Cubs' Strop throws, may return next week
Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Pedro Strop threw a bullpen session before Thursday's game and suggested he will be ready to return to game action next week.
Strop was a valuable setup man this season, but he has been on the disabled list since Aug. 11, when he suffered torn meniscus cartilage in his left knee. He also had a groin strain during rehab, delaying his return.
"Everything was like game mode right there," Strop told reporters Thursday after his session ended. "I feel good."
The hope is Strop will be able to get at least 5 appearances in before the regular season ends. He has posted a 2.89 ERA with 21 holds and 56 strikeouts in 43⅔ innings this season.
Epstein on expectations:
Cubs president Theo Epstein praised his team before Thursday's game for excelling this season despite the pressure of high expectations going in.
"Last year we were able to sneak up on people and go on a joy ride in the second half of the season into October," Epstein said. "It almost felt like the only thing that mattered was what was going on in the clubhouse.
"This year, before we even reported to spring training, there were all these expectations, and that kind of crept into the clubhouse and the guys handled it incredibly well and embraced the challenge and didn't back down from any situations.
Epstein obviously is hoping the Cubs can replicate his experience in Boston, when the Red Sox lost in the 2003 ALCS, then won the World Series the following year. The Cubs were swept by the New York Mets in last year's National League championship series.
"We have a lot ahead of us," he said. "It all boils down to how you perform in October. We're rightfully proud of the regular season we've had, and it's meaningful, but it's never time to look back after that."
Minor-leaguers shine:
On the verge of clinching a division title, there's always an eye on the future.
The Cubs named outfielder Eloy Jimenez and right-hander Trevor Clifton their minor-league player and pitcher of the year, respectively, on Thursday.
Jimenez, 19, was named Most Valuable Player and Prospect of the Year in the Midwest League. The Dominican Republic native hit .329 with 40 doubles, 14 home runs and 81 RBI in 112 games for Class A South Bend.
Clifton led all Cubs minor-league pitchers with 129 strikeouts in 119 innings. A 12th-round draft pick in 2013, Clifton went 7-7 with a 2.72 ERA at Class A Myrtle Beach and was named Carolina League Pitcher of the Year.
The Maryville, Tennessee, native allowed 1 run in 12 innings during 2 postseason starts as Myrtle Beach won the league championship.
Cubs notes:
After Wednesday's shutout victory at St. Louis, Jon Lester's ERA improved to 2.40 on the season, second in the majors to teammate Kyle Hendricks at 2.03. The last time the top two pitchers in ERA were from the same team was in 2005, when Houston's Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte finished 1-2. … Heading into Thursday's action, the Cubs were 25-6 at home since the all-star break. … Anthony Rizzo joined Billy Williams as the Cubs' only left-handed hitters to post multiple 30-home run, 100-RBI seasons.