Cubs New Strategy: Own Everyone

PITCHER OF THE DAY: C.J. Edwards, rhp — Double-A Tennessee (Cubs) It's a Tennessee two-step as Edwards, who missed about two months with what the organization called a minor shoulder strain, pitched five scoreless innings Tuesday in a game the Smokies eventually lost, 7-5. Edwards has been excellent since his return in late July, not allowing more than three runs in any appearance. He's been especially good of late, throwing 11 scoreless innings in his past two starts with eight whiffs.

HITTER OF THE DAY: Addison Russell, ss, Double-A Tennessee (Cubs). Lauded as the best defender of the shortstop pileup in the Cubs organization, Russell has shown power as well since the trade that sent him from Oakland east. He homered Tuesday night—his 10th in 40 Southern League games—a grand slam that was part of a five-RBI game. Nineteen of his 46 hits with Tennessee have been for extra bases and he's hitting .301/.348/.556 with the Smokies.

TEAM CLASS PITCHER IP H R ER BB K ERA CHC R Sands, Carson 3 2 0 0 1 3 0.56 W (3-0) CHC R Steele, Justin 3 1 0 0 0 4 2.20

Anthony Rizzo didn’t seem happy about losing a win and having to resume Tuesday’s game. “I think it would be better if I didn’t comment on it,” Rizzo said.

Kris Bryant, 3B, Cubs (Iowa, AAA): 2-3, R, HR, BB, K. At this point in the season, it’s difficult to come up with new superlatives for Bryant, but I’ll try this one: His worst month this season was April, in which he hit .281/.407/.539. Watching Anthony Rizzo split Bryant and Baez in the Cubs lineup next summer should make NL Central pitchers very nervous.

Addison Russell, SS, Cubs (Tennessee, AA): 2-4, 2 R, HR. That’s three straight games with a home run for Russell, who will fit into the aforementioned scenario somewhere and could also be ready by next summer, if the Cubs can figure out where to play everyone.

RHRP Blake Parker has been recalled from Iowa as the 26th man for the second game only (the "regularly scheduled" game)... 

Beginning on MLB Opening Day up through August 31st, a club can temporarily add (recall or select) a 26th player to its MLB Active List on any day where two games are scheduled, as long as the second game was scheduled at least 48 hours in advance. If the second game was scheduled less than 48 hours in advance, a 26th man can be temporarily added to a club's MLB Active List for the second game only. 

1. The "26th man" must be on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) or has to be added to the club's 40-man roster that day.

2. The "26th man" does not have to be a pitcher. 

3. In the case of a second game being scheduled at least 48 hours in advance, the 26-man Active List limit is in effect for both games, but the "26th man" cannot be switched between games. 

4. A player can be added to a club's Active List as the "26th man" even if he has not spent the minimum required 10 days on optional or outright assignment prior to being added. 

5. The player who was recalled as the "26th man" can remain on the Active List and a different player can be dropped the next day, as long as the "26th man" was not called up prior to spending at least ten days on optional assignment. NOTE: A player called up as the "26th man" prior to spending at least ten days on Optional Assignment could remain on the 25-man roster if the player replaces a player who is placed on the Disabled List (or other MLB inactive list) the day after the doubleheader.

6. If a player is recalled as the "26th man" and is optioned back to the minors the next day, the "10-day rule" clock (prohibiting a player from being recalled until he has spent at least ten days on Optional Assignment, unless he is replacing a player who is placed on the DL or other MLB inactive list) does not start over again. However many days toward ten that the player spent on Optional Assignment prior to being recalled as the "26th man" counts.

7. A player recalled as a "26th man" accrues one day of MLB Service Time.