LEADING OFF

STAY CLASSY, CHICAGO: With his Chicago Cubs hovering just over .500, manager Joe Maddon is borrowing inspiration from the Channel 4 news team: new suits! The Cubs will sport “Anchorman” themed outfits today when they leave Chicago for Los Angeles to begin a road trip that will also take them through San Diego, site of Will Ferrell’s comedy about a local news station. There will be plenty of Ron Burgundys and Brian Fantanas on the flight, to be sure, but Maddon had one request: to dress infielder Tommy La Stella as weatherman Brick Tamland. “They’re like two interchangeable guys,” Maddon said.

SHAKING UP THE STANDINGS: Two of the NL’s biggest surprises open a four-game series when the Brewers host the Diamondbacks. Milwaukee leads the NL Central buoyed by one of the majors’ top offenses, though it will be looking to snap a three-game skid behind right-hander Zach Davies (5-2, 5.44 ERA). Arizona, meanwhile, has won eight of nine games and is 10 games over .500 (29-19) for the first time since 2011.

BIG 44 FOR BARTOLO: Bartolo Colon celebrated his 44th birthday Wednesday, but another big number is of greater concern heading into his start against Pittsburgh: his ERA. Colon has a 6.38 mark, easily the highest of his career. Only two of his nine outings this season have been quality starts, a sharp drop off from his solid 2016 season with the New York Mets. Even so, Braves manager Brian Snitker says Colon “has helped his younger teammates a lot with how he goes about things.”