MILWAUKEE — All the Chicago Cubs can do is move on and refocus.
That was their approach after each of the three losses in Atlanta this week, and it’s the mentality they are taking into their postseason-determining weekend series against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs will need help to secure a playoff spot. Poor play over the last three weeks in which they went 6-13 in that span entering Friday’s series opener at American Family Field has the Cubs heading toward their season ending Sunday,
One of the worst things the Cubs could do in Milwaukee is try too hard and press. There is a balance between playing with urgency and trying to make something happen.
“That’s been a nice dialogue within the locker room itself is when things become more magnified that no one in the locker room expects anything different from each other than whatever it is that you’ve brought all year and whatever your skill set is,” second baseman Nico Hoerner said Friday. “Me going up there and trying to hit three-run homers the entire weekend isn’t going to help the team or things along that line.
“That’s been a nice part of this clubhouse. I feel like everyone understands where they’re at and it’s just a matter of executing that helps you keep the perspective.”
Hoerner credited veterans who have been through these moments during their careers and the daily conversations among teammates, something Hoerner believes can be traced to spring training and how well they jelled from the get-go.
“Everyone in here has incredibly high standards for themselves and for the group, and it helps when you’re around other guys that are levelheaded,” Hoerner said. “That’s really all you can do is rely on the people around you, the people you trust and then attack each day as best you can.
“We’ve been playing games with pretty big stakes for a long time now, and it’s an incredible privilege and exciting thing that’s been a part of some amazing moments of this team this year, so it’s become the standard in a way and that’s what you want at the highest level is to have each day have that purpose and excitement. And when things go wrong, yeah, it hurts, and when things are great, it’s great, but consistently trending in the right direction and embracing those moments, we’ve done a nice job.”
The optimistic vibes won’t matter much this weekend without wins. The Cubs must give themselves a chance to get in, even though they will need the Pittsburgh Pirates to hand the Miami Marlins some losses.
The bullpen gets a boost with the return of right-hander Adbert Alzolay, who was activated from the injured list before Friday’s game. Right-hander Keegan Thompson was optioned as the corresponding move. Manager David Ross didn’t make any guarantees of how he might use Alzolay after the nearly three-week layoff, specifically whether he would slot him back into the closer role.
It’s not an ideal situation with Alzolay only getting one live batting practice and no rehab assignment before returning for this decisive stretch. But the Cubs don’t have a choice with their postseason lives on the line.