Arrieta, Quintana slated for sim game

Maddon not yet ready to announce rotation for upcoming NLDS

September 30th, 2017

CHICAGO -- Both and have made their final regular-season starts, and the two will pitch in a sim game on Wednesday at Wrigley Field as the Cubs prep for the National League Division Series presented by T-Mobile.
Dress for October: Get NL Central champs gear
Arrieta's status for the NLDS remained uncertain because of a hamstring injury sustained Sept. 4. Manager Joe Maddon was not ready to reveal the Cubs' NLDS rotation on Saturday. The best-of-five series begins in Washington next Friday against the Nationals.
Arrieta has made two abbreviated starts since the Sept. 4 outing and had been scheduled to start Sunday in the regular-season finale, but the Cubs chose to give him time to rest and get treatment.
Maddon said they wanted to talk to all of the pitchers before announcing the order.
The Cubs will take Monday off, then have workouts both Tuesday and Wednesday at Wrigley Field. Tuesday's sim game will feature the relievers.
Worth noting
• On Saturday, became the first Cubs player to play 150 games in each of his first three Major League seasons. He's the 11th player to do so in Major League history.
"That's really impressive," Maddon said of Bryant's feat. "Most of the time when guys come up, they're not able to handle that number of games or aren't good enough to be put in the lineup that many times. Give him credit."

Bryant won the 2015 NL Rookie of the Year Award in his first season and last year was named the NL Most Valuable Player Award winner. This year, he was bothered by hand and ankle injuries, yet he recovered quickly and did not need to go on the disabled list.
"You really can't underestimate how difficult it is to be an everyday player in this league," Maddon said. "Just posting 150 times matters to your team. It takes a lot of mental strength to do that. You're going to have your bad days, you're going to have bumps and bruises, you're going to be hurting, you're not going to want to play, you've got a cold, you've got a cough. It's quite an achievement in our game to be able to do that."
• Could the Cubs carry three catchers on the NLDS roster?
"It's not impossible," Maddon said.
is the primary catcher, but both veterans and Alex Avila have made contributions in the short time they've been with the team.
"I'm a big fan of both of those guys, Alex and Rene," Maddon said. "These guys are so solid about what they do. They feel like they've been here all year -- I'm certain of that. They're both very worthy of being there."
The Cubs acquired Avila from the Tigers at the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, and they claimed Rivera off waivers from the Mets on Aug. 19.