Cubs facing a stretch of 23 games without a day off

Manager Joe Maddon’s annual American Legion Week can’t last long enough for the Cubs after they embark today on an ominous stretch of 23 games without a scheduled day off.

“The body never feels the same every day,” said reliever Pedro Strop. “Just take the rest when you need it.”

The Cubs’ Legion Week, in which players are encouraged to arrive to Wrigley Field as late as they want before home games in an effort to get more rest, starts Thursday and will run through their seven-game homestand that concludes Aug. 29. They then embark on their four-city, 10-game odyssey to Atlanta, Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Washington.

“I’m more conservative about how much (pregame) work I put in, and I’ll try to be careful about that,” said Ben Zobrist, 37, who has remained largely injury-free due to a schedule that he and Maddon script as far as a week in advance.

But there’s a National League Central title at stake, so Maddon faces the challenge of keeping his players fresh while trying to maintain a lead in the division. “It’s grind time,” Kyle Schwarber said. The Collective Bargaining Agreement states that teams cannot play more than 20 consecutive days. But the Cubs’ rainout in the final game of a three-game series on May 17 caused that rule to be waived because the Cubs weren’t scheduled to return to Atlanta, and Aug. 30 — was a mutual day off. WHITE SOX: Chicago manager Rick Renteria will stay in a Minnesota hospital overnight after complaining of lightheadedness.

The 56-year-old Renteria was at the ballpark when the issue arose and was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center as a precaution. A team official says Renteria went through tests, but didn’t have any further information.

Bench coach Joe McEwing managed the club for Monday night’s 8-5 victory over the Twins.