NL CENTRAL
Chicago Cubs
Anthony Rizzo made his first career appearance at third base, and now the first baseman wants a chance to pitch.
Rizzo played third in the bottom of the ninth inning of a victory at the Cincinnati Reds on Aug. 22. He took the place of Kris
Bryant, who was hit by a pitch in the top of the inning and removed from the game for X-rays, which proved negative.
Rizzo became the third lefthanded third baseman in franchise history and the first since the 1800s, but manager Joe Mad
don says there is “no chance” the 28-year-old will take the mound.
“I think it would have to be the perfect storm,” Rizzo said. “It would have to be a playoff game, we’re out of pitchers and I’m the absolute last resort in the 27th inning. That’s the only way I could get it.”
Left- hander Jon Lester (left shoulder fatigue) pitched a simulated game Aug. 28, which could put him in line to rejoin the rotation during a four-game series against the Atlanta Braves this weekend.
Maddon admitted he has been dyeing his hair a darker shade of gray and jokingly said he is trying to achieve the blue-steel color actor Ben Stiller wore in Zoolander.
Cincinnati Reds
Tyler Mahle wasn’t perfect in his major league debut but pitched well enough.
The 22-year-old right-hander was called up from Class AAA Louisville on Aug. 27 to start against the Pittsburgh Pirates and took the loss, giving up three runs in five innings.
Selected in the seventh round of the 2013 amateur draft, Mahle pitched two no-hitters in the minor leagues, including a perfect game this season for Class AA Pensacola (Fla.) on April 22. Mahle filled in for right-hander
Homer Bailey, whose previous start Aug. 24, a no-decision against the Chicago Cubs, was cut to three innings because of irritation in his shoulder. Bailey was scheduled to start again Aug. 30 against the New York Mets.
Mahle’s batterymate, catcher
Chad Wallach, also made his major league debut after being called up from Louisville. He is the son of Miami Marlins bench coach and former big-league third baseman Tim Wallach.
Left fielder Adam Duvall earned his majors-leading 13th outfield assist Aug. 25 when he threw out Pirates first baseman Josh Bell at home plate. It is the most assists by a Reds outfielder since Jay Bruce had 13 in 2013.
Right- handed reliever Alejandro Chacin gave up a home run to the first batter he faced, the Cubs’ Tommy La Stella, on Aug. 23 after being called up from Louisville.
Milwaukee Brewers
Zach Davies looks so young that he occasionally gets mistaken for a batboy.
However, the 24-year-old righthander has emerged as the ace of the Brewers pitching staff in his second full season. He won his 15th game Aug. 26, pitching seven shutout innings at the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“It’s a fun accomplishment,” Davies said. “I think almost everyone in this room is really trying to make the playoffs — that’s the end goal. It’s nice for myself, but I had a lot of help to get there.”
Davies had a 5.08 ERA in his first 19 starts, but in his last eight outings his ERA is 1.67. Overall, he is 15-7 with a 3.91 ERA in 27 starts.
“There’s not a big change that he’s made,” manager Craig Counsell said. “It’s four pitches working together with each other, and that’s what makes him so effective.”
Catcher Andrew Susac (right trapezius strain), on the disabled list since Aug. 15, was expected to begin a rehab assignment this week. Another catcher, Jett Bandy (fractured rib), is likely to be activated from the DL on Sept. 1 after being shelved since Aug. 4.
Left- hander Brent Suter (strained rotator cuff) also is expected to be activated Sept. 1. He was placed on the DL on Aug. 13.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Gerrit Cole made history with his arm and his bat.
The right-hander hit a home run and pitched seven innings while combining with relievers
Juan Nicasio and Felipe Rivero on a five-hit shutout Aug. 26 in a 1-0 victory at the Cincinnati Reds. It was the first time in Pirates history a pitcher drove in all of the team’s runs in a win.
“That’s the old thing: When something like this happens, you jokingly say he Little Leagued them,” manager Clint Hurdle said.
Cole got his first career victory against the Reds after going 0-6 in nine previous starts. The home run was the third of his five-year career, and Cole stumbled on his trot around the bases.
“I almost broke my ankle at second base, and I think (Reds second baseman) Scooter Gennett was laughing at me,” Cole said. “It doesn’t happen very often. It’s cool being in the box and hearing the sound off the bat.” Catcher Francisco Cervelli (left thigh) went on the disabled list Aug. 26. He had been activated only a day earlier after missing 10 games because of pain in his left wrist.
Right fielder Gregory Polanco (left hamstring), out since Aug. 13, started doing light agility drills, but there was no timetable for his return.
St. Louis Cardinals
Trevor Rosenthal’s comeback season will end on the operating table.
The closer will have Tommy John elbow surgery after suffering a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament. The right-hander likely will miss at least the first half of next season, too.
Rosenthal, 27, converted 11 of 13 save opportunities this season. He had a combined 93 saves in 2014 and 2015 but struggled last year and was replaced by Seung Hwan Oh.
Rosenthal reclaimed the closer’s job in July after some rocky outings by Oh, who is likely to get the bulk of the save chances again.
“It felt like we were getting in a groove, I was in a groove, and to kind of have this happen and take a piece away from a really good team is a little bit of a bummer,” Rosenthal said.
Third baseman Jedd Gyorko (right hamstring) was placed on the disabled list Aug. 27 and is likely out until mid-September.
Matt Carpenter and Greg Garcia are expected to play third while Gyorko recovers.
Rookie first baseman Luke Voit was recalled from Class AAA Memphis to take Gyorko’s roster spot. If Carpenter makes the majority of starts at third, Voit probably will see significant playing time at first.
“That might have been the best slider I’ve seen in a long time. It was elite.”
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle on Reds rookie right-hander Robert Stephenson, who had a career-high 11 strikeouts in six innings Aug. 25 in a win vs. Pittsburgh