CHICAGO — At times this season
Richard Rodgers Color Rush Jersey , the Chicago Cubs have struggled to produce offensively, especially when it comes to situational hitting that turned
hits into runs.
But as the Cubs prepare to open a brief two-game series against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday at Wrigley Field, any concerns about run production seems to
have subsided. At least for now.
The Cubs will carry a four-game winning streak into Tuesday after producing 46 runs during their winning streak, which they extended with an 11-10 victory
over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.
Although the bullpen struggled to protect leads at times, the Cubs’ bats did more than their fair share. Now, the Cubs will attempt to remain hot against the
Tigers, who have won two straight but have lost 11 of their last 13 games.
The Tigers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 on Monday.
After Sunday’s victory, the Cubs found themselves leading the majors in hitting (.266) and on-base percentage (.345). Despite the times this season when
the hits weren’t coming, the Cubs haven’t experienced any change in confidence
now that they’re averaging more than 10 per game in their last four games.
“We’ve been the same offense for quite some time now,” Cubs left fielder Kyle Schwarber said Sunday, according to the Chicago Tribune. “Things happen. We’re
just going to keep this going.”
Cubs pitchers have enjoyed plenty of run support of late, which is something Tuesday’s starter, Kyle Hendricks, wouldn’t mind seeing continue against the
Tigers. Hendricks (5-8, 4.21 ERA) has experienced inconsistency this season and
has battled his mechanics all the way through.
Hendricks went 1-4 in June and is coming off an outing in which he allowed a season-worst six runs in just 2 2/3 innings on June 27 against the Los Angeles
Dodgers.
He hopes to right the ship in a new month against a team that has struggled offensively during their recent skid. Hendricks will face the Tigers for the
first time in his career.
“I’m just searching right now — it’s just bad,” Hendricks told reporters after his last start, according to the team’s official website. “Mechanics, I’m
trying to focus mentally and going pitch to pitch and I’m doing that, but
something’s just off. I’m searching now.”
The Tigers’ back-to-back victories come after their losing streak reached a season-high 11 games. With Miguel Cabrera out for the season and other veterans
like Victor Martinez struggling at the plate, manager Ron Gardenhire has been
forced to work with a lineup full of young hitters.
Before snapping the skid with a victory Sunday over the Blue Jays, the Tigers finished June hitting .222.
“We’ve had a lot of struggles offensively
Sam Hubbard Jersey , for sure,” Gardenhire said Sunday, according to the Detroit Free Press. “I think our pitching has held up OK. (The) bullpen had
its good and bad moments. Offensively, we’ve really scuffled, especially the
past couple week here. We all know that. Offensively, we have to get a lot
better. More consistently.”
On Monday, the Tigers placed closer Shane Greene on the 10-day disabled list with a right shoulder strain. Joe Jimenez, who is considered the Tigers’ closer
of the future, will move into the role for the time being, Gardenhire said.
Jiménez has a 2.77 ERA, 44 strikeouts and nine walks in 42 appearances covering
39 innings.
Michael Fulmer (3-7, 4.20) will start Tuesday for the Tigers. Like Hendricks, Fulmer struggled in June, losing three of his five starts with a no-decision.
Fulmer will face the Cubs for the first time in his career.
The Minnesota Vikings, who are running out of time before the regular season begins for
rehabilitating center Pat Elflein to return, took a step toward protecting
themselves by acquiring center Brett Jones in a trade with the New York Giants
for a draft pick.
The deal, which is contingent on Jones passing a physical exam, was announced on Sunday. The Vikings didn't disclose the selection, but NFL Media reported
it's a seventh-round choice in 2019.
The trade was made hours after coach Mike Zimmer said Elflein would not be ready to practice with the team this week, with the second-year starter still
working his way back from offseason surgeries on his ankle and shoulder.
"He's going to practice when he's ready to go," Zimmer said. "I don't know when that's going to be."
Elflein was placed on the physically unable to perform list at the start of training camp
Authentic Shaquem Griffin Jersey , but Zimmer said he didn't believe Elflein would land on the reserve PUP list next weekend when 53-man rosters must be
established around the league. In that case, a player must sit out the first six
weeks before he can resume practicing or playing.
Elflein was a third-round draft pick out of Ohio State last year. Cornelius Edison has taken his place with the first-team offense for now. Nick Easton took
the spot when camp began, but he was diagnosed with a herniated disk in his neck
and scheduled for season-ending surgery. That injury hit doubly hard, because
Easton was in line to start at left guard for a second straight year.
Conveniently, Jones made his first career NFL start for the Giants at left guard in 2016. The 6-foot-2, 312-pound Jones started 13 games for the Giants
last season at center, but he fell behind Jon Halapio on the depth chart in
training camp .
John Greco has played well enough to gain the team's trust as the backup. So the Giants, who are tight against the cap, dealt Jones and his $2.914 million
salary to the Vikings.
"He's one of my favorite guys, and he's going to a really good place," said Giants head coach Pat Shurmur, who was the offensive coordinator for the Vikings
last year. "With their situation in the offensive line, he's going to have a
chance to compete to maybe be their starter."
Jones was actually pulled off the practice field on Sunday when the trade was made.
"We're going to make decisions based on what's best for our team," Shurmur said. "I like all the players that we have out here, and I want them all to have
success."
Jones, a native of Canada who attended Regina University in Saskatchewan, was the CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award winner in 2014, his second
season with the Calgary Stampeders. He signed with the Giants in 2015.
