Maddon likes Cubs' rivalries in heated NL Central

PITTSBURGH - The Cubs have been playing their National League Central rivals furiously this month.

They went to St. Louis and nearly swept the Cardinals. And they fought through four games with the Pirates at PNC Park this week.

The Cardinals come to town this weekend, followed by the Brewers and the Pirates.

The NL Central has turned into one tough division, and even though the rivalries are heated, they seem respectful.

Both Cubs manager Joe Maddon and Pirates boss Clint Hurdle echoed that.

"I like Clint; I like Mike Matheny, too," Maddon said, also referring to the Cardinals manager. "I don't know, I haven't really felt any kind of vitriol coming from either city. I think there's a lot of respect in regards to how everybody plays it.

"You're not supposed to like anybody that you play. I don't necessarily feel any kind of animosity toward them. I just like playing them. I like playing St. Louis. I like playing good teams."

The Cardinals lead the NL Central while the Pirates and Cubs are chasing, with all three holding down playoff spots.

"I really like playing teams that are in the hunt," Maddon said. "Regardless of who you're playing right now, I think you're going to feel that same kind of like crazy intenseness. When you're involved like we are right now, playing this time of year, you're going to feel that every day.

"But when you're playing Pittsburgh or St. Louis ahead of you … like last night (Cubs' 12-inning victory Wednesday), did that bring out the best in everybody? Absolutely. When both sides have something to lose, it really adds to the moment as opposed to a team that has nothing to lose. So I really like playing this time of year against teams that are still involved."

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle offered similar sentiments to reporters this week.

"I can't speak to the feelings other teams in the division," he said. "The feeling I have in this division is nobody likes each other. We all respect each other. Nobody likes each other.

"I think it's a really, really good division. I think it's a really good division to learn, to grow, to sharpen the mentality that every pitch does matter. And also to understand there's no perfect team. We all still find ways to get in our own way."

Soler is back:

The Cubs activated outfielder Jorge Soler off the disabled list. Soler had been rehabbing with Class A Myrtle Beach, which won the Carolina League championship Wednesday night.

Soler, 23, went on the disabled list on Aug. 24 with a left-oblique strain and saw action in four rehab games. He went 3-for-13.

Myrtle Beach was managed Mark Johnson, who last year led the Kane County Cougars to the Midwest League title. Many Cougars players moved up to Myrtle Beach this year.

The Cubs now have 35 players on the active big-league roster.

Didn't look good:

Pirates shortstop Jung Ho Kang left the game in the first inning after the Cubs' Chris Coghlan slid hard into him at second base. Kang got up but needed to be helped off the field. Coghlan was booed by Pirates fans each time he came to the plate afterward.

Joe Maddon called it the play "absolute baseball," and Coghlan said no harm was intended.

"It was just an unfortunate circumstance for him," Coghlan said. "I'll send him over a (note). I hope that he's OK."