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Maddon not worried about Baez

BOSTON - For a second day in a row, Javier Baez was not in the Chicago Cubs' starting lineup even though the Boston Red Sox started left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez.

Baez entered Sunday with a .203 batting average and an on-base percentage of .262.

"Obviously, I'm not hot right now," he said. "He (manager Joe Maddon) is using the hottest people right now."

Baez added he is not "uncomfortable" at the plate.

"No, I'm not seeing the ball as I look at it all the time," he said. "Just working on it, whatever. Just making my adjustments. It's not like I'm not hitting the ball. I'm hitting the ball. I'm just swinging at balls that are not in the zone."

Maddon said he isn't worried about Baez.

"I swear I'm not worried," he said. "I'm more worried about after last season and the emotional component of the WBC (World Baseball Classic), and I'm using the word 'emotional' a lot today. I'm really locked in to it. I just want to make sure that we build him into the season properly.

"Great start to spring training. And then he goes (to the) WBC, tears it up there. They go deeply into this event. These guys were really involved. Coming into the regular season, it's almost somewhat of a letdown, I think, to a lot of these guys that played and played to that level so soon.

"Based on his body of work at the end of last year and what happened this spring, I want to really keep a close eye on him. I want to make sure that he stays engaged emotionally, mentally, because I think there was a lot laid on him early this year."

Don't fear the Monster:

Kyle Schwarber started all three games at Fenway Park as the designated hitter. He said he wouldn't mind playing left field and dealing with the Green Monster.

"That's a little bucket-list item," he said. "So maybe one day. But I'm going to stick with being the DH, put in some good at-bats."

Schwarber was planning on going to the top of the Monster before Sunday night's game. He said the wall does present an inviting target, even for left-handed batters.

"Heck yeah, that's inviting," he said. "If you can get a ball and put it off that wall, it could be a double, it could not be. A flyball out at Wrigley could be a double (to left at Fenway)."

That's some relief:

Cubs relievers entered Sunday with an ERA of 2.71 and a WHIP of 1.10. The ERA was the best in the National League and fifth in the majors. Overall, the bullpen has done a much tidier job lately.

"Part of it is (Hector) Rondon's doing really well," Joe Maddon said. "He's really figured himself out. Stropie's (Pedro Strop) really getting his feet on the ground now, too.

"Carl's (Edwards) been consistent. I think there's been an uptick in Wade (Davis), although Wade's been pretty much solidified. (Justin) Grimm's been throwing the ball. Even though I've known these guys for a bit, let's just let them start pitching and see how it all levels off.

"I think primarily Rondon. The ascension of Ronnie has really kind of defined it a lot better. But I still want to try to move it back and forth without getting anybody really tired because I have that much confidence in all these guys."

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