CHICAGO -- It provided for a lighter moment but underscored a larger issue with the Chicago Cubs. For the second time in four games, Cubs manager Joe Maddon used multiple position players to pitch in order to save his bullpen. The message being sent to the front office -- purposely or not -- in advance of the trade deadline next week is clear: The first-place Cubs need pitching.
"It was pretty crazy standing on that mound," first baseman Anthony Rizzo said late Monday after pitching the final third of an inning in a 7-1 loss to Arizona.