Manager Joe Maddon is happy with the daily options at his disposal, with one caveat.
“We have so many different looks right now — if everyone is healthy,” Maddon said before Friday night’s game against the Nationals was postponed after a second rain delay that lasted two hours, 55 minutes, with two outs in the top of the second inning with no score.
The game was rescheduled for 2:05 p.m. (CT) Saturday as part of a single admission doubleheader, with the second game scheduled for 45 minutes after the completion of first game.
In the first game, Jaime Garcia will start for the Cubs against Max Scherzer. Cole Hamels will go in Game 2 for the Cubs, with the Nationals starter uncertain.
The doubleheader further complicates Maddon’s immediate lineup choices that have been limited somewhat because of injuries, and the performance of specific players could dictate the manager’s moves if the Cubs reach the postseason.
Among the position players, right fielder Jason Heyward returned home Thursday to nurse a right hamstring injury that will keep him on the 10-day disabled list past Monday — the first day he’s eligible to be activated.
“It’s really obvious what Jason means to us when he’s on the field,” Maddon said of Heyward, who was batting .275 with 52 RBIs and a .333 batting average with runners in scoring position, in addition to playing Gold Glove-caliber defense in right and center fields.
And Ben Zobrist was scratched from Friday night’s lineup because of a stiff neck. Zobrist’s ailment shifted Kris Bryant to right field in place of Zobrist after Maddon had penciled him in to start in center field for the first time since April 23, 2015 in Pittsburgh.
These are goofy times for the Cubs as they try to secure their third consecutive National League Central title with a successful but fatigued bullpen.
Until the rain arrived, Maddon was trying to find ways to get mileage out of starter Jon Lester and not be forced to contemplate using Jesse Chavez, Pedro Strop, Justin Wilson and Steve Cishek — all of whom pitched on consecutive nights Wednesday and Thursday to preserve victories.
At the same time, Maddon is trying to find the right combinations in the likely event injured closer Brandon Morrow can’t rejoin the Cubs.
“We’ll wait and find out,” Maddon said. “Chappy (Aroldis Chapman) spoiled us in 2016, and Wade (Davis) did the same thing (in 2017). It’s probably going to be different. I’m not going to push this guy (Morrow) when he comes back, but all these other guys have been getting work in.”
Maddon credited the versatility of Chavez and the effectiveness of Wilson against left-handed hitters as well as right-handers for enabling him to give other relievers chances in other roles.
Wilson bailed Carl Edwards Jr. out of a jam in the eighth inning of Thursday’s 6-4 victory, three days after Maddon stuck with Edwards before he walked in the tying run in the eighth inning of a loss to the Brewers.
“Once Carl comes back (strong), it’s going to firm this up nicely,” Maddon said.
Until Zobrist experienced neck discomfort, Maddon already planned to rest him in Sunday’s series finale.
Maddon also is looking for spots to rest Bryant, Javier Baez and Daniel Murphy.
One possible period to give Murphy a “rest” would be to employ him as the designated hitter for the series Sept. 21-23 against the White Sox.
That series starts a stretch of 10 consecutive games in Chicago to end the regular season, which will seem like a slumber party for the Cubs, who are entering the final stages of a 23-game stretch without a day off.
“You can’t ask for more from our guys, the way we’ve handled this,” Maddon said. “I have nothing to complain about. We’ve been very impressive.”
