SAN FRANCISCO -- The standing ovations from Cubs fans at Wrigley Field and hugs between players are out of the way. Knowing the potential impact that the upcoming Trade Deadline could have on the team, that all took place during a homestand earlier this week.
Now, the wait is on as the clock ticks to Tuesday.
"The two days at Wrigley were the emotional ones," Cubs outfielder Ian Happ said, "because you knew you weren't coming back. Now, you're just playing baseball. You're just playing baseball, trying to help the team win and getting back in the rhythm of that."
In a 4-2 win over the Giants on Friday night, a few of the Cubs' trade candidates made appearances, as scouts looked on and front-office executives around the league continued talks with Tuesday's 5 p.m. CT Deadline looming.
Contreras, Stroman team for strong start
Unlike the pitchers who have been around the Cubs for a few seasons, Marcus Stroman had to build a rapport with All-Star catcher Willson Contreras from scratch as a free-agent addition to the rotation this year.
With six shutout innings together in Friday's win, Stroman has turned in a 3.08 ERA in 26 1/3 innings with Contreras this season. Since coming back from the injured list earlier this month, Stroman has a 0.89 ERA in four outings (the last three with Contreras catching).
"We've been on a roll lately, me and Willson. He's been great," Stroman said.
Plenty of focus falls on Contreras' offensive abilities, but he has turned himself into one of the game's top all-around catchers with improved defense and pitch calling in recent years. That will be an important element, as contending teams consider adding Contreras for the stretch run.
"He's going to be great," Stroman said. "I think his career's just getting started, to be honest with you. It definitely sucks to lose a guy like Willson, a guy who comes up each and every day and competes to the absolute maximum. It's hard to find that."
Happ shows off his arm from left field
With two outs and runners on first and second in the first inning, Mike Yastrzemski sent a Stroman pitch to left field. Wilmer Flores sprinted from second and headed home, trying to get the Giants on the board.
And then?
"A huge momentum shifter," Stroman said.
Happ gloved the ball after one hop and came up firing, sending a throw to the plate at 89.5 mph, per Statcast. At the plate, Contreras secured the baseball and put the tag on Flores to bring an emphatic end to the inning. For Happ, it marked his eighth outfield assist (tied for the National League League) this season.
"That was probably my best throw of the year. Felt really good," said Happ, who entered Friday with three defensive runs saved in left this year. "Everything kind of lined up. And being able to get that, make that play for Stro right off the bat, then he coasted from there, which was great."
Givens, Robertson finish things off
Before a reporter could even finish a question about Mychal Givens being on a roll for the Cubs' bullpen, manager David Ross began to rave about the setup man on Friday night.
"Yeah he has," Ross said. "I feel like he's throwing as good as anybody."
In the eighth inning, the veteran Givens finished San Francisco off with two strikeouts after a fluky, bloop double from LaMonte Wade Jr. that eluded center fielder Rafael Ortega. It marked the 16th straight outing with no earned runs for Givens, who has 20 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings in that stretch. He has lowered his season ERA to 2.66 from 4.63 in the process.
Givens is very much on the radar for teams seeking bullpen help.
"The Trade Deadline has nothing to do with me," he said. "It's the front office -- what they're going to do. I'm just here to have fun and play with the guys. Right now, I'm a Cubbie. That's all I'm worrying about."
Another trade target, David Robertson worked the ninth inning after four days off. Pitching with a four-run cushion, the closer went cutter-heavy out of the chute and allowed hits to Tommy La Stella (double) and Flores (two-run homer). From there, Robertson leaned more on his breaking pitches and escaped further damage.
"He was just trying to be on the attack [in a] big park," Ross said. "It happens."