The Chicago Cubs are in the middle of a stretch in which they play 17 games in 18 days. So far, the club is 6-4, continuing the erratic stints of genius which have kept them in second place in the division nearly all season.
However, the Cubs are likely to be without switch-hitting second baseman Ben Zobrist and their Gold Glove-winning right fielder, Jason Heyward, while in Washington. Zobrist is still dealing with a lingering wrist injury and Heyward is in the middle of a 10-day DL ride with a left hand issue.