Chicago Cubs no strangers to cupping craze

Olympic athletes aren't the only ones into the cupping craze.

The practice has been prevalent in the Chicago Cubs' clubhouse this season, well before the games in Rio began. Left-hander Clayton Richard, now with the San Diego Padres after being let go by the Cubs, was into the practice, as evidenced by the red circles on his body after cupping treatments.

Cubs reliever Travis Wood also has tried cupping.

"This was the first year that I've tried it, and I've had it done two or three times," Wood said Wednesday. "It doesn't hurt anything, and I feel it makes me feel a little bit better."

Cupping, an ancient Chinese treatment, involves applying cups to the skin to create suction to stimulate blood flow. Baseball players, on the Cubs and other teams, have been using to it help in recovering from game-related stresses and strains.

"It just pulls blood to the area you think needs it, gets fresh blood in there and makes it feel better," Wood said.

Wood said he tried it after seeing Richard getting treatment.

"I just saw it in (the training room) one day," Wood said. "I saw some other guys do it and thought I would give it a try. I don't do much in there, so I was like, 'Let's see if it does anything.' I saw Clayton doing it. He said that he liked it, so I thought I'd give it a try.

"It just sucks up the skin a little bit, draws blood in there and they move it around a little bit. I don't think you feel instant relief from anything, but just give it time, play catch, do your thing and eventually it feels better."

The St. Louis Post-Distpatch reports that Cardinals pitchers Jaime Garcia and Seung Hwan Oh have used cupping, Oh for treatment on his hamstring and Garcia on his left shoulder.

The Post-Distpatch says the team has its chiropractor, Brett Winchester, perform the treatment, and that Garcia said he has felt benefits.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak told the paper the practice is "another tool in the toolbox" if players choose to use it.

Rondon recovering:

Relief pitcher Hector Rondon, the Cubs' closer until Aroldis Chapman came via trade in late July, is making progress from a sore triceps, manager Joe Maddon said Wednesday.

Rondon entered Wednesday having not pitched since Aug. 2. After Tuesday night's game, Maddon revealed Rondon has been batting the triceps ailment, something the pitcher said is not an "issue." Maddon said Rondon has played catch and has felt better.

"There's nothing negative," the manager said. "He's trending in the right direction, not the wrong direction."