Sveum seeks strong finish from struggling players

CHICAGO -- With six games remaining, Cubs manager Dale Sveum is hoping players who have struggled this year can finish on a positive note.

"You want guys producing," Sveum said. "We're going to see really good pitching here in the next six days. You feel bad for guys who've had poor years and you'd like to see them -- because it's been so stressed in the media -- you'd like to see six days of something special out of [Starlin] Castro and [Darwin] Barney and [Anthony] Rizzo and the guys we're evaluating for next year to put a good taste in their mouth for the winter."

Castro entered Monday's game against the Pirates batting .241, well below the .297 average he compiled in his first three seasons. Barney was batting .209, while Rizzo was hitting .231, but led the team with 22 home runs and 77 RBIs.

Sveum will meet with each player one on one for the end of the season wrapup, although it has yet to be determined if they'll do those sessions during the final homestand, which ends Wednesday, or this weekend in St. Louis.

Sveum did see positive signs with the bullpen heading into 2014 with the performances of pitchers such as Hector Rondon, Justin Grimm, Pedro Strop and Carlos Villanueva.

"We obviously have some pieces we have control over," Sveum said. "The bullpen going into next year will be a lot more solidified than it has the last two years."