May 25, 2015 Chicago Sun-Times Who's got next? Maddon says Kyle Schwarber could help Cubs this season By Gordon Wittenmyer PHOENIX – It took third baseman Kris Bryant just 22 months and 181 games to get to the big leagues after the Cubs drafted him No. 2 overall in 2013. Could catcher Kyle Schwarber, last year’s No. 4 overall pick, get there even faster? Asked if the left-handed slugger could help the Cubs this year, manager Joe Maddon didn’t hesitate, saying, “Yeah. Sure. He has a very, very mature at-bat. He’s doing better behind the plate, too, from what I understand. “You ask him. He’ll tell you he can. And that’s a big part of it, too. He’s really confident.” Maddon said he wasn’t anticipating a move involving Schwarber, who’s abusing Southern League pitching for Class AA Tennessee right now. Nothing’s planned, and there’s no place on the 25-man roster for him, anyway, unless he camps on the bench. But a September debut when rosters expand is a reasonable thought, Maddon said. “It’s possible. Anything’s possible,” he said. Schwarber, 22, is hitting .296 at Tennessee and ranks second in the SL with a .430 on-base percentage, second with 10 homers, first with a .600 slugging percentage and first in OPS. In 111 career games through Saturday, Schwarber was hitting .328 with 28 homers and a 1.051 OPS. “Every time I look up on that scoreboard back home, it looks like Schwarber had a 3-for-5, home run, three RBIs,” Maddon said. “And even if it’s 1-for-5, it was like, `game-winning RBI’ or whatever. “And I got to know him in camp. He’s definitely got the hitting chip. And he knows he can.” Catching is the bigger work-in-progress with the Indiana University product, but team officials say they’re gaining confidence in his long-term projections at the position. What can he do for the Cubs this year? Short-term injury fill-in? September callup? Lefty bat off Maddon’s playoff bench? “Sounds good to me,” the manager said. “I’ll take it.”

-- Chicago Sun-Times Iowa Cubs hitting coach says Javy Baez can play any position By Blair Sheade Cubs prospect Javier Baez hit two home runs on Sunday to help the Iowa Cubs defeat the Tacoma Rainiers. Baez is waiting for the call-up to the major leagues, but the only problem is there isn’t an opening for the young shortstop in the infield. Brian Harper, Iowa Cubs’ hitting coach since 2013, said Baez could play anywhere Chicago needs him. Harper said Baez is a good enough hitter and fielder to play any position. “I think Javy can handle any position you give him,” Harper said. “I think [Kris] Bryant can handle any position, and I think [Addison] Russell can handle any position. Here, we leave it up to the big-league guys to make those choices and let them do what they want. But with Javy, Kris [Bryant] and Addison [Russell], they’re talented enough to handle whatever they give them.” In his last 13 games, Baez is 20-for-48 (.417) with four homers and 13 RBI. If Kris Bryant or Addison Russell doesn’t move to the outfield, then Baez could see some time in the outfield for the Cubs in the near future. -- Chicago Sun-Times Attention, 2015 Cubs: Mark Grace says the 1989 team can provide lessons By Gordon Wittenmyer PHOENIX — It’s probably too early to start calling this start to the Cubs’ season a foundation for sustained success — much less to start measuring its sustainability. But with most in the clubhouse touting this team as a playoff contender, a lost weekend in the desert is at least a reminder of the size of the task. This first relevant season in years headed into Memorial Day off a break-even road trip that ended with a 4-3 loss to the pedestrian Arizona Diamondbacks. They hit nine home runs on the trip, committed eight errors, struck out 61 times and blew two saves in six games. They also got a complete game from second-year starter Kyle Hendricks on Thursday, six RBI from Anthony Rizzo on Saturday and four multihit games from rookie Jorge Soler. So who are these guys as they reach the traditional Memorial Day milepost — with the red-hot Washington Nationals and defending American League champion Kansas City Royals coming this week to Wrigley Field? Mark Grace seems to think they look familiar. A burgeoning homegrown core, a few key veteran pitchers and a couple of established middle-of-the-order hitters? “When we won in ’89, won the old National League East, we were young,” said Grace, the former Cubs All-Star first baseman now working as the Diamondbacks’ assistant hitting coach. “Ryne [Sandberg] and Andre [Dawson] were still in their prime. There were a lot of young guys.”

Rick Sutcliffe and Greg Maddux were in the rotation. Jerome Walton and Dwight Smith debuted early that season and finished 1-2 in Rookie of the Year balloting. Grace was in his second year in the majors, All-Star shortstop Shawon Dunston in his fifth. Joe Girardi debuted that year. Talk about a foundation for sustained success. “When we won the division, a lot of us thought, man, this could happen much more often,” Grace said. “And we were very wrong. It didn’t. “It’s hard. Winning is hard.” That’s not to say this Cubs team has any reason to think it will eventually go the direction of that one. For one thing, it’s hard to imagine this team’s equivalent of Maddux being allowed to walk as a free agent if he wants to stay. “Things change,” said Cubs bench coach Dave Martinez, the ex-Cub who broke in with that same group in the ’80s before being traded the year before the division title. “And other teams have the same feeling. And it’s hard to do.” Martinez and manager Joe Maddon talk a lot about “staying in the moment” and “being present,” which, among other things, is meant to keep a team from getting too heady about things such as winning streaks, much less streaks of championship seasons. Beyond that, “You’ve got to be very fortunate, and you also have to be very talented and very healthy,” Grace said. “And it looks to me like the Cubs have been drafting well and doing really well in the international market.” The Cubs’ top three prospects — Kris Bryant, Addison Russell and Soler — are in the every-day lineup, with Bryant and Russell having debuted less than a month ago. And the No. 4 prospect, Kyle Schwarber, could be ready to help the club as soon as some point this season, Maddon said before the game Sunday. “Obviously, they’ve got Bryant, and I’m a huge fan of Rizzo,” Grace said. “Those guys are solidifying the middle of the order. “When your middle of the order, the heart and soul of your order, is young and talented like that, the future’s bright.” Just not always certain. Never guaranteed. -- Chicago Sun-Times What happened in Vegas stayed in Vegas? Bryce Harper vs. Kris Bryant "friendly competition" By Gordon Wittenmyer PHOENIX – Seems Kris Bryant is too nice a guy, too polite a rookie, to remember any good stories about playing with and against Washington Nationals hot dog outfielder Bryce Harper as a kid in Las Vegas. “The thing that stands out to me was just how good he was and how much better he was than the competition,” said Bryant, the Cubs rookie who faces off against the Nationals’ star slugger Monday for the first time since they last played against each other in high school. No bat flips? No ejections? No double fist pumps? “No,” Bryant said. “He knew he was good. And that’s a good trait to have in this game. You’ve got to go out there extremely confident. And he was confident.

“I think that helped him get to where he is today. Because he doesn’t care who’s on the mound, he doesn’t care who the other team is; he’s always going to go out there and believe he’s better than the opponent.” That he showed it made Harper, the No. 1 overall pick in 2010, one of the least liked players in the game among traditionalists even before his high-profile debut in 2012 – and made his back the target of a Cole Hamels fastball the first time they faced each other, a week later. But Harper, already in his fourth season at just 22, also has backed it up. He made Hamels pay for the dart by stealing home on a pickoff throw later that inning. And he arrives at Wrigley Field for this week’s three-game series as one of the hottest, strongest hitters in the game, with 11 homers and 26 RBIs in the Nats’ last 16 games – a major reason the Nationals have won 19 of their last 24. “I like when I first saw him, how hard he played, and I always appreciate that,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said, recalling the “impressive” steal off Hamels and “acumen” it showed. “And obviously, he’s pretty good. So I probably would like him.” He’s still got the bad-boy reputation – ejected twice in eight days within the last two weeks – but those league-leading run, homer, on-base and slugging numbers have earned him a wide berth, and growing respect. “I could see if you’re in the other dugout, you’d probably hate my guts,” Harper recently told the Washington Post. “Which is fine. Which is totally fine with me. If I had that uniform on, you’d probably love me. But I would expect that people in the other dugout probably can’t stand the player that I am.” Bryant, nine months older than Harper, called their rivalry growing up “friendly competition,” and talked about being “amazed” at Harper’s ability, including an “80-mph” fastball as an 11-year-old pitcher. But they couldn’t seem more different in personality, much less tracks to the same big-league field for the first time Monday. Harper skipped his last year of high school to focus on baseball. Bryant, who fell to the 18th round in the 2010 draft because of signability questions, went to college, earned an invitation to apply for a Rhodes Scholarship and eventually was drafted in 2013 No. 2 overall by the Cubs. “Education was important for me,” Bryant said. “We both took different paths and we’re kind of in the same spot now. It’s definitely an interesting story. And it worked out for him, and I’m happy it did.” -- Daily Herald Imrem: Can Cubs' Bryant ever live up to the hype? By Mike Imrem Paul Konerko and Kris Bryant crossed paths over the weekend. At least in baseball history they did. Konerko is in his first season of retirement and Saturday had his number retired by the White Sox. Bryant is in his first major-league season and has been putting up impressive numbers for the Cubs despite Sunday's 0-for-4 at Arizona. Ever since Bryant arrived at Wrigley Field last month, one curiosity was how good he had to be to match the hype.

During the U.S. Cellular Field ceremony for Konerko, I wondered whether his illustrious career would be good enough to fulfill the Bryant expectations. Konerko's credentials are projected to fall just short of Hall of Fame election. He meant enough to the Sox for his number to be placed up alongside those of their greats, including Hall of Famers. A former fixture at first base, Konerko finished with 439 home runs, a .279 batting average, six all-star selections, a pivotal grand-slam homer in the World Series and a championship ring. Would that be a good enough career for somebody who burst onto the big-league scene with the fanfare that accompanied Bryant? Consider that the preponderance of players who enter the major leagues would love to exit with Paul Konerko's accomplishments and honors. A good guess is that Konerko was among them when he was a promising prospect with the Dodgers. When he arrived here, the Sox became his third team. Sixteen years later, Konerko was able to leave with no regrets. He gave the game and the White Sox everything he had. The Bryant buzz, however, sounds like he has to do more: break the single-season home run record every year and the career homer record by the time his No. 17 is retired. Bryant is supposed to be Ernie Banks, only better. He's supposed to be Billy Williams, Ron Santo and Ryne Sandberg all in one. He's supposed to be Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. How silly and unfair is that? Not that Bryant himself is boasting any of that. He's just going about his rookie business one day, one game, one pitch, one at-bat, one fielding chance at third base at a time. The end of Bryant's career could be and should be a couple of decades away, too far off to envision at this point. Right now Bryant is a little like a young Mark Prior, the Cubs' previous rookie phenom, unless you want to count Felix Pie. Prior was with the Cubs when Roger Clemens came to Wrigley Field in search of his 300th pitching victory. I asked Prior that day whether he could see himself winning 300 games. He rolled his eyes. He had 11 at the time and injuries wound up limiting him to 42 for his career. The future was uncertain for Prior, it was for Konerko, it is for you, it is for me, it is for everyone in this world, and that includes Bryant. But expectations are real even when they're unrealistic and they're humongous for Bryant to the extent that becoming the next Konerko would be a letdown. Yes, silly and unfair indeed. Too much is out of an athlete's control, but what Bryant can control is to carry himself the way Konerko did. Bryant can remain the pleasant young man that he has been, treat people with respect, be a great teammate and play the game the way it was meant to be played. Paul Konerko did that and more and become one of Chicago's most beloved athletes. That's a lot to ask any player to duplicate, yet Kris Bryant is expected to surpass it.

-- Cubs.com Montero, Coghlan homer in loss to D-backs By Carrie Muskat and Jake Rill PHOENIX -- The Cubs will be happy to not see Paul Goldschmidt again until early September. The D-backs first baseman hit an RBI single and a two-run home run Sunday to back Jeremy Hellickson and lead the D-backs to a 4-3 victory over the Cubs at Chase Field and take the series. Goldschmidt, now a career .383 batter against the Cubs, went 5-for-10 with two home runs in the three-game set. "I was just looking for something I could hit hard," Goldschmidt said of his homer off Cubs starter Jason Hammel. "Fortunately, he made a mistake over the middle of the plate and I was able to get it out of there." Hellickson gave up three runs on four hits -- including two home runs -- over 6 2/3 innings. It was Hellickson's first career start against the Cubs, but Chicago manager Joe Maddon knew the right-hander well from their days together in Tampa. This was Hellickson's first win in his last six starts. "We hit a lot of ground balls today," Maddon said of Hellickson. "He might have gotten eight groundball outs, which is high. He's more of a fly-ball pitcher. He put the ball on the ground more against us than anticipated." The Cubs' Miguel Montero hit a solo home run against his former team, while Chris Coghlan added a two-run shot in the fifth and then robbed Ender Inciarte of an extra-base hit with a nice running catch in the bottom of the inning. MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Good as Gold-y: Goldschmidt put the D-backs ahead, 4-1, with two outs in the third with a two-run homer to center off of a 1-1 pitch from Jason Hammel. It was Goldschmidt's seventh home run in May and a team-high 12th of the season. The first baseman also drove in the D-backs' first run with an RBI single in the first. Welcome home: Montero enjoyed the weekend in Arizona because he was able to stay at his home, which he built during his playing days with the D-backs. Montero ranks among Arizona's all-time leaders in games, RBIs and home runs, and he celebrated his return in the second inning, hitting his fifth home run of the season and 39th of his career at Chase Field. The homer was Montero's second hit in 20 at-bats over his last six games. "There's no hard feelings," Montero said of the D-backs, who traded him to Chicago for two Minor League pitchers. "It was good to get the tie right there. [The home run] definitely was a good feeling." Doing it all: D-backs shortstop Nick Ahmed extended his career-best hitting streak to nine games with a leadoff triple in the third. It was Ahmed's first career three-base hit. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Hellickson. Ahmed shined defensively as well, turning a nice inning-ending double play in the sixth and making a nifty off-balance throw to retire Jorge Soler in the seventh. "He changed the game defensively," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "The stuff he does is just mind-boggling every day and that's why, when he made a couple errors in [Philadelphia], we didn't know what was going on, we had to get him checked by the doctors." QUOTABLE "They're two of the best first basemen in the National League and maybe all of baseball. It's fun to watch. It's not fun to watch Goldy take me out. Both of those guys are tough outs and they'll be tough outs for years to come." -- Hammel on Goldschmidt and the Cubs' Anthony Rizzo SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Cubs rookie Kris Bryant went 0-for-4 to end his hitting streak at 12 games. He matched teammate Addison Russell, who also had a 12-game hit streak this season. Theirs are the longest hitting streaks by a Cubs rookie since Jerome Walton's 30-game stretch in 1989. WHAT'S NEXT Cubs: The Cubs return to Wrigley Field on Monday to start a six-game homestand against the Nationals. Tsuyoshi Wada gets the start. In his first outing, the lefty struck out a career-high nine batters and gave up two runs over 4 2/3 innings against the Padres. First pitch will be 1:20 p.m. CT. D-backs: The D-backs open a six-game road trip with a three-game series against the Cardinals, beginning on Monday at 1:15 p.m. MT. Chase Anderson gets the start looking for a second straight win after going a career-high eight innings and allowing just one run on four hits in his last start against the Marlins. -- Cubs.com Hammel's adjustments too late vs. D-backs By Carrie Muskat PHOENIX -- It was a tale of two pitchers, Jason Hammel said. The D-backs were aggressive against the Cubs right-hander early in the game, and he finally changed his approach and shut them down after the third inning. It wasn't quick enough as Arizona posted a 4-3 win over Chicago to take the series. Hammel took the loss, his first since April 22. "The first three innings, I couldn't get the ball over the plate," said Hammel, who gave up four runs over seven innings. "Too many pitches up in the zone." Paul Goldschmidt carried the D-backs, hitting an RBI single in the first and a two-run homer in the third. "Obviously, Goldy, when he's locked in, he's not going to swing at too much bad stuff," Hammel said. "If you're all over the place, he'll probably hurt you. I was shocked at how many first-pitch swings they had today. I made the adjustment and that's how I could get through seven." Hammel did not give up a hit after the third inning and finished with nine strikeouts. What was the adjustment he made? "It wasn't mechanical," Hammel said. "I adjusted where I was throwing [the] first pitch. They're a very first-pitch-fastball hitting team, they ambush a lot. I started throwing sliders, and the results were better." The Cubs finally figured out the best way to deal with Goldschmidt was to intentionally walk him, which Hammel did in the fifth. "We were really not trying to pitch to him," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of Goldschmidt, who went 5-for-10 in the series with two home runs. "We had to take it to the next level and just walk him. We were trying to stay away from him and didn't do a good job." With the loss, the Cubs finished their road trip to San Diego and Phoenix at 3-3. "Go .500 on the road and take care of business at home, you'll end up in a pretty good spot," Hammel said. "We keep playing these tight ballgames and sooner or later, they'll go our way. We continue to battle. You really can't shake your head. We played good baseball." --

Cubs.com Rizzo, Goldschmidt share mutual respect By Carrie Muskat PHOENIX -- Who's the top first baseman in the National League? Two of the best, Anthony Rizzo and Paul Goldschmidt, were at Chase Field this weekend, and most likely will meet again at the All-Star Game. On Friday, Goldschmidt was the D-backs' hero, hitting an RBI single and a game-tying two-run homer in the 10th inning. On Saturday, it was Rizzo's turn as he drove in six runs, hitting a three-run double in the fifth and a game-winning three-run homer in the ninth. On Sunday, Goldschmidt took charge again, hitting an RBI single in the first and a two-run homer in the third to lead the D-backs to a 4-3 victory over the Cubs and take the series. "Goldschmidt is the top player in this league," Rizzo said. "He does it every single year. I told him [Friday] when he hit that home run, 'Man, you're better than everyone else.' "It's always fun playing against the top players," Rizzo said. "He's all around, he steals bases, he plays good defense, he grinds every single at-bat out. He's one of my favorite players to watch, for sure." And Goldschmidt feels the same about Rizzo. "He's one of the best players in baseball and he's been doing it for years now," Goldschmidt said Sunday. "I love to watch him hit -- unfortunately not against us." Since 2013, Goldschmidt and Rizzo rank among the top four NL first basemen in slugging percentage, home runs, runs scored, RBIs and total bases. "They're two of the best first basemen in the National League and maybe all of baseball," said Cubs pitcher Jason Hammel, who served up Goldschmidt's hits Sunday. "It's fun to watch -- although it's not fun to watch Goldy take me out. Both of those guys are tough outs. They'll be tough outs for years to come." Goldschmidt does like facing the Cubs. He's now is 31-for-81 in his career against Chicago with seven home runs and 24 RBIs in 22 games. Rizzo's stats against the D-backs aren't as flashy. He's batting .225 with five home runs and 17 RBIs in 26 games. "I think he has a good at-bat every time," Goldschmidt said of Rizzo, who ranks among the NL leaders in on-base percentage this season. "He's patient when he has to be if they try to pitch around him or if they try to get him to chase, he doesn't do that too often. His strikeouts are pretty down, he walks a lot, gets on base. But if you make a mistake, he's got power, as we saw [Saturday]. He'll put it out of the park and make you pay. He's just a really good hitter and he's a tough out. -- Cubs.com Constructing the perfect Cubs-Mets trade By Jim Duquette Many evaluators -- myself included -- can see a good trade fit between two rising organizations, the Cubs and Mets. In fact, Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer recently acknowledged that the two sides have had ongoing dialogue to see if there is a good fit. The Cubs have stocked their system primarily with high-end position players -- including a number of shortstops -- but lack high-end pitching prospects. Meanwhile, the Mets have a plethora of elite young power arms but a hole at short.

Both sides would benefit from making a deal from depth, so in the spirit of helping the logjam along, I am proposing three deals that would make sense for them to consider. The safe trade: SS Javier Baez for LHP Steven Matz We have not seen the best of Baez at the Major League level, especially last season, when he struck out at an alarming rate of 41.5 percent. But there is no denying his power potential, athleticism and overall talent in the middle of the diamond. Unlike Wilmer Flores, Baez is a true shortstop and would provide at least as much power and much better defense with more upside. He rose through the Cubs' farm system as a shortstop and is blocked by both Starlin Castro and Addison Russell at this point, so he seems a perfect trade candidate. Matz's value has consistently risen each season, and from seeing him this spring and speaking with several scouts, he has a chance to be a premium left-handed starter, featuring a terrific fastball-curve-change combo. Although he is a Long Island kid, Matz -- the Mets' No. 3 prospect -- would fit nicely in Chicago with lefty Jon Lester as his mentor and he could help the Cubs as soon this summer. The fair trade: Starlin Castro or Addison Russell for RHPs Noah Syndergaard and Rafael Montero This deal would help both teams right now. The Mets sorely need offensive help in a lineup that is currently missing the presence of David Wright and Travis d'Arnaud, and they also need to improve their infield defense. Although error-prone, Castro would be a defensive upgrade and give the Mets another high-average hitter. He's due $37 million from 2016-19, which is extremely reasonable for a player of his caliber. Russell is younger and has more upside, but he is a bit more of a wild card. Syndergaard, the Mets' top prospect, made his debut at Wrigley, and the Cubs saw that he has top-of-the-rotation stuff. Of course, the uncertainty of pitcher's health would force the Mets to give up another arm, which is where Montero comes in. He has some potential as a mid-rotation starter, though I'm admittedly not as bullish on him as some other evaluators. The dream trade: Kris Bryant for Matt Harvey This would be the boldest challenge trade we've seen since the Blue Jays sent All-Stars Fred McGriff and Tony Fernandez to the Padres for Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter back at the 1990 Winter Meetings. In reality, this one would not likely be done by either side as both Bryant and Harvey have become, to some degree, the faces of their respective franchises. But there's no denying that both are stars -- marketable players to build around. They also know how to handle the attention and the spotlight. Bryant, the Cubs' top prospect, would clear the logjam in Chicago by opening up third base for Russell, Castro or Baez. And while Bryant wouldn't solve the Mets' shortstop void, they could transition him to an outfield corner and look to move Michael Cuddyer, whose two-year, $21 million contract is tradeable. I recognize this will never happen, but it's fun to think about. Fact is, when both sides are equally uncomfortable in making a trade of this nature, it usually means it's a fair one. -- Cubs.com Wada looks to shut down streaking Nats in opener By Jacob Emert Tanner Roark started 31 games for the Nationals in 2014, but has pitched out of the bullpen this season since the acquisition of Max Scherzer. Monday, the Illinois native will fill in for the injured Doug Fister and make his first start since last September.

Tsuyoshi Wada will take the ball for the Cubs. Wada dealt with a left groin strain for most of the spring, but tossed 4 2/3 innings of two-run ball against the Padres in his season debut on May 20. Things to know about this game • In his first full season as a starter, Roark was one of the National League's better arms. He went 15-10 with a 2.85 ERA. Against the Cubs, though, it was a slightly different story. Chicago batters roughed him up for eight runs in 13 innings over two starts, both loses. • Monday's meeting between the Cubs and Nats will be the first of seven between the two clubs over the next two weeks. After the NL East leaders leave Chicago, the AL Central-leading Kansas City Royals will play three games at Wrigley Field. "We've been aware that we have a tough schedule coming up," Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta said. "We approach games with equal importance regardless of who the opponent is. At the end of the day, every one counts. We've seen several times how seasons can come down to the final four, five days determining who gets in and who goes home. We're going to value these games just like any other, but it's kind of a measuring stick with a team like Washington and Kansas City which has continued to grow and get better as a team. It'll be an exciting couple series at home for us. We know what we have to do to win and get ready." • Washington's win Sunday against the Phillies clinched the series from their NL East counterparts and marked the eighth straight series the Nationals have won since getting swept in Miami in late April. The Nats are 16-4 in May. -- Cubs.com Bryant eager to catch up with boyhood rival Harper By Carrie Muskat PHOENIX -- They played against each other and were teammates, starting when the pair were about 8 years old growing up in Las Vegas. On Monday, the Cubs' Kris Bryant and the Nationals' Bryce Harper will compete against each other at Wrigley Field in the first game of a three-game series. "The thing that stands out to me is just how good he was and how much better he was than the competition," Bryant said Sunday of Harper, who starred at Las Vegas High School. "He was 11 years old and throwing 80 miles an hour off the mound. It was special to see that from a guy that young. He's obviously younger than I am, but watching him play, I was amazed. I knew he'd be doing what he's doing at this level someday." Harper, 22, isn't that much younger than Bryant, 23, but did choose to get to the big leagues a little quicker. Harper was the first pick overall in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft; Bryant, who went to Bonanza High School in Vegas, opted to go to the University of San Diego and played three seasons there before being the second player taken overall in the 2013 Draft. "I couldn't have done it," Bryant said about going from high school to the pros. "Obviously, for me, education was important. I had a plan in high school and what I wanted to do. We both took different paths and we're kind of in the same spot now. His is definitely an interesting story and I'm glad it worked out for him." Bryant couldn't remember how his high school did against Harper, head to head, and planned to ask the Nationals' outfielder at some point in the three-game series. The two schools weren't that close to each other and Bryant described their games as "friendly competition" more than a rivalry. "It was pretty fun watching him play growing up," Bryant said of Harper.

Harper showed his support of Bryant during Spring Training when the Cubs third baseman was leading the Major Leagues in home runs. On March 14, Harper posted on Twitter: "If @KrisBryant_23 doesn't make the big league team out of camp, then that's a joke! I see you doin your thing brotha! #VegasMade #TheTruth" If @KrisBryant_23 doesn't make the big league team out of camp, then that's a joke! I see you doin your thing brotha! #VegasMade #TheTruth - Bryce Harper (@Bharper3407) March 14, 2015 Said Bryant on Sunday: "I did see that -- thanks for the support, Bryce." Harper is much more extroverted than Bryant if you compare bat flips. "He knew he was good and I think that's a good trait to have," Bryant said. "You want to go out there confident and he was confident. I think that helped him get to where he is today. He doesn't care who's on the mound or who the other team is. He's always going to go out there and believe he's better than the opponent and that's something you need." Cubs manager Joe Maddon has not seen Harper play much in person but does know the young outfielder has his critics. "I don't know what everybody else doesn't like [about him]," Maddon said. "I like players who play hard and care, and obviously, he's pretty good, so I probably would like him." -- Cubs.com Top prospect Schwarber progresses at plate By Carrie Muskat PHOENIX -- Kyle Schwarber may not be ready to catch in the big leagues, but Cubs manager Joe Maddon feels the youngster could help with his bat. Schwarber, 22, ranked No. 4 on MLB.com's list of top Cubs prospects, was batting .296 at Double-A Tennessee with 10 home runs and 26 RBIs this season leading into Sunday. Maddon sees the catcher's offensive exploits when they're posted on the new video board at Wrigley Field. "He's a very mature at-bat," Maddon said of the left-handed hitting catcher, who was the Cubs' first-round pick in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft. "He's doing better behind the plate, too, from what I understand." Maddon said anyone who doubts Schwarber will be in the big leagues soon should just ask him. "He's pretty confident," Maddon said. "He's a very mature hitter at his experience level and his age." Extra bases • Maddon was not looking forward to playing a day game in Chicago after a day game in Arizona and long travel on Sunday night. David Ross, who has started exclusively with Jon Lester, will catch Monday to give Miguel Montero a breather. Rookie Addison Russell, who did not start Sunday, also was expected in Monday's lineup. -- ESPNChicago.com With Cubs coming home, it's so long, Paul Goldschmidt By Ron Matejko

PHOENIX -- The Chicago Cubs are glad to leave Arizona and return home if for no other reason than their pitchers won't have to face Arizona first baseman Paul Goldschmidt for a while. Goldschmidt mashed Cubs pitching throughout the series, finishing 5-for-10 with two home runs, six RBIs, four walks, four runs and two stolen bases. His two-run home run during Arizona's three-run third inning proved to be the difference Sunday, as Arizona won 4-3 in the rubber match of the three-game series. He also had a game-tying, two-run home run in the 10th inning Friday after Chicago scored twice in the top of the inning. Arizona won that game in 13 innings. "We were really not trying to pitch to him, so we had to take it to the next level and walk him," Cubs skipper Joe Maddon said of the fifth-inning intentional walk to Goldschmidt on Sunday. "Give him credit, he's a good baseball player. He drove in those runs. We were trying to stay away from him and did not do the job." Chicago wrapped up its six-game road trip with a 3-3 record. Considering the offensive struggles in much of the series, Maddon said he'd take a .500 mark, even though there was the potential for more. "Of course, at this point you get greedy," Maddon said of the chance to win four out of six entering Sunday. "We did play better than that but you do accept it at this moment. Coming out west, the time change, day game after a night game and another day game tomorrow. It isn't easy. "We had a chance until the end. We did not. I have no complaints at all. None." One Cub not as excited about returning home might be left fielder Chris Coghlan, who opened the trip with a two-home run game in San Diego and closed it with a two-run blast Sunday in Arizona. Jorge Soler also performed well at the plate during the trip, adding two more hits Sunday to finish 8-for-25, good for a .320 batting average, including four doubles and three runs scored. The Cubs open a six-game homestand Monday, which begins with a three-game set against the NL East-leading Washington Nationals. First pitch is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. ET at Wrigley Field. -- ESPNChicago.com Rapid Reaction: Diamondbacks 4, Cubs 3 By Ron Matejko PHOENIX -- The Chicago Cubs (24-19) wrapped up their three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks (21-22), as well as their six-game road trip, with a 4-3 loss at Chase Field on Sunday. How it happened: A two-run home run by Paul Goldschmidt during a three-run third inning held up, as Arizona won the rubber game. Arizona's first baseman mashed Cubs pitching throughout the series, finishing 5-for-10 with two home runs, six RBIs, four walks, four runs and two stolen bases. What it means: Chicago lost the three-game series against Arizona 2-1 and is winless in the past seven series against the D-backs (0-5-2). The Cubs also dropped to 3.5 games behind first-place St. Louis, which defeated Kansas City, 6-1. Montero magic: Miguel Montero made both Cubs and Diamondbacks fans cheer at Chase Field with his solo home run in the second inning. The crowd of 39,660 featured a heavy contingency of Cubs fans, who cheered on their catcher while the local Arizona fans supported Montero, who played here from 2006-2014. This weekend marked Montero's first regular-season games in Arizona since being traded to Chicago on Dec. 9. Run support: In a bit of a statistical oddity, Cubs left fielder Chris Coghlan hit his seventh home run of 2015 on Sunday -- giving him 11 RBIs on the season.

Streak stopped: Kris Bryant went 0-for-4, snapping his hitting streak at 12 games. Up next: The Cubs return home to open a six-game homestand Monday, which begins with a three-game set against the N.L. East-leading Washington Nationals. MLB's schedule makers did the Cubs no favors as they have to fly home for a quick turnaround for Monday's game at Wrigley Field, which begins at 1:20 CT. Left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada (0-0, 3.86 ERA) will start for Chicago with right-hander Tanner Roark (0-2, 2.66) getting the nod for Washington. -- CSNChicago.com Cubs will see what they’re made of against Nationals By Patrick Mooney PHOENIX – Men vs. Boys. That’s how Dale Sveum summed up the four-game beatdown the Cubs got from the Washington Nationals in D.C. in September 2012, when there appeared to be no light at the end of the tunnel. The Plan won’t be something so far off in the distance when the Cubs return to Wrigley Field on Memorial Day as a wild-card leader, even after Sunday’s 4-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. The Cubs didn’t clean up during this 3-3 road trip through San Diego and Phoenix. It again exposed the defense (eight errors). It led to questions about closer Hector Rondon and a shaky bullpen. It saw the end of an 0-for-31 streak while hitting with runners in scoring position. All these issues won’t disappear overnight. But the buzz is still building. The national TV networks want a piece of the Cubs again. Sports Illustrated already did a feature on Kris Bryant. Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star Jeff Garlin have been hanging around the team. Now the Cubs can see how good they really are during this six-game homestand. The Nationals – a World Series team on paper – are coming to the North Side. The Kansas City Royals – the defending American League champs – will be the second act. “Bring it on,” manager Joe Maddon said. “I’m sure the place will be raucous.” Sveum, the ex-manager, will be there with the Royals as their hitting coach, and he must be wondering about the type of job he could have done in Wrigleyville with $155 million lefty Jon Lester fronting the rotation and All-Star first baseman Anthony Rizzo maturing into an MVP candidate. Even Maddon admits a lot of the heavy lifting had been done before he left the Tampa Bay Rays, signed a five-year, $25 million contract and offered to buy everyone at The Cubby Bear a shot and a beer. The Cubs are 24-19 on Memorial Day weekend and you probably would have taken that back in spring training. “We’ve been aware that we have a tough schedule coming up,” pitcher Jake Arrieta said. “But I think we approach games with equal importance, regardless of who the opponent is, because we know that at the end of the day, every one counts. We’ve seen several times how seasons can come down to that final four or five days determining who gets in and who’s going home. “But it’s kind of a measuring stick with a team like Washington. Kansas City has continued to grow and get better as a team. It’s going to be an exciting couple series at home for us. We know what we have to do to win, and we’ll be ready.” A young lineup that leads the majors in strikeouts will have to face Washington’s nasty rotation – Tanner Roark, Jordan Zimmermann, Max Scherzer – before dealing with Kansas City’s nightmare bullpen.

“This will be a good test for us,” Bryant said. “It should be fun. It’s always good to see how you fare against the top guys in the league. I’m excited for the challenge and look forward to it.” The Nationals notched 96 victories last season and then signed Scherzer, a Cy Young Award winner, to a seven-year, $210 million megadeal. Washington general manager Mike Rizzo, a Chicago guy, reshaped the franchise through the top of the draft, gutsy trades and targeted free-agent signings. The Cubs are running a few years behind the Nationals in their rebuild, but that’s essentially how the Theo Epstein administration is trying to construct a sustainable 90-game winner at Clark and Addison. “I always like playing good teams,” Maddon said. “I always believe that’s going to bring out the best in your team. That’s the part I’ve always enjoyed about playing good teams. And I also think with young teams that are getting better, they need to see that kind of competition to really get to that level you’re looking for them to get to.” This week we’ll see just how close – or far away – the Cubs are from being real contenders. -- CSNChicago.com Cubs vs. Nats: The friendly rivalry between Kris Bryant and Bryce Harper By Patrick Mooney PHOENIX – Kris Bryant doesn’t have any good stories about Bryce Harper flipping aluminum bats, or blowing kisses to parents in the stands, or getting thrown out of Little League games. Or at least the Cubs third baseman didn’t want to share any with the reporters who swarmed his locker Sunday morning before a 4-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. But Bryant knows all about Harper after playing with and against the future Washington Nationals superstar while growing up in Las Vegas. On Memorial Day at Wrigley Field, the Cubs will be trying to slow down an unstoppable force. “He knew he was good,” Bryant said. “That’s a good trait to have in this game. You got to go out there extremely confident – and he was confident. That helped him get to where he is today. “Because he doesn’t care who is on the mound. He doesn’t care who the other team is. He’s always going to go out there and believe he’s better than the opponent. That’s something you need when you’re playing baseball.” At the age of 22, Harper is actually younger than Bryant and has already made two All-Star teams and hit four postseason home runs in nine playoffs games. Bryant is making a push to win the National League Rookie of the Year award Harper earned in 2012, putting up an .861 OPS with five homers and 29 RBI through his first 34 games in The Show. But Harper is on a completely different level, leading the NL in homers (16) and RBI (41), outperforming all major-league hitters with a 1.198 OPS and doing it for a World Series favorite. “The thing that stands out to me is just how good he was – and how much better he was than the competition,” Bryant said. “He was like 11 years old and he was throwing like 80 miles an hour off the mound. It was special to see that from a guy that young. “He’s obviously younger than me, but just watching him play, I was amazed. And I knew that he would be doing what he’s doing at this level someday, too.” Where Bryant decided to go to the University of San Diego – and methodically developed into the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 draft – Harper has been all about speed.

Harper made it onto the cover of Sports Illustrated as “Baseball’s Chosen One” in June 2009. He got his GED and went to a junior college before the Nationals selected him with the first pick in the 2010 draft. “I wouldn’t say a rivalry,” Bryant said. “As a baseball player, you always want to be the best. And you look at the best and you want to be better than them. It was just a friendly competition – seeing what he’s doing, seeing what I’m doing and learning from each other.” Harper – who’s also represented by super-agent Scott Boras – sent a message on his Twitter account while the Cubs did their service-time song-and-dance routine in spring training: “I did see that,” Bryant said. “Thanks for the support, Bryce.” -- CSNChicago.com Joe Maddon thinks Kyle Schwarber can help Cubs this year By Patrick Mooney PHOENIX – Joe Maddon didn’t hesitate when asked if Kyle Schwarber can help the Cubs this season. It’s been less than a calendar year since the Cubs drafted the Indiana University catcher/outfielder with the No. 4 overall pick, but Schwarber is killing it at Double-A Tennessee after dominating three different levels last season. “Yeah,” Maddon said three times. “He’s a very, very mature at-bat, and he’s doing better behind the plate, too, from what I understand. “You ask him, he’ll tell you he can. And that’s a big part of it, too. He’s really confident.” This came up during the manager’s pregame media session on Sunday at Chase Field, seeing how the Cubs are positioned for the future and looking ahead to a six-game homestand against the Washington Nationals and their dominant rotation and the Kansas City Royals and their lockdown bullpen. At a time when seemingly every new advancement favors pitching and defense, and 97-mph relievers are standard items, Theo Epstein’s front office keeps collecting big bats, trying to build an overwhelming lineup for Wrigley Field. Schwarber is getting on base 43 percent of the time with Tennessee, generating 10 homers and 26 RBI with a 1.030 OPS through 39 games. “He’s definitely, definitely got the hitting chip,” Maddon said. “Every time I look up at the scoreboard at home, it’s like: Schwarber went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs. Even if it’s 1-for-5, it’s like a game-winning RBI.” At the age of 22, Schwarber is older than Addison Russell and only 14 months younger than Kris Bryant, and the Cubs have already fast-tracked those infielders into everyday players. Schwarber grew up outside Cincinnati and could have played Division I football as an All-Ohio linebacker coming out of Middletown High School. Cubs officials love his energy and intensity and hope his athleticism and enthusiasm will allow him to stay behind the plate. “That’s a work in progress as a catcher, but he’s getting better,” Maddon said. At the very least, Schwarber appears in line for a promotion to Triple-A Iowa this summer and a potential September call-up. “It’s possible,” Maddon said. “Anything’s possible.”

A reporter asked: How about Schwarber being a left-handed bat off your bench in the playoffs? “I’ll take it,” Maddon said with a smile. -- Chicago Tribune Cubs can see where they stand with Nationals visiting By Mark Gonzales PHOENIX — Certain games and opponents are used as measuring sticks. This week's six-game homestand represents another chance for the Cubs to validate their status as postseason contenders. Following a 4-3 loss to the Diamondbacks on Sunday, the Cubs' three-game series against the resurgent Nationals starting Monday will give them some semblance of where they stand among the National League's elite. "The Nationals have that unbelievable starting staff," said Diamondbacks assistant hitting coach and former Cubs star Mark Grace. "They're starting to swing the bats. That's going to be a great series. Two young, talented teams playing well." Grace's Diamondbacks were swept at Washington last weekend, when the Nationals were in the midst of their current 19-5 run that has seen them transform an eight-game deficit into a 21/2-game lead in the NL East. The Cubs weren't nearly as sharp this weekend, as Diamondbacks slugger Paul Goldschmidt capped an impressive weekend with three RBIs off Jason Hammel on Sunday. "We keep playing these tight ballgames, sooner or later they'll start going our way," Hammel said of the Cubs, whose last three losses have been by one run. The Cubs look to rebound as they did two weeks ago after a 2-5 trip by winning six consecutive games against the starting pitching-rich Mets and Pirates. "I always like playing good teams," manager Joe Maddon said. "I like teams doing well. I always think that's going to bring out the best in your team. And with young teams getting better, they need to see that kind of competition to get to that level." Rookie third baseman Kris Bryant, whose hitting streak was snapped at 12 games, tempered some of the anticipation over this series and a weekend matchup against the defending American League champion Royals. "This will be a good test for us, playing against a team like (the Nationals) and pitchers like that," Bryant said. "But it's just baseball. Sometimes you win a game, sometimes you lose a game." Bryant, however, does look forward to playing against fellow former Las Vegas youth star Bryce Harper. "He knew he was good, and that's a good trait to have in this game," Bryant said. "You've got to go out there extremely confident, and he was confident. "I think that helped him get to where he is today. He doesn't care who is on the mound. He doesn't care who the other team is." The Cubs made a statement when they signed left-hander Jon Lester to a six-year, $155 million contract in December. The Nationals fortified their deep rotation one month later by signing Max Scherzer to a seven-year, $210 million contract.

Fittingly, Lester and Scherzer are scheduled to face off in Wednesday night's series finale. Grace, who was part of a group of prospects that included Greg Maddux, Jerome Walton and Joe Girardi in the late 1980s, believes the Cubs' resources will allow them to spend at Nationals-like levels in order to compete. "When I was with the Cubs, we were in the middle of the pack as far as payroll," Grace said. "Now it's going to be way up there, so now they're always going to have a chance. The bottom line is high payrolls will have a better chance of doing damage. "The similarities are there, but they're able to keep them in Chicago now. We let Greg Maddux go when it came time for him to become a free agent. Shame on them." Extra innings: Kyle Schwarber, the Cubs' first pick in the 2014 draft, remains a possibility to join the Cubs later this season, Maddon said. Schwarber is batting .296 with 10 home runs at Double-A Tennessee. ... Reliever Anthony Varvaro returned to the Red Sox after it was determined Varvaro, who was on the Cubs' 25-man roster for one day before getting designated for assignment, had a torn flexor tendon in his right arm while with the Red Sox, according to multiple reports. -- Chicago Tribune Kris Bryant looks forward to matchup with Bryce Harper By Mark Gonzales PHOENIX – Monday will mark a special reunion at Wrigley Field for Chicago Cubs’ rookie Kris Bryant and Washington Nationals standout Bryce Harper. The two players have gained special attention dating back to their youth in Las Vegas, but they took different routes on the way to the majors. “The thing that stands out is just how good he was and how much better he was than the top competition,” Bryant said of Harper, who is batting .333 with 16 home runs and 41 RBIs. “He was 11 years old and he was throwing 80 mph off the mound. It was special to see that from a guy that young and he’s younger than me. But just watching him play, I was amazed. I knew that he’d be doing what he’s doing at this level.” Bryant, 23, played with and against Harper, 22, on several youth teams in Las Vegas. But Bryant, who would have been drafted higher than the ninth round out of Bonanza High School in 2010 had he not stood firm in his commitment to the University of San Diego, said he couldn’t have followed the same path as Harper, who left Las Vegas High School at the start of his junior year to earn his General Education Development (GED) so he could be eligible for the 2010 draft. “I couldn’t have done it,” said Bryant, who was drafted by the Cubs as the second overall pick in the 2013 draft. “For me, education was important for me, so I had a plan in high school and what I wanted to do. “We both took different paths and we’re kind of in the same spot now. He’s had an interesting story, and it worked out of him and I’m happy it did." -- Chicago Tribune Sunday's recap: Diamondbacks 4, Cubs 3 By Mark Gonzales The summary

Paul Goldschmidt reinforced his reputation as a Cubs killer Sunday, hitting an RBI single in the first inning and launching a two-run homer over the center-field wall in the third to lead the Diamondbacks to a 4-3 victory. At the plate Miguel Montero and Chris Coghlan each hit a home run off Jeremy Hellickson. But the Cubs managed only five hits as Kris Bryant's hitting streak ended at 12 games with an 0-for-4. On the mound After getting tagged for five hits in the first three innings, Jason Hammel changed his pattern and threw more first-pitch sliders. The Diamondbacks didn't get a hit off Hammel in the next four innings. In the field The odyssey of shortstop Starlin Castro continues as he failed to catch a line drive hit to his left by David Peralta in the three-run third, resulting in his ninth error of the season. Key number .383 – Goldschmidt's career batting average against the Cubs. The quote "We were really not trying to pitch to (Goldschmidt), so we had to take it to the next level and walk him. Give him credit. He's a good baseball player. We were trying to stay away from him and did not do a good job of it." — manager Joe Maddon -- Chicago Tribune Adjustment too late for Jason Hammel, Cubs By Mark Gonzales PHOENIX -- Jason Hammel didn't allow a hit in his final four innings Sunday. Unfortunately for Hammel and the Chicago Cubs, his adjustment occurred too late in a 4-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. "(The Diamondbacks) are a very first-pitch fastball hitting team," Hammel said. "They ambushed a lot of them, and I started throwing sliders and the results were better." Catcher Miguel Montero visited the mound in the third to lend encouragement to Hammel, who shut down the Diamondbacks after Paul Goldschmidt hit a home run that proved to be the difference. Other than failing to contain Goldschmidt, manager Joe Maddon was satisfied with a 3-3 trip. "We did play better than that," Maddon said. " But you accept it at this moment. Coming west with a time change, day game after night game, going back for day game (Sunday). It’s not easy. "I was really impressed with our guys because I know they didn’t feel at their absolute best, and they still played a good game of baseball." --

Chicago Tribune Kyle Schwarber on Joe Maddon's 2015 radar By Mark Gonzales PHOENIX -- Kyle Schwarber made a favorable impression on manager Joe Maddon during his first major league spring training. So despite the fact that Schwarber, 22, has yet to play at Triple-A Iowa and was playing for Indiana University at this time last year, Maddon didn't rule out the possibility of Schwarber reaching the majors this season. "It's possible," Maddon said Sunday morning. "Anything is possible." Schwarber, 22, is batting .296 with 10 home runs and 26 RBIs in 39 games for Double-A Tennessee. The biggest issue will be Schwarber's defense as a catcher. "He's work in progress as a catcher, but he's getting better," Maddon said. Schwarber batted .250 in 20 spring training at-bats but made an instant impression by hitting a grand slam in his first at-bat against San Francisco on March 5. "Every time I look at that scoreboard back home, it's 'Schwarber, 3-for-5, home run, 3 RBIs,' " Maddon said. "Even if it's 1-for-5, it's a game-winning RBI. "So I got to know him in camp. He's definitely got the hitting chip. He thinks he knows he can.'' A promotion to the majors doesn't seem immiment, but Maddon acknowledged the possibility of Schwarber joining the Cubs as a left-handed hitter when 25-man rosters are expanded in September. --