CHICAGO (AP) — The young core of the Chicago Cubs is learning with each long playoff run.Coming off their first World Series title since 1908, the Cubs got off to a slow start last year and had to push themselves in the second half to overcome Milwaukee and win the NL Central. But they lined up with Washington in the first round of the playoffs and the grueling series with the Nationals took its toll, sending the Cubs on to a lopsided loss to rested Los Angeles in the next round.The grind of a third straight trip to the NL Championship Series left an impression."I think it just teaches you how every year is so different," pitcher Kyle Hendricks said, "not just the season, but the offseason too, and how you get your body ready. For a lot of us young guys, I think we learned a lot between the 16-17 year and that offseason and I think we're using it to our advantage this year; just how much to rest, how much to work out, what you need to get ready."The division is much improved, but the Cubs... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The young core of the Chicago Cubs is learning with each long playoff run.Coming off their first World Series title since 1908, the Cubs got off to a slow start last year and had to push themselves in the second half to overcome Milwaukee and win the NL Central. But they lined up with Washington in the first round of the playoffs and the grueling series with the Nationals took its toll, sending the Cubs on to a lopsided loss to rested Los Angeles in the next round.The grind of a third straight trip to the NL Championship Series left an impression."I think it just teaches you how every year is so different," pitcher Kyle Hendricks said, "not just the season, but the offseason too, and how you get your body ready. For a lot of us young guys, I think we learned a lot between the 16-17 year and that offseason and I think we're using it to our advantage this year; just how much to rest, how much to work out, what you need to get ready."The division is much improved, but the Cubs... [More]

LHP Mike Montgomery gave up a three-run homer in the eighth to 1B Ryan Zimmerman as the Nationals won 6-3 on Saturday in Game 2 of the NLDS. "He hung the change up," said manager Joe Maddon. "For me it's a perfect situation for him to put the ball on the ground, but it just did not happen."

LHP Mike Montgomery stepped in for the regular season finale in place of RHP Jake Arrieta, pulled from his start to give him more rest as he dealt with the aftereffects of a hamstring strain. Montgomery struck out two to reach 100 strikeouts for the first time in his career. He worked three scoreless innings as the Cubs handled starting pitching by committee with five different pitchers.

LHP Mike Montgomery took a no-hitter into the sixth, giving up only Brad Miller's solo home run in his six innings. Joe Maddon said it was his best work since joining the Cubs, and he struck out six without walking one batter, this after walking four in a short outing last time out.

LHP Mike Montgomery (6-8), was originally slated to start the game. He instead tossed two scoreless frames for the win. He has a 2.48 ERA in 28 relief appearances this season. Montgomery earned his second victory as a relief pitcher this season.

LHP Mike Montgomery was originally scheduled to start on Thursday but will instead return to the bullpen, where he spent much of the season before stepping in when LHP Jon Lester went on the disabled list last month. Montgomery is 5-8 with a 3.64 ERA.

LHP Mike Montgomery (5-7, 3.38 ERA) makes his 12th start of the season and sixth at home for Saturday's scheduled 3:05 p.m. CT game. He's 3-1 with a 1.88 ERA in his last four starts despite taking the loss in his last appearance on Sept. 3, a 5-1 Cubs loss to the Braves. Saturday's game will be his seventh appearance and second start against Milwaukee. In his lone start on July 6 at Wrigley Field, he gave up seven runs in 2 1/3 inning. He's 1-3 all-time with a 5.11 ERA in 10 games (three starts) against the Brewers.

LHP Mike Montgomery took the loss on Sunday, his first since July 6 against the Milwaukee Brewers and saw his four-game winning streak snapped. Montgomery, who allowed three runs on five hits against the Atlanta Braves Sunday, has a 1.88 ERA in his last four starts.

LHP Mike Montgomery (5-6, 3.29 ERA) makes his 11th start of the year and fifth at home in Sunday's series finale. In his last start on Aug. 28 against the Pirates, he pitched a season-high seven innings, allowing just a solo home run to lead off the eighth. Montgomery, who has worked most of the season out of the bullpen, was inserted in the starting rotation when left-hander Jon Lester went on the disabled list on Aug. 18. He'll make his second career appearance and start against the Braves. He allowed two hits and one run in six innings in the Cubs' 8-2 win at Atlanta on July 19.

LHP Mike Montgomery (5-6) extended his scoreless innings streak to 17 1/3 before allowing a home run to lead off the eighth inning. He's now 3-0 with a 0.95 ERA in his last three starts and lowered his ERA as a starter to 4.05. Monday's start was his fifth of at least seven innings, the previous four came in 2015. Montgomery also had a hit and scored a run.

LHP Mike Montgomery believes his future in the major leagues is as a starting pitcher. Manager Joe Maddon agrees. On Wednesday night, Montgomery did nothing to dispel that notion, allowing four hits through six innings in a 9-3 win over the Reds. Montgomery (4-6), who moved into the rotation when Jon Lester went on the disabled list, is considered a candidate to be in the starting rotation for the Cubs in 2018. For now, he's content with his role as a spot starter and reliever. "Since day one I came over here, they've been telling me I'm a starter," Montgomery said. " think I am as well. Whatever is best for the team, that's the mentality I've taken. Thats how I've been able to transition back and forth." Montgomery issued one walk and struck out four. He retired 10 of the final 11 batters he faced. His 89 pitches were the second-most he has thrown this season. "He's a ground-ball machine," Maddon said. "Fastball command. When he gets ahead in the count, he can force hitters to put the ball in play. I'm not surprised by this at all. He's very capable."

The Chicago Cubs placed left-hander Jon Lester on the 10-day disabled list Friday with left lat tightness and shoulder fatigue, but the injury is not expected to be season-ending.Lester was pulled in the second inning of Thursday afternoon's game against the Cincinnati Reds due to the injury and saw a team doctor after the game. He allowed nine runs (seven earned) in 1 2/3 innings as the Reds outlasted the Chicago Cubs 13-10."There's no minimum or maximum, just that it's a 10-day stay and then we'll figure it out," Cubs manager Joe Maddon told reporters Friday of Lester's return.Lester was replaced by left-hander Mike Montgomery in Thursday's game after facing 11 batters in the second inning and Cincinnati leading 8-0. Montgomery will take Lester's slot in the rotation.The 33-year-old Lester is 8-7 with a 4.37 ERA over 148 1/3 innings in 26 starts this season after helping the Cubs win the World Series last year. He signed a six-year, $155 million deal before the 2015 season.Montgomery... [More]

LHP Mike Montgomery hit a two-run double in the seventh inning Monday, giving him two RBIs for the first time in his career. It was his first hit of the season and first career double. Montgomery also worked 2 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on three hits.

RHP Mike Montgomery finally was in the right place at the right time Saturday. Montgomery, who had a 1-5 record through June despite a 2.80 earned run average, picked up his third victory of the season by pitching a scoreless 10th inning Saturday night. He is now 3-6 with a 3.78 ERA.

LHP Mike Montgomery (2-6, 3.83 ERA) allowed two hits over six innings and hit his first career homer Wednesday in a victory over the Braves. The only hits were a double in the fifth and a homer in the sixth. Montgomery, who entered the game 1-3 with a 5.77 ERA as a starter, struck out five, walked one and hit a batter. He entered the game 1-for-28 with 14 strikeouts as a hitter.

DENVER -- Nolan Arenado hit three home runs in a game for the first time in his career Wednesday as the Colorado Rockies walloped the San Diego Padres 18-4 to sweep a three-game series and win their fourth in a row overall.Arenado had a career-high five hits and tied a personal best with seven RBIs. He also scored four runs.Arenado's memorable game gave him 21 homers and a major-league-leading 80 RBIs this season. With a shot at a record-tying four homers when he came to bat in the eighth, Arenado ran the count to 3-2 and lined out to left.Dodgers 9, White Sox 1 (8 innings)CHICAGO -- Enrique Hernandez slammed two home runs, and Chris Taylor finished a triple shy of the cycle to help Los Angeles win its 11th straight in a game called early because of rain.Corey Seager added a home run, two singles and three RBIs for the Dodgers, who have won 31 of their last 35 games. Kenta Maeda (8-4) held the White Sox to one run on five hits in five innings.Top prospect Yoan Moncada finished 0-for-2 with... [More]

DENVER -- Nolan Arenado hit three home runs in a game for the first time in his career Wednesday as the Colorado Rockies walloped the San Diego Padres 18-4 to sweep a three-game series and win their fourth in a row overall.Arenado had a career-high five hits and tied a personal best with seven RBIs. He also scored four runs.Arenado's memorable game gave him 21 homers and a major-league-leading 80 RBIs this season. With a shot at a record-tying four homers when he came to bat in the eighth, Arenado ran the count to 3-2 and lined out to left.Dodgers 9, White Sox 1 (8 innings)CHICAGO -- Enrique Hernandez slammed two home runs and Chris Taylor finished a triple shy of the cycle to help Los Angeles win its 11th straight in a game called early because of rain.Corey Seager added three hits, a home run and three RBIs for the Dodgers, who have won 31 of their last 35 games. Kenta Maeda (8-4) held the White Sox to one run on five hits in five innings.Top prospect Yoan Moncada finished 0-for-2 with... [More]

DENVER -- Nolan Arenado hit three home runs in a game for the first time in his career Wednesday as the Colorado Rockies walloped the San Diego Padres 18-4 to sweep a three-game series and win their fourth in a row overall.Arenado had a career-high five hits and tied a personal best with seven RBIs. He also scored four runs.Arenado's memorable game gave him 21 homers and a major-league-leading 80 RBIs this season. With a shot at a record-tying four homers when he came to bat in the eighth, Arenado ran the count to 3-2 and lined out to left.Cubs 8, Braves 2ATLANTA -- Chicago, which went into the All-Star break two games under .500, has won six straight since and is starting to look a little more like the team that won the World Series a year ago.Left-hander Mike Montgomery allowed two hits over six innings and hit his first career homer as the Cubs completed a second straight series sweep with a victory over Atlanta.Addison Russell was 4-for-4 with two doubles, and the Cubs got homers from... [More]

MIAMI -- Rookie Nick Williams hit two triples to overshadow another Giancarlo Stanton home run and leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a 10-3 win over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday.Stanton homered four times in this series, including one in each of the three first innings. Wednesday's homer, at the time he hit it, tied Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees for the major league home run lead with 30.Christian Yelich also hit a solo homer for Miami.Philadelphia's Daniel Nava went 4-for-5 with two RBIs to lead a season-best 20-hit attack as the Phillies won just their third road series of the season, taking two of three from the Marlins.Cubs 8, Braves 2ATLANTA -- Chicago, which went into the All-Star break two games under .500, has won six straight since and is starting to look a little more like the team that won the World Series a year ago.Left-hander Mike Montgomery allowed two hits over six innings and hit his first career homer as the Cubs completed a second straight series sweep with... [More]