Kyle Schwarber
-- After a down season that found him in the minors for a short stint, Chicago Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber promised himself 2018 would be different. It began with getting in shape. The Cincinnati native has spent the winter in Tampa doing just that. A slimmed-down Schwarber is giving us a. Get the MLB schedule, scores, standings, rumors, fantasy games and more on NBCSports.com.
Aug. 8--The cure for the Cubs' road problems?
'Someone said to bring the white jerseys on the road,' Kyle Schwarber quipped Wednesday after the Cubs concluded a 5-1 homestand with a dominant 10-1 victory over the Athletics.
'I don't think that we're not thinking about the road. We just want to win. We just happen to be on the road. We're ready to go out there and attack this next series.'
Thanks to seven innings of two-hit ball by Jose Quintana that preserved a taxed bullpen and home runs by resurgent Ian Happ, Schwarber and Victor Caratini, the Cubs (62-52) improved to 41-19 at Wrigley Field, ensuring a winning home record for the sixth consecutive season.
More important, the successful homestand -- combined with an 0-5 West Coast trip by the Cardinals (58-55) -- enabled the Cubs to stretch their lead in the National League Central to 3 1/2 games.
But they must sustain that momentum as they open a 10-game trip Thursday night against the rebuilt Reds, who are 7-5 against the Cubs this season.
'I'm excited about all of it,' manager Joe Maddon said. 'It's part of the games. You're not going to get away from it. We've got to do something to be better there.'
The Cubs haven't won their last 10 road series dating to May 17-19, when they took two of three from the Nationals. Since then, they've lost 22 of 31 on the road, including four of six to the division rival Brewers and Cardinals.
If there's a such a thing as a carryover effect, the Cubs can feel optimistic about the recent contributions of Happ and Schwarber.
Happ, whose grand slam Wednesday highlighted a five-run fourth inning, is 6-for-10 with a double and two home runs in his last four games.
'A lot of it is just having confidence in yourself,' said Happ, who spent most of the season refining his plate discipline at Triple-A Iowa until he was promoted July 26.
Schwarber has responded well since being dropped from the leadoff spot. He hit a three-run opposite-field homer in the fifth and is 7-for-12 with a double, two homers, six RBIs and five walks in his last six games.
His 26 home runs match his 2018 total.
'(Happ and Schwarber) are young guys who have experience but still (are) youthful,' Maddon said of their ability to recover from slumps. 'The league adjusts to the way the game is played today via computers and analytics. If you have a problem at all, it's going to be exposed immediately. And if the pitcher knows what he's doing, he can go right to that problem area.'
Kyle Schwarber Contract
The Cubs will have two significant reinforcements on the trip. Catcher Jonathan Lucroy, who was signed after clearing waivers Monday, will join the team Thursday in Cincinnati.
And closer Craig Kimbrel should return from the 10-day injured list Wednesday in Philadelphia.
But first the Cubs must solve a Reds pitching staff that has regained Alex Wood after a back injury and added Trevor Bauer at the trade deadline.
'It's going to be tough,' Maddon said.
Maddon suggested the Cubs do less preparation instead of dwelling on ways to reverse their 21-33 road record.
'I have faith in the guys,' Maddon said. 'I want them to go play. If anything, I'm saying work less on the road. Show up and play. Keep the mind and body fresh is the best way I can describe it. I totally believe in that. There is the point of diminishing returns. That's the one thing I learned in economics class at Lafayette.
'I really am a big believer in that, especially this time of the year. I've been in groups that if you don't take care of the time right now, it will beat you up in September. I've talked about (how) September creates its own energy, but you've got to get there in good shape to really have earned that energy.'
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