Cubs anticipating bolstered 'pen down stretch

MILWAUKEE -- Héctor Rondón, who has been on the disabled list since Aug. 17 with a right triceps strain, is expected to be activated on Tuesday and return to the Cubs' bullpen.
The Cubs are hopeful reliever Pedro Strop, on the DL with a meniscus tear in his left knee, will return in time to appear in five or six games before the playoffs begin. Manager Joe Maddon said he will ease both Rondon and Strop into non-stressful game situations as much as possible.
The Cubs' bullpen threw 14 scoreless innings in the four-game series against the Giants, including eight shutout innings on Sunday. One reliever who has shined is rookie right-hander Carl Edwards Jr.

"He has the potential to be a premier reliever in this league, period," Maddon said. "The fastball velocity and cut is an unusual combination, and combine that with a curveball that's good against both righties and lefties, [it's effective]."
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• Lefty Mike Montgomery will close the Cubs' series against the Brewers on Wednesday, making his fourth start as the sixth man. Maddon said Montgomery is penciled in to pitch on Sept. 14 against the Cardinals, giving the Cubs a six-man rotation for another turn.
"There is some flexibility," Maddon said Monday.

Even with the extra starter, Cubs pitchers such as Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester should reach their goal of 200 innings. Arrieta is at 174 innings while Lester has 169. The addition of Montgomery is to make sure the other starters aren't overworked heading into the postseason.
"There's the altruistic component -- Cubs win the World Series -- and there's the individual component -- 'I want this,'" Maddon said. "I want to believe our guys are more into the altruism of the moment as opposed to the individual element."
• Heading into Monday's game, the Cubs have allowed the second-most stolen bases in the National League this season, with 116. Maddon said that can be corrected.
"It's just an awareness factor," Maddon said. "We have to be more aware who's the baserunner, what the situation is. We have pitchers who can be a little tardy to the plate, but there are other ways to get that done."
One element that's improved the Cubs' chances is having Javier Báez at second base. The infielder is stellar at making quick tags on basestealers.

"You should always apply a hard tag whenever you have the chance to do it," Maddon said. "[Baez] does it all the time."