The Cubs used the Thursday off day to put a rough Western trip behind them.
After going 2-4 in Seattle and Phoenix, featuring three walk-off losses, the Cubs return to Wrigley Field on Friday to start a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds . A four-game series versus the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers follows, their penultimate regular-season meeting and a chance to chip away at their deficit.
The White Sox begin a three-game series at Minnesota on Friday. And it will be a chance for Tristan Peters to set the franchise record for home runs in consecutive games.
The outfielder matched the mark by homering in his fifth straight game Wednesday against the Texas Rangers at Rate Field.
Every Friday during the regular season, Tribune baseball writers will provide an update on what happened — and what's ahead — for the Cubs and White Sox .
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Cubs infielder Pedro Ramírez quickly left an impression on his teammates and coaching staff in spring training.
They raved about the now-22-year-old's poise and how he handled himself around the veteran infield group. That calm demeanor and preparedness is paying off with his sudden increase in playing time. He has become the Cubs' everyday second baseman with Nico Hoerner shifting to shortstop while Dansby Swanson is on the injured list with an oblique strain.
"It's great working with Pedro," Hoerner told the Tribune. "I feel like early on we had some double-play opportunities that we weren't able to convert on, but overall, it's been fun communicating with him and making that work. Obviously we miss Dansby a lot, but it's a fun challenge to have right now, and we'll do our best until he comes back."
Hoerner praised Ramírez's combination of confidence and fun personality that allows him to get along with everybody.
"He's in a cool place in his career right now where he's both producing and playing well at the big-league level but still learning on the fly in a way that I think just says a lot about his own character," Hoerner said. "To both be present and competing for the day but also improving as a player — he's going to have a great career."
Through 58 games, Ramírez is hitting .286 with a .345 on-base percentage and 114 OPS+. He has been able to stay within himself, owning an 18.5% strikeout rate for fourth-lowest on the Cubs (minimum 150 plate appearances). The trust his teammates and coaches have shown in him since spring training instilled confidence and lets him play freely on the field.
"I don't have to be scared or concerned, like, if I make a mistake, if I make an error," Ramírez said through an interpreter. "That's what has helped me to just be happy and play baseball.
"It's a dream to be able to play second base on a daily basis for the Chicago Cubs, and I'm super happy that right now everything is working and in flowing. I'm working hard to continue to help the team."
Whether it's someone who has been in the majors for a few years, or — as is the case with Hagen Smith — a few weeks, conversations with fellow relievers have been helpful for right-hander Grant Taylor .
"That's been awesome," Taylor told the Tribune last week. "Having some guys with different experiences. Guys with starting experience, guys with leverage experience. Even guys like Hagen, who are fresh up here giving different perspectives.
"It just kind of grounds you a little bit. Like he's just excited (for) his first day, getting in the games and (you) learn different things and learn and learn. So it takes you back into that mindset of 'This is pretty sweet.'"
Taylor isn't all that far removed from his big-league debut, which came in June of last season. He has been one of the key relievers this season, with a 2.11 ERA, eight saves and 10 holds in 51 appearances (four starts). He has 89 strikeouts and 24 walks in 68 1/3 innings.
Taylor has allowed two runs over his last 18 outings (23 2/3 innings).
"I'm feeling great right now," Taylor said.
Taylor entered with the bases loaded, two outs and the Sox ahead by four runs Tuesday against the Rangers. He induced a grounder to second to end the game. That was on the shorter end of his outings. He also was utilized for two innings in 12 relief appearances — including 2 1/3 on July 29 against the New York Yankees .
He said the key to bouncing back is being diligent on sleep, recovery and nutrition. He also noted making the most of rest days.
He's taking those steps to be available as the Sox make their playoff push.
"Just coming into the ballpark excited to win ball games," Taylor said.
The Cubs set a franchise record this week by scoring 30 unanswered runs spanning 23 innings from the third inning of Sunday's game in Seattle until the eighth inning Tuesday in Phoenix. The Cubs surpassed their previous high of 29 straight runs, which they accomplished in September 1876 and May 1969, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
Friday: vs. Reds, 1:20 p.m., Marquee
Saturday: vs. Reds, 1:20 p.m., Marquee
Sunday: vs. Reds, 6:20 p.m., Peacock
Monday: vs. Brewers, 6:40 p.m., Marquee
Tuesday: vs. Brewers, 6:40 p.m., Marquee
Wednesday: vs. Brewers, 6:40 p.m., Marquee
Thursday: vs. Brewers, 6:15 p.m., Fox
Daniel Palencia couldn't hide the disappointment.
In his second game back from the injured list Tuesday against the Diamondbacks , Palencia surrendered three runs in the eighth inning as the Cubs held a 4-0 lead that eventually resulted in a walk-off loss. After retiring the first batter, Palencia, in a scary moment, hit the Diamondbacks' Jordan Lawlar in the head with his pitch.
Palencia went on to surrender three runs in the frame, though one came on Gabriel Moreno 's check-swing that saw the ball clip first base instead of becoming the third out on a grounder to Michael Busch . Manager Craig Counsell did not seem overly concerned with Palencia's outing and thought his stuff still looked good.
"We've seen this with multiple guys coming off the injured list and extended absences, you're just not your best self, like, when you come off the list, you need to get into competition, major-league competition, to get to that place," Counsell said. "But I think Danny threw the ball pretty well. That was not an outing that deserved three runs on the board, that's what I'd say. But it happened."
Palencia's outing Tuesday followed a strong performance Friday against the Mariners in which he struck out two of the three batters he faced, needing just 10 pitches to get out of the inning. Counsell wants to continue to find good spots to work in Palencia, believing his limited action this season (18 1/3 innings) means he needs more work to get back into his top form.
"You always gonna have stuff in your life, it just depends how you take," Palencia said. "Something is bad when you don't learn from it, so (Tuesday) is a night for me to learn and just being ready for tomorrow."
Friday: at Twins, 7:10 p.m., CHSN
Saturday: at Twins, 1:10 p.m., CHSN
Sunday: at Twins, 1:10 p.m., CHSN
Monday: at Astros, 7:10 p.m., CHSN
Tuesday: at Astros, 7:10 p.m., CHSN
Wednesday: at Astros, 7:10 p.m., CHSN
Thursday: at Astros, 1:10 p.m., CHSN
The Sox were off Thursday after completing a stretch of 16 games in 16 days.
"It's huge," manager Will Venable said of the off day. "And you know, you see it. You can see it. These guys are running on fumes here."
Venable said it's common throughout baseball.
"That's what's happening across the league," he said. "That's what happens when you have 16 in a row at the end of August. It will be nice to catch our breath."
The Sox went 9-7 during the stretch against the Cincinnati Reds (1-2), Detroit Tigers (3-0), Cubs (1-2), Atlanta Braves (0-1), New York Mets (2-1) and Rangers (2-1). Before Thursday, they were last off Aug. 10.
The Sox have games scheduled in 23 of the next 24 days, beginning Friday against the Twins. The only off day during the period will be Sept. 7.
The Sox made three roster moves ahead of the Twins series, recalling pitcher Tyler Davis from Triple-A Charlotte and optioning pitcher Jonathan Cannon and infielder/outfielder Rikuu Nishida to Charlotte on Thursday.
"He's covering all types of pitches, obviously in a really good spot, and it's fun to watch." — Venable on Peters .
