Cubs' Hendricks says he's ready to pitch, despite weather
Kyle Hendricks will take the ball Friday night at Coors Field for the Cubs. It will be his first start since April 12 because of off-days and weather-related schedule issues.
"It's still weird, being on an eight-day schedule," he said Thursday. "This time of the year, you really like getting in to a five- or least a six-day routine. But we know it will happen. It's just a matter of time."
Hendricks is 0-1 with a 3.71 ERA in his 3 starts so far.
As luck would have it, the phrase "weather permitting" might be in use for Friday's game and perhaps for Saturday.
This April has been one of the worst Hendricks has seen, going back to his college days at Dartmouth.
"In college I pitched in a game April 5, and it was snowing," he said. "But that was the worst I had seen until now. I heard more snow tomorrow in Denver possibly. But there's nothing we can do about it. It's out of our control, like anything else. It's like making a good pitch and giving up a hit. It's something out of your control. You can't worry about it. You've just got to get your work in. Whenever we can play, we can play."
Back in the swing:
Kyle Schwarber went 2-for-4 with a walk and 2 RBI in Thursday's 8-5 victory over the Cardinals. His line is now .245/.373/.490.
"How about Schwarber?" said manager Joe Maddon. "That's as good as I've seen him in awhile. I loved the line-drive (out) to the shortstop as much as anything."
Schwarber has been using more of the opposite field. He says he is feeling comfortable at the plate.
"That's where it was pitched," he said of going to the left side. "We're just more about being focused on the work and the process besides results. We've been doing some pretty good work in the cage. It's pretty much what we did from spring to now.
"I've been feeling good. I feel like there's been some tough at-bats here and there but still taking the walks and trying to get those guys when they're on."
Schwarber has 10 walks, second on the team to Kris Bryant's 11.
Back getting better:
Ben Zobrist did not play as his back has been tight. But he was available to come into the game in an emergency. He said he is feeling better than he was in spring training, when his back first acted up.
"It was stuck when it got into certain spot," Zobrist said of his spring-training back problems. "In certain spots, it's just a little uncomfortable.
This and that:
Joe Maddon recorded his 300th regular-season victory as Cubs manager. He is the 11th manager to reach 300 with the Cubs … Pitcher Jon Lester made his 100th career regular-season start with the Cubs. He is 45-24 with a 3.33 ERA in those games. Lester's 45 wins are tied for the third most by any Cubs lefty in his first 100 career starts with the team.