, Braves and Cubs were the NL teams with more hits than strikeouts in April.

Alzolay sharp at Triple-A Top prospect Adbert Alzolay gave up one hit and walked two over seven innings while striking out six in Triple-A Iowa's 10-3 win over Omaha on Monday night. Alzolay is ranked No. 1 among Cubs prospects by MLB Pipeline.

Mike Freeman helped the right-hander, hitting three home runs in the game and finishing with five RBIs. It was Freeman's first career multi-homer game.

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ESPNChicago.com Struggling Anthony Rizzo gets leadoff call, hits HR in first By Jesse Rogers

CHICAGO -- Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo batted leadoff Tuesday night against the Colorado Rockies after hitting just .149 with a .259 on-base percentage to start the season.

The move paid immediate dividends.

Rizzo slugged a home run in the bottom of the first, taking a 94 mph fastball from Jon Gray over the wall at Wrigley Field.

Prior to the game, Chicago manager Joe Maddon discussed the move, one he's tried in the past for struggling players.

"If we're in this good of a position [first place] right now, while he's really not done his Rizzo thing, boy, do I have confidence in that moment," Maddon said.

Maddon doesn't believe Rizzo is doing anything wrong mechanically but thinks a different look in the lineup can make a difference, especially if there are dangerous hitters behind him to serve as protection. Kris Bryant batted second Tuesday, as both Albert Almora Jr and Javier Baez -- the previous 1-2 hitters -- had the night off.

"I'm very, very excited that it's May," Rizzo said on his weekly radio show on ESPN 1000 on Tuesday.

Last year, Rizzo hit first in the lineup in 14 games, compiling a .373 on-base percentage. He got off to such a hot start in the role that he jokingly declared himself the "greatest leadoff hitter of all time," as his perfect OBP over the first few games deemed him as much.

"Trying not to do too much, which is the hardest part," Rizzo said of overcoming his current struggles. "Trying to relax and [take it] one pitch at a time. That's all you can do."

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NBC Sports Chicago The Invisi-ball: How Luke Farrell has emerged as a bonafide option in Cubs bullpen By Tony Andracki

Albert Almora Jr.: Hype man?

Who knew the 24-year-old outfielder could out-do Joe Maddon when it comes to promotion?

Maddon said new reliever Luke Farrell — who got his first big-league win Monday night — has "as good of makeup as anybody on the Cubs. Anybody."

But Almora went even further — nicknaming one of Farrell's pitches.

No, it's not called "The Terminator."

It's the "Invisi-ball."

"I always told him, facing him last year in Cincinnati, that was a nightmare 'cause he has an Invisi-ball," Almora said. "It looks like it's gonna be right at your barrel and then you look at your bat thinking there's a hole in the middle just 'cause you never hit it."

When asked about it, Farrell laughed, but admitted it's actually not the first time somebody's nicknamed his splitter the "Invisi-ball."

With Maddon unwilling to go to Brandon Morrow or Carl Edwards Jr. Monday night against the Rockies because they had pitched too much recently, the Cubs needed to bridge the gap to closer-for-the-day Steve Cishek,

Maddon called on Farrell to come in with two runners on in a tie ballgame in the Top of the 6th. He promptly induced an Ian Desmond groundout to end the inning.

In the seventh, Farrell came back out to protect the Cubs' new, one-run lead against the heart of the Rockies order. He mowed down Charlie Blackmon (strikeout), Nolan Arenado (lineout) and (strikeout) and walked off the mound about 30 minutes before picking up the first MLB win of his career.

It was just the third appearance for Farrell in a Cubs uniform, but given the other two went very well — 5 strikeouts in 2 innings with only an unearned run allowed — the situation seemed awfully high leverage for a 26-year-old journeyman.

But Maddon's been wanting to see how Farrell handled a high-leverage spot for a while.

"It's kinda fun," Maddon smirked after Monday's 3-2 win. "Take it for a test drive. That could really pay us dividends down the road. That was 93, 94 [mph] with carry and then you got [the splitter] he throws off it with the slider and he's not afraid? Those are great qualities."

Farrell is a household name in the baseball world. Luke's dad, John, has spent most of the last decade as the manager of the Toronto Blue Jays (2011-12) and (2013-17) while Luke's brothers -— Jeremy and Shane — currently work in the Cubs organization as a hitting coach and scout, respectively.

When Luke Farrell faced the Cubs as a member of the Reds in 2017, Maddon didn't know who he was at first. But the Cubs skipper got to know real quick, just like Almora.

And now Farrell just might be carving out a long-term role for himself as the final spot in the Cubs bullpen.

"I like him because he's tall and he throws the ball downhill," Maddon said. "You don't see that often anymore. I think it's a really good method."

Maddon also pointed to Farrell's "stuff" and how the 6-foot-6 righty throws a few mph harder out of the 'pen compared to as a starter.

And then there's the makeup, which Maddon lauded again before Tuesday's game and credited Farrell's upbringing in a baseball household as a contributing factor.

"Honestly, when you get to know him, there's nothing not to like," Maddon said. "Of course, there's talent. I just think he has the inner workings of being a successful major-league player beyond talent."

Farrell is only up in the Cubs bullpen because Eddie Butler landed on the disabled list with a groin injury — a fact Farrell is well aware of.

"Honestly, it's just trying to go day-by-day," he said. "I know I came up here after an injury. It's just trying to take every opportunity and do the best that I can and continue to go scoreless innings and keep us in ballgames — whether it's a big lead, behind a lot or it's a one-run ballgame. Whatever the role, just do anything you can."

Farrell — who attended Northwestern — turns 27 in just over a month (June 7) and has a career 4.41 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in the minor leagues. He had allowed 7 runs on 16 baserunners in 10.2 innings in two starts at Triple-A Iowa before getting the call to Chicago.

The numbers don't point to this guy as a pitcher who could make an impact out of the Cubs bullpen over a long stretch of games. But dynamic relievers pop up all over the place in today's MLB and the Cubs clearly love the guy.

Farrell attributes his arrival to visualization and unlocking his physical tools with hours of mental preparation.

"I'm a big believer in [the mental side of the game]," he said, crediting the likes of John Baker and Dr. Ken Ravizza within the Cubs organization. "Some guys might not want to talk about working on that aspect of the game.

"For some, it's innate and I certainly have some of that, where it's just competitive fire or spirit or whatever you want to call it. At the same time, it's putting yourself in situations mentally before you actually step out on the mound.

"I really try and put myself in that situation in my mind. You're there, you're pitching at Wrigley, you might visualize the specific hitter you're facing, whatever it is and you kinda go through these exercises so you really try to mimic living it before it actually happens. As weird as that sounds, it's been a help to me."

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NBC Sports Chicago Pythons, magicians, breakdancing, power sources and 'The Greatest Leadoff Hitter of All Time' By Tony Andracki

It's official: Anthony Rizzo is the latest magician to enter the Cubs clubhouse.

Though, we've known his propensity for magic for a while:

Joe Maddon is a huge fan of mixing things up for his teams from the monotony of an exceptionally-long season. That's why he brings in zoo animals or magicians or any of his "Madd Scientist" drills.

Tuesday, he decided to employ Rizzo as the "distraction" of sorts by taking the slugger from the heart of the Cubs order to the top.

Thus marked the second run of "The Greatest Leadoff Hitter of All Time."

"I really thought we needed something like a 20-foot python, a magician or a breakdancer in the clubhouse, so instead, I chose to hit Rizzo leadoff," Maddon said. "I thought it might pick the boys up a little bit. Tough series against Milwaukee. I didn't think we were on top of our game [Monday]."

It worked immediately, as Rizzo sent the first pitch from Rockies starter Jon Gray high into the night sky and out into the first couple rows of the left-field bleachers for a wind-aided homer (StatCast predicted only a hit percentage of only 1 percent on the ball). But that was all for Rizzo, as he grounded out twice and popped out his other three times up.

"Obviously i got a little lucky there with the wind," Rizzo said. "You go up there, it's 2-0, you should probably take a pitch, but Joe put me up there to swing and hit. Just go up there loose and have fun."

The Cubs, meanwhile, couldn't manage another run Tuesday night in a 3-1 loss to the Rockies.

Before Maddon wrote out the lineup card, the Cubs woke up Tuesday riding the high of a five-game winning streak, but the offense was certainly not firing on all cylinders over that stretch — setting a franchise record for wins in a row while scoring 3 runs or less in each game.

Rizzo also has been mired in a season-long slump sandwiched around a stint on the disabled list for a low back issue. He finished Tuesday's game with a .154 batting average and .489 OPS in 78 at-bats.

Maddon also wanted to give Albert Almora Jr. and Javy Baez — who have been filling the top of the order the last week-plus — a day off and somebody had to be that "power source" to give the lineup energy from the leadoff spot.

The Cubs' unofficial captain was all for it, smiling and joking at his locker before the game about getting back to the spot he filled admirably in the middle of last season for about a week.

"Probably be a little bit more loose, just leading off," Rizzo said. "It's something I don't get to do all the time."

That's exactly what Maddon's hope was — to loosen Rizzo up. And it worked to an extent.

"The whole thing is [a mental adjustment]," Maddon said. "It's all about the mind. He really hasn't been doing that badly. He's hit the ball pretty well — hitting into the shift decently. He's fouled off his pitch a couple times.

"For the most part, he does like [leading off]. That's a big part of it and he is a big kid. He understands the fun about the game."

As a funny side story, Maddon's protege Davey Martinez decided to run the same gamut with the Nationals lineup Tuesday, leading off Bryce Harper (who also homered). Though, that was more strategy-based in hopes of avoiding intentional walks to Harper.

From a Cubs perspective, it's gotta be a tough look for Rockies picher Jon Gray to immediately start Tuesday's game off by facing the two toughest hitters in the lineup — Rizzo and Kris Bryant — though Gray was unstoppable after Rizzo's leadoff dinger, allowing only two other hits.

Maddon is hoping something light-hearted and fun like this will be the mental reset Rizzo needs to get going.

It's also coming on a perfect day, as the calendar flipping to May and the weather warming up could also be the triggers Rizzo needs. A new month often brings new feelings of hope for baseball players.

"Winning definitly helps cope with [individual struggles]," he said. "In the game of baseball, you have good days, you have bad days, you have good weeks, bad weeks, good months, bad months. I'm hoping to look at April as a quote-unquote best month of just learning, learning what happened.

"Hopefully May 1st is a new story, right?"

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Chicago Tribune

Kyle Hendricks feels squeezed in Cubs' 3-1 loss to Rockies By Mark Gonzales

Kyle Hendricks pitched a season-high 7 2/3 innings and allowed only four hits Tuesday night.

But Hendricks wasn’t exactly upbeat after the Cubs’ 3-1 loss to the Rockies. Hendricks and manager Joe Maddon clearly believed he got squeezed on a few calls by home plate umpire Laz Diaz early in the game.

The usually mild-mannered Hendricks admitted he had to maintain his composure after getting visibly upset at Diaz.

“Just take a step back,” Hendricks said. “Recalibrate things. Find a zone and start making some pitches. That’s about it.”

Maddon also expressed his concerns about the strike zone and Hendricks’ emotions early in the game.

“We were kind of concerned that those were pretty good pitches and we weren’t getting the calls,” Maddon said. “Everyone has to be ready from the first pitch.

“I told (Hendricks) to keep making those pitches. Those will come back to you. I just think you might have ambushed the umpire early in the game.”Maddon was effusive in his praise of Rockies starter Jon Gray, who threw seven innings of three-hit ball, thanks to his ability to throw first-pitch breaking balls for strikes and inducing nine groundball outs despite a fierce wind blowing out to center field.

“(Gray) was getting some low strikes,” Maddon said. ‘It looked like he was getting wider strikes, too, and an uncanny method of first-pitch strikes.”

Hendricks allowed back-to-back home runs to the first two batters he faced. He lamented the pitch location to leadoff man Charlie Blackmon and his choice of a curveball that David Dahl whacked for a 2-0 lead in the first.

“If you make good pitches, you get soft contact, you’re going to get outs,” Hendricks said.

Hendricks walked Blackmon in the sixth, ending his streak of 17 innings without issuing a .

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Chicago Tribune Cubs offense fizzles after Anthony Rizzo's leadoff homer as 5-game win streak ends By Mark Gonzales

The Cubs’ lineup for Wednesday promises a return to recent normalcy after manager Joe Maddon reached deep into his past Tuesday night in an attempt to invigorate an offense that had been riding the coattails of superb pitching.

Slumping slugger Anthony Rizzo provided the only sliver of offense when he smacked a leadoff home run, starter Jon Gray otherwise stymied the Cubs in a 3-1 loss to the Rockies that snapped a five-game winning streak before a crowd of 40,077 at warm and windy Wrigley Field.

Rizzo cranked the first pitch he saw from Gray into the wind and let a strong gust do the rest as the ball landed in left-field seats for his first home run since the March 29 opener at Miami.

Rizzo set a franchise record for the most leadoff home runs by a first baseman, surpassing Rick Monday (three). Rizzo finished with a 1-for-4 performance that raised his batting average to .154 and his on-base percentage to .258.

But Rizzo will move either to his customary third or fourth spot in the batting order for the series finale against left-hander Tyler Anderson. Albert Almora Jr. and Javier Baez, who provided spark at the top of the order during a 9-2 run, will return to the lineup after a one-game absence.

“Everything was right versus (Gray) with the day game after the night game with (Anderson) coming up,” Maddon said. “You permit the schedule sometimes to set the lineup for you.”

Nevertheless, the Cubs have scored three runs or fewer in each of their last seven games for the first time since June 23-July 1, 2015 (eight games).

Rizzo was more than eager to bat in the leadoff spot after receiving a text message earlier Tuesday from Maddon, who said he started to experiment with slumping sluggers at the top of the order as a manager at Double-A Midland in 1985-86.

Rizzo batted .300 with five home runs, 12 RBIs and a .373 on-base percentage in 59 plate appearances from the leadoff spot in 2017, and he provided some optimism after Kyle Hendricks allowed consecutive homers to Charlie Blackmon and David Dahl to start the game.

“I got lucky with the wind, but you go up there and it’s 2-0,” Rizzo said. “Usually, you should take a pitch, but Joe put me up there to swing and hit. You have up there loose, have fun.

“I’m leading off. I’m not a typical speed guy leading off, so have a good time with it.”

But that was the extent of the Cubs enjoyment, as Gray — who was drafted right after the Cubs selected Bryant as the second overall pick in the 2013 draft — kept the Cubs’ off-balance with an array of breaking pitches for first-pitch strikes.

Gray allowed three hits over seven innings. After Rizzo’s homer, he retired the next nine batters, and he retired 11 consecutive after allowing a walk to No. 3 hitter Ben Zobrist in the fourth.

“Our reaction by our hitters indicated to me their pitcher was very sharp, and so was Kyle,” said Maddon, who thought Hendricks might not have been given a few borderline pitches early.”

Said Rizzo: “Give (Gray) credit. It’s not easy to pitch here, seeing the wind howling out.”

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Chicago Tribune Kerry Wood and ‘the greatest game ever pitched’: The oral history of May 6, 1998 at Wrigley Field By DAN WIEDERER

(Article can be viewed through link)

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Chicago Tribune Cubs battle strikeout trend by hitting to opposite field By Mark Gonzales

Proving more adept at hitting to the opposite field helped the Cubs from becoming part of a baffling trend.

The Cubs finished April with 230 hits and 224 strikeouts, avoiding the norm in which April became the first full calendar month in major-league history with more strikeouts (6,656) than hits (6,360), according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon, a former minor-league hitting coach, cited the raw weather as only one of several reasons for the strikeout dominance.

“I’ve been poking fun at ‘launch angle’ recently, and I still think that has something to do with strikeout proliferation,” Maddon said. “It’s hard to argue against that for me with added (pitch) velocity, data information and really knowing where to attack a hitter in the zone presenting a big hole (in swings) unless you’re exceptionally talented.

“You’ll find a few home runs but a lot less contact.”

Maddon also cited teams putting an emphasis on relievers who throw at high velocity, along with data and analytics benefiting pitching and defense.

Farrell fan club: Reliever Eddie Butler has yet to throw off a mound since going on the 10-day disabled list April 20 with a right groin strain. But Luke Farrell has emerged as a capable replacement, allowing just two hits with seven strikeouts over 3 1/3 innings in three appearances.

“I like him because he’s tall (6-foot-6) and throws the ball downhill,” Maddon said. “You don’t see that often anymore. I think it’s a really good method. He has a good slider and a good split-finger fastball. Because he comes out of the bullpen, he throws harder. He has superior makeup on the five levels of being a major-league player. He’s already at stage 3 — ‘I belong here and can do this.’”

Minor-league standouts: Adbert Alzolay, the Cubs’ top minor-league pitching prospect, is 2-1 with a 2.12 ERA in three starts for Triple-A Iowa. Alzolay has allowed only eight hits in 17 innings. Reliever Dillon Maples posted a 2.45 ERA in seven appearances, striking out 16 in 7 1/3 innings.

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Chicago Tribune Cubs' Laura Ricketts dedicates ball fields, announces plans for girls softball league By Phil Thompson

A large Cubs donation to remodel Winnemac Park’s baseball and softball fields, where Amundsen High School plays its home games, set up a (painfully? delightfully?) cheesy one-liner from Principal Anna Pavichevich.

“This is probably the only time in your life when you have a chance to run and slide and roll on $250,000 without getting into any trouble,” Pavichevich told students and guests gathered for a ribbon-cutting Tuesday at one of the five fields that received upgrades through Cubs Charities’ Diamond Project.

Cubs Charities chairwoman and club board member Laura Ricketts said, “As a former softball player myself — and an All-Star softball player — I'm particularly excited to be standing on this field where the Lady Vikings and many other young people play ball.”

The Cubs’ charity arm has raised $5.7 million for rehabbing fields and funding youth baseball and softball programs throughout the city since 2014.

“And this June we’re launching an 18-and-under softball league so girls will have the opportunity to play summer ball throughout their high school years,” said Ricketts, who was joined at the ceremony by Cubs wives and girlfriends Jessica Bryant, Krystal Almora, Paige Hartman, Amanda Wilson and Jaye Maddon, as well as Congressman Mike Quigley and Ald. Patrick O'Connor, 40th.

The pilot softball league, which is meant to be the girls’ answer to MLB’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program, will feature between eight and 10 teams from Chicago Public Schools including Lindblom, Clemente and Amundsen, and will launch the first week of June. Illinois Little League District 12 will act as league administrator as the schedule and other details are being worked out.

Typically, softball players don’t have as many opportunities to play during the summer as their baseball counterparts.

Amundsen center fielder Chanmolica “Moka” Yok simply appreciates the renovations that already have been made to Winnemac Park’s softball field, which now boasts new dugouts, backstops, benches, regrading and other improvements. “I can feel and see the difference from playing on the old field versus the new field.

“There were many bumps and potholes, not only in the outfield but the infield as well. We also have a brand new dugout which is great. Not only is it safer for all of us, but also a great place to cheer for our team,” she said.

Late Tuesday, Cubs Charities had planned to present checks to 12 other city schools and youth sports programs (such as Morgan Park High School and West Humboldt Park’s Kells Park Community Council) to pay for batting cages, regrading and many of the same upgrades Amundsen received.

Cubs Vice President Mike Lufrano said, “It’s more than about learning how to run the bases and hit the ball, although those are important parts. It’s about learning how to be a good teammate. It's about learning how to be a part of the community. It’s about learning how to be about something bigger than just yourself. And if you can do that the research will show that social and emotional learning really does improve the quality of performance in classrooms, it improves people's ability to give back.”

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Chicago Sun-Times Anthony Rizzo homers before Cubs bats lost in Gray shadow as winning streak ends By Gordon Wittenmyer

The fresh-start thing worked great for the Cubs on Tuesday night.

It was what came after the start that was their problem against the Rockies. As in not much of anything.

Anthony Rizzo’s ballyhooed return to the leadoff spot had the desired sudden impact of a leadoff home run.

But just as suddenly, the Cubs’ bats went quiet against Rockies starter Jon Gray in a 3-1 loss on a warm, humid night with a 16-mph wind blowing out at Wrigley Field.

“I don’t think the approach changes. I think maybe you grip your intensity a little bit harder, which is a negative in this game,” Rizzo said of the hitter-friendly wind conditions. “You see the wind blowing so much here that when it does blow out, as hitters you’ve got to be ready to tell yourself to be more relaxed.”

The loss snapped the Cubs’ five-game winning streak and cost them sole possession of first place in the National League Central. The Brewers moved into a tie after beating the Reds.

Gray, whom the Cubs passed on to take Kris Bryant second overall in the 2013 draft, retired nine in a row after Rizzo’s homer and gave up just two hits the rest of the way in seven innings.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he liked how moving Rizzo worked.

“I felt good about it. We weren’t striking out [until late],” he said. “We were moving the ball. Gray got better game-in-progress. He got sharper.”

Gray’s only trouble came on a one-out triple into the right-field corner by Kyle Schwarber in the seventh inning that awakened the slumbering home crowd. But Victor Caratini and Jason Heyward hit the snooze button with a strikeout and foul pop behind the plate to leave Schwarber standing at third.

Gray’s gem came just 11 days after the Cubs pounded the right-hander in a 16-5 win in Colorado.

Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks (2-2) pitched well enough to win on most nights, allowing only four hits and pitching two outs into the eighth.

But three of his four hits were solo homers to the top three batters in the Rockies’ order, including Charlie Blackmon and David Dahl leading off the game during a first inning that had Hendricks visibly frustrated by umpire Laz Diaz’s strike zone.

“After the inning, I said, ‘Keep making those pitches; they’re going to come back to you,’ ” Maddon said. “ ‘I just think you may have ambushed the umpire early on in the game.’ ”

After Nolan Arenado’s leadoff homer in the fourth, Hendricks retired 14 of the next 15 before he walked Blackmon with two out in the eighth and was replaced by lefty Justin Wilson.

Hendricks pitched with a man in scoring position only once all night, after Blackmon’s leadoff walk in the sixth and a one-out .

Blackmon’s home run leading off the game snapped the Cubs’ rotation’s streak of 33⅔ consecutive innings without allowing an earned run — the longest streak in the majors since the Nationals went 47⅓ innings in 2015.

The Cubs’ five consecutive starts without an earned run marked the longest streak for the franchise since another five-gamer 106 years ago.

But the problem on this night obviously was not pitching.

Rizzo’s fourth career leadoff homer in 15 starts in the top spot notwithstanding, the Cubs continued to sputter at the plate since the beginning of the homestand.

It was their seventh consecutive game scoring three runs or fewer — the first time in the last six of those that it cost them a game.

Maddon said Rizzo will move back down to the middle of the order Wednesday against left-hander Tyler Anderson.

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Chicago Sun-Times Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo finds fresh start in May; and where’s Eddie Butler? By Madeline Kenney

Anthony Rizzo was looking for a fresh start, and that’s just what he got Tuesday against the Rockies.

On the first pitch of May, the self-proclaimed “Greatest Leadoff Hitter of All-Time” homered to left field. It was the fourth time he started a game with a home run, a Cubs record for first basemen.

Manager Joe Maddon’s decision to bat Rizzo leadoff stemmed from his time-tested treatment for a struggling hitter.

“I really thought that we needed something like a 20-foot python, a magician or a breakdancer in the clubhouse,” Maddon said. “Instead, I choose to hit Rizzo leadoff. I thought it might pick the boys up a little bit [after a] tough series against Milwaukee.

“Plus, Rizz needs to get going. A lot of times in the past, I’ve liked to do that with some of the larger players on the team, put them in the leadoff spot, let them lighten up a little bit and let them play. So we’ll see how it works out today.”

Maddon texted Rizzo on Tuesday morning about the move.

“He asked what I thought of it, and I loved it,” Rizzo said. “And he said, ‘All right, perfect, because … I already sent it in, but I knew you’d be cool with it.’ ”

Rizzo struggled for most of April. He went on the 10-day disabled list because of back pain and was an uncharacteristic 11-for-74 (.149) for the month with one home run and 15 strikeouts.

Rizzo said he wasn’t sweating his early-season hitting slump.

“It’s not the end of the world anymore,” Rizzo said. “I promise myself, I promise everyone when you go through a skid, it’s going to turn eventually.”

Bryant working his way back

Since his return from being hit on the helmet by a pitch April 22 in Denver, Kris Bryant has struggled offensively. But Maddon said he looks fine.

“I thought he looked great at the plate, the very first at-bat back,” Maddon said Monday after Bryant tripled and scored the winning run against the Rockies.

“I think he looks fine. A couple balls have been popped up, but he’s hitting them really good, if that makes any sense. And he’s been fine at third base. But I have not seen anything negative at the plate.”

Bryant was hitting .319 with a 1.003 OPS when he got hit. He has two hits in four games since returning.

He went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts Tuesday.

Where’s Butler?

Maddon didn’t have a timeline for right-hander Eddie Butler (strained right groin), who was eligible to return from the 10-day disabled list. According to Maddon, Butler hasn’t had any setbacks.

Maddon continues to rave about Butler’s replacement, Luke Farrell, who picked up his first career win Monday. Maddon has been impressed with the right-hander ever since he first saw him pitch last season. He believes Farrell, who is the son of former Red Sox manager John Farrell, has “superior makeup.”

“When you get to know [Farrell], there’s nothing to not like,” Maddon said. “Of course there’s talent. I just think he has the inter-workings of being a successful major-league player beyond talent.”

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Chicago Sun-Times Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo reacts to Dexter Fowler’s wife moving due date for him By Madeline Kenney

How good of friends are Cardinals’ Dexter Fowler and Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo? Good enough for Fowler’s wife, Aliya Fowler, to reschedule the birth of their child.

Aliya and Dexter are expecting their second child together this July.

In a series of videos shared on her Instagram story, Aliya detailed the story of how Dexter requested she reschedule her C-section because the date conflicted with the Cardinals-Cubs series at Wrigley Field in July.

Here’s how it all went down, according to Aliya:

“[After] scheduling C-section, I text Dex to confirm the dates ok with him, and you know what he said?

“Meanwhile, I’m really only asking him to be nice like … I can’t control when I’m due. But he said, ‘That’s not going to work for me because we play Chicago and I gotta go see Rizzo.'”

“So, I moved my due date for you Anthony Rizzo.”

Before Tuesday’s game, Rizzo said he had seen the videos and thought they were funny.

“That’s a good friend, that’s a good wife,” Rizzo said. “You know, usually it’s happy wife, happy life, right? So I saw that and was laughing. Dexter and I have a special relationship, so whenever we see each other it’s special.”

Rizzo and Fowler became good friends when the two played together on the Cubs from 2015 through 2016. Rizzo previously asked Fowler’s daughter, Naya Fowler, to be the flower girl in his upcoming wedding.

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Daily Herald Maddon likes what he sees in Chicago Cubs pitcher Farrell By Bruce Miles

Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon likes that lean and lanky look presented by relief pitcher Luke Farrell.

The 6-foot-6, 210-pound right-hander earned his first major-league victory in Monday night's series opener against the Colorado Rockies as he worked 1⅓ perfect innings in relief of starter Jon Lester.

The Cubs claimed Farrell off waivers from the Cincinnat Reds last October after he had pitched for them and for the .

Farrell, 26, is the son of former Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell. The Cubs called him up from Class AAA Iowa on April 20.

"I saw him last year, when he was with Cincinnati," Maddon said Tuesday. "I did not know who he was. He came into the game. I saw 'Farrell,' but I didn't put it together. 'I like this guy a little bit.' Then, 'That's John's son.' 'Really?' I like him because he's tall and he throws the ball downhill. "You don't see that often anymore. I think it's a really good method.

"I think he's got superior makeup. On the five levels of being a player, I think he's already at Stage 3 -- I belong here, I can do this.

"Again, that's probably the residue of his pedigree, growing up the way that he did. Honestly, when you get to know him, there's nothing to not like. I just think he has the inner workings of being a successful major-league player beyond talent."

Strikeouts are no hit: The Associated Press and Elias Sports Bureau report that April was the first calendar month in major- league history in which strikeouts exceeded hits.

There were 6,656 strikeouts and 6,360 hits in April, according to Elias.

"I think the weather probably played a part in that," Joe Maddon said. "I'm not 100 percent sure. It was kind of a severe April, weather wise.

"I've been kind of poking fun of launch angle, and I still think that has something to do with strikeout proliferation. It's hard to argue against that for me. Added velocity. Data information, really knowing where to attack a hitter in the zone really presents a big hole, unless you're exceptionally talented.

"You might find a couple more homers, but you might find a lot less contact, I think.

"Data and information. Data analytics really benefits pitching and defense. It really does."

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Daily Herald Maddon shakes up Chicago Cubs' lineup; Rizzo leads off By Bruce Miles

First comes the initial look of shock and surprise.

What should follow is the knowing nod.

After all, this is Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon we're talking about.

On the heels of a five-game winning streak that propelled the Cubs into first place, Maddon on Tuesday messed with what seemed to be success.

He benched young players Javier Baez and Albert Almora Jr., both of whom had been catalysts to the Cubs' recent resurgence.

Then he had the audacity to move slumping first baseman Anthony Rizzo up to the leadoff spot.

So what happened? Rizzo hit the pitch he saw to left field for a home run. The Cubs could not take further advantage of the wind blowing out at Wrigley Field.

Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks gave up 3 solo homers in an otherwise solid 7⅔ innings as the Colorado Rockies came away with a 3-1 victory.

We've seen this before. Maddon put Rizzo at the leadoff spot last June, and all Rizzo did in leading off his first seven games was go home run, home run, walk, single, double, single, home run.

"I really thought that we needed something like a 20-foot python, a magician or a break dancer in the clubhouse," Maddon said. "Instead I chose to hit Rizzo leadoff. So I thought it might pick the boys up a little bit. Tough series against Milwaukee. I didn't think we were on top of our game (Monday).

"Wanted to give Javy and Albert a day off. I easily could have put (Ben) Zobrist there. Absolutely. But I thought it would be a little bit more of a lift for the group. Plus, Riz needs to get going. A lot of times in the past, I've liked to do that with some of the larger players on the team, put them in the leadoff spot and let them lighten up a little bit and just go play. We'll see how it works out today.

"He loves it. That's the other part. Riz digs it. He gets it, so we'll see how it plays out tonight."

Rizzo expressed excitement over batting first, especially after being reminded that he declared himself the greatest leadoff hitter of all time last year. He also appreciated Maddon letting him know about it during a morning text-and-talk.

Rizzo homered on the first pitch he saw from Jon Gray in the bottom of the first after Charlie Blackmon and David Dahl began the game with homers in the top of the first. Nolan Arenado led off the top of the fourth with a home run for the Rockies.

As for the players who sat, Almora entered the game 4-for-18 on the homestand, while Baez was 3-for- 19 with a rough night in the field Monday.

Maddon also didn't mind being questioned about flouting conventional wisdom.

"I've done this for several years, and I've done it with different guys, and most of the time, they benefit from it," he said of moving Rizzo up. "The positive impact is found. I don't worry -- of course you know that. Again, the second hitter doesn't have to be a guy who sacrifice bunts or hit-and-runs.

"You can make the first or third out at third base. You don't have to wear suits on airplanes to be successful. There's a lot of things I don't agree with it."

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