July 23, 2016 ESPNChicago.com Dexter Fowler shines in return: 'It's like coming home' By Jesse Rogers MILWAUKEE -- The famous ear-to-ear smile is back. So is the production at the top of the order as Chicago Cubs center fielder and leadoff man Dexter Fowler made his presence known in a big way -- and right away -- against the Milwaukee Brewers, taking the field for the first time since June 18 after recovering from a nagging hamstring injury. Before he took the field on defense, he made an impact, homering on a 3-1 pitch off Jimmy Nelson to begin a big night at the plate -- and get the Cubs on the board early. It was his fourth leadoff home run this season and 18th of his career. "Everyone loved it," a smiling Fowler said of his teammates in the locker room after the Cubs' 5-2 win. "Everyone was happy for it. It's like coming back home." Everyone loved it not only because it gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead but because everyone simply loves Dexter Fowler. The clubhouse is different without him and so are the Cubs. They improved to 44-18 with him in the starting lineup this season. "It's really apparent how important he is to us," manager Joe Maddon said. "It's really good to have him in there. The guys feed off all that." Maddon said it "looked right" seeing Fowler in center field joking around with shortstop Addison Russell and right fielder Jason Heyward. It's similar to what he said the day Fowler surprised everyone at spring training when he re- signed with the team. Who knew how important he would be? The Cubs aren't the Cubs without their leader at the top of the lineup. "It was nice to see him run around out there," winning pitcher Jason Hammel said. Fowler followed his home run with a two-run double one inning later, but he wasn't done, adding a walk and a single before his night was over. He missed the cycle by a triple in his first live action since pulling up lame at first base over a month ago. His timing was not an issue as he has been hitting off a tee, played one rehab game for Class A South Bend before the All-Star break, followed by a doubleheader Wednesday for Triple-A Iowa. "Nothing adds up to live pitching," Fowler said. "I was just happy to be back around the boys." And the boys were happy he was back. Fowler said his hamstring felt fine as he made a first-to-third sprint on a Kris Bryant double in the fourth inning and showed no signs of any lingering issues in center field, where he wasn't really challenged. All in all, it was a great re-start to the season for the man who Maddon always says "you go, we go" to before each game. He never uttered that to Fowler's replacements while he was out. "I already did that to him in the office," Maddon said before the game with a smile of his own. "It felt so good." -- ESPNChicago.com Carl Edwards Jr. is emerging in Cubs' bullpen By Jesse Rogers MILWAUKEE -- Maybe the Chicago Cubs don’t need as much bullpen help as we thought. They’ve already added lefty Mike Montgomery, and now -- in a sense -- they’ve added a righty in the form of Carl Edwards Jr. He didn’t break camp with the team, but Edwards might very well finish the season with them, perhaps even performing a big role in the playoff push. “That’s something I can’t say right now,” Edwards said after the Cubs' 5-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday. “My thing is what’s going on right now. The present. I don’t know what the future holds. “My goal was to get back up here and stay up here.” Edwards isn’t going anywhere, as he had another good outing on Friday night. Entering the game with Chicago leading 4-2 with a runner on second base and no outs, Edwards faced the heart of the Brewers' order. A groundout and two strikeouts later, he was back in the dugout while Ryan Braun, Scooter Gennett and Jonathan Lucroy probably were left wondering, “Who is this stringbean?” “I thought the turning point was CJ [Carl Edwards],” manager Joe Maddon said. “The middle-innings closer. That’s the classic example of the impact it can have on a game.” To review, Edwards was acquired in a midseason deal in 2013 with the Texas Rangers in exchange for pitcher Matt Garza. Edwards is famously known for being extremely thin; he's listed at 6-foot-3, 170 pounds. His eating habits were a big topic when he came over from the Rangers, but his stuff was never up for debate. It’s nasty -- he’ll reach 95-96 mph on his fastball with some nice late zip. Being moved to the bullpen last year has dismissed the conversation over his stamina to go six or seven innings, and now he can let it fly, as he did on Friday. “He weighs about 140 pounds and he can attack a ton worth of weight,” said Jason Hammel, Friday’s winner. “Impressive to watch him do his thing.” Edwards is a cool customer with a fun personality, but he has kept to himself in his latest stint in the big leagues. After the game, he dressed at his locker, put on his backpack and addressed reporters in a colorful shirt with roses on it -- a shirt that Maddon complimented him on before the game. “For me, I just go out there and tell myself ‘go right after guys,’” Edwards said. “Let the outcomes be the outcomes. It’s trusting everything. Their decision, my decision and my location of pitches. “Very mellow, very humble. I’m not overthinking things right now. I’m staying in my lane. When they call my number, I’m just doing my job.” And lately, he has been doing a heck of a job; the situations he’s thrust into are becoming more important. He started on mop-up duty, but he has progressed to the point of basically taking Justin Grimm’s job in those important middle innings. In 13 innings over 12 appearances, Edwards has given up just six hits and four walks, producing a 2.08 ERA. “I believe he can sustain what he’s doing up to this point,” Maddon said. “I think we have to be prudent. If you try and go to the well too often, eventually in September, he’ll be dragging out there. As much as you would like to play with that toy, you might have to leave him in the toy box.” Which means the Cubs still might need bullpen help. In fact, the sample size is too small -- and projecting what Edwards could look like well after the Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline might be too risky. And in a sense, if he is indeed replacing Grimm in a key role, then the Cubs haven’t added anyone as much as they’ve swapped one reliever for another. “Stuff wise, yeah,” Hammel said. “Just the experience, really. That’s all he needs. The later in the game you go, a little harder it gets, but he definitely has the stuff. And execution is better. And he’s not afraid.” Maddon said he doesn’t want to regularly use Edwards on back-to-back days just yet, but in terms of high-leverage situations, he is already there. “[He’s] still quiet,” Maddon said. “I know he feels like he belongs here. He’s surrounded by a bunch of veteran guys. He's doing everything right. “He even had a cool shirt.” -- ESPNChicago.com Bittersweet time for Albert Almora Jr. as he heads back to minors a married man By Jesse Rogers MILWAUKEE -- It’s not exactly the honeymoon Chicago Cubs rookie Albert Almora Jr. envisioned. He and his new bride, Krystal, will head to Des Moines, Iowa, this weekend after Almora was sent down to Triple-A one day after getting married in Chicago. “It was exciting. A really exciting time. And then this happened,” Almora said with a half-smile. “She’s a warrior. We’ll get through this together.” Almora proved he was worthy of staying in the big leagues but the return of Dexter Fowler from a prolonged hamstring injury forced him back to the minors. Almora hit .265 in 83 at-bats and played stellar defense in the outfield. If just-activated outfielder Fowler moves on this offseason, center field could be Almora's for the taking in 2017. “He had a great first attempt at the big leagues,” manager Joe Maddon said. “He’s at the point where he believes he belongs here.” Softening the blow of getting sent down was tying the knot at a courthouse in Chicago on Thursday with teammates Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, Justin Grimm and Kyle Schwarber by Almora's side. “They looked beautiful together,” Russell said. “They wanted us there to help share that experience. “The dress code was fun, flirty attire.” Afterwards Almora and his new wife were supposed to take a helicopter ride but area storms prevented them from flying. They actually ran into Maddon at a local restaurant after the wedding. “I’m upset I didn’t follow up with some kind of toast in front of the whole restaurant,” Maddon lamented Friday.