Talented Nationals to provide stiff test for Cubs

This weekend's series against NL East-leading Washington represents the toughest test remaining on the Cubs' regular-season schedule - at least if we're judging by winning percentage.

Following the series against the Nationals (63-43), the Cubs will have 53 games remaining over 16 series against 11 teams sporting a combined 550-629 record (.466). Only three of those 11 remaining regular-season opponents carried winning records into Thursday's action: Arizona (61-46), Milwaukee (57-53) and Tampa Bay (56-53).

In fact, four of the Cubs' remaining opponents - San Francisco, Cincinnati, Philadelphia and Toronto - are mired in last place in their respective divisions.

Don't tell Cubs manager Joe Maddon the Cubs have it easy the rest of the way.

"You've got to play and beat everybody as much as you possibly can," Maddon said. "I know the records, but that's an absolutely easy trap to fall into."

Western influence:

Maddon said he remains wary of any West Coast road trip, including next week's six-game swing through San Francisco and Arizona.

The Cubs should be wary. In their only previous trip to the western time zone this season, they went 0-6 against Los Angeles and San Diego.

"I'm just concerned about the time change thing," Maddon said. "It's always impactful. It normally is this time of year, although a couple of years ago, you know, Jake (Arrieta) threw the no-hitter. We did OK. But that's it. I always look at the August trips going the other direction as potentially being a difficult moment."

Tired legs:

Willson Contreras said Thursday's nearly four-hour game coupled with three rain delays totaling 2:35 has taken a toll.

"I feel like I'm catching 22 innings," he said after the 10-8 loss to Arizona. "You don't see this kind of game very often, but today was one of those kinds of games. It was like a roller coaster."

Rare balk:

A long streak came to an end when Cubs reliever Pedro Strop was called for a balk in the seventh inning of Thursday's 10-8 loss to Arizona. It was the first balk committed by a Cubs pitcher since July 22, 2015, a streak of 337 games. It was the longest streak in baseball since Boston went 369 games without a balk from 1998-2000.

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