Community Picks: Milwaukee Brewers 0% vs Chicago Cubs 0%

In a lineup with Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber and Ben Zobrist, it may be the young shortstop that is the most intriguing hitter on the reigning world champs. Bryant has already won an MVP award, Rizzo has emerged as one of the best all-around hitters in the game and Schwarber is an October legend even though he's only played 97 games at the big-league level (including playoffs). "I feel like I'm just scratching the surface as far as power and understanding what pitchers are trying to do and what situations," Russell said. Whereas Russell spent almost all of last season hitting below the heart of the order (92 of his 141 starts came in the six spot or lower), Joe Maddon has written him in fifth in 10 of 12 games and as the cleanup hitter protecthing Rizzo in the other two contests. Continue to Article

April 17, 2017 11:11:am EST

Yadier Molina reached for a ball in the dirt the other day at Yankee Stadium, the sort of pitch he usually smothers with ease using his chest protector and a square set of shoulders. Molina knew it, too, and slammed his mask to the ground as he chased toward the backstop. It's just two weeks into the season, but something seems off about the St. Louis Cardinals. Continue to Article

April 17, 2017 9:25:am EST

Going 0-for-4 on Sunday doesn't mean Kris Bryant is about to slip back into the slump he was in earlier this month. After opening the season with three games in which he couldn't hit a thing, Bryant has steadily boosted his numbers. The Chicago third baseman went 0-for-13 in the season-opening series at St. Louis, but the reigning National League MVP has since hit .314 (11-for-35) with four doubles, two homers, seven RBIs and seven walks. Continue to Article

April 16, 2017 11:09:pm EST

In a lineup with Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber and Ben Zobrist, it may be the young shortstop that is the most intriguing hitter on the reigning world champs. Bryant has already won an MVP award, Rizzo has emerged as one of the best all-around hitters in the game and Schwarber is an October legend even though he's only played 97 games at the big-league level (including playoffs). "I feel like I'm just scratching the surface as far as power and understanding what pitchers are trying to do and what situations," Russell said. Whereas Russell spent almost all of last season hitting below the heart of the order (92 of his 141 starts came in the six spot or lower), Joe Maddon has written him in fifth in 10 of 12 games and as the cleanup hitter protecthing Rizzo in the other two contests. Continue to Article

April 16, 2017 9:26:pm EST

For the first time in a while, the Pittsbrugh Pirates enjoyed their visit to Wrigley Field. Adam Frazier hit a clinching home run as the Pirates scored six times in the final two innings to beat the Chicago Cubs 6-1 Sunday for a three-game sweep of the World Series champions. The Pirates went 4-14 against the Cubs last season, including 1-8 in Chicago. Continue to Article

April 16, 2017 7:17:pm EST