Five days away is just long enough to get me totally out of my routines, and set me up for struggles in adjusting back. I have already asked two people what day today is because I’m so out of the loop. It’s Wednesday. Wednesday.

• Today’s game is certainly not a must-win in any sense that goes beyond the idea that there are very few games left and the Cubs “must win” most of them if they would like to secure a playoff spot. But with the Cardinals on the horizon for four at Wrigley Field, it does feel like staying *at least* two games back of the Cardinals for the top spot of the division is imperative. And that’s to say nothing of the indefatigable Brewers and their gloriously cake schedule from here on out. Moreover, the Cubs have only so many “obviously winnable” games left, so winning those ones – even without Anthony Rizzo and Javy Baez – is critical. Need the rest of the bats to turn it on tonight.
• Speaking of key injured players … Brandon Kintzler’s oblique injury was another one of those that wasn’t quite severe enough to immediately knock him down, but also didn’t quite work to pitch through:

Kintzler said he initially hurt his left side a few weeks ago when he fell on the mound at Wrigley during a pitch. It's been bugging him a bit ever since, but pain was bad in SD, so he felt like he was hurting the team and decided he should back off a bit to let it heal

— Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) September 18, 2019

B. Kintzler (Salt) will try from the mound in the next day or so. Fell off the mound a few weeks ago and never got right with his back/side: "San Diego was the worst pain I was in. That wasn't good for anybody."

— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) September 18, 2019

• Sure enough, Kintzler saw a big velocity drop in his final two appearances, so it was a good idea to sit down. The problem nows is that if he needs a couple bullpen sessions before he can even be ready, you’re looking at maybe not having him back until the final week of the season.
• Relatedly, Craig Kimbrel – who threw a successful simulated game yesterday – could be back this weekend:

Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel appears on brink of return from IL after ‘encouraging’ sim game https://t.co/CLZx2unS8B via @SunTimes

— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) September 18, 2019

• Offensively, the Cubs need to keep Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber together in the lineup right now. Getting those guys back-to-back-to-back with Kris Bryant is a pretty punishing middle of the lineup, despite the Rizzo and Baez absences.

• Speakers and soundbars are among your Deals of the Day today at Amazon.
• Nobody has covered the Cubs’ rapid advancements in their pitching infrastructure better than Sahadev Sharma, and the insights he offers into the Pitch Lab out in Mesa are always worth your time:

.@sahadevsharma has a great story on how the Cubs' Pitch Lab in Mesa has produced real results with relievers. And he has some interesting news about a possible front office addition: https://t.co/uFtRPaFlxZ

— jon greenberg (@jon_greenberg) September 18, 2019

• And, oh man, if the Cubs actually did manage to land Driveline’s Kyle Boddy for their front office? That would be a coup.
• Keep in mind, the Cubs did just open up the top scouting and player development job in their organization when moving Jason McLeod over to the big league side. That may not be what Boddy is getting a look for, specifically, but it just means that reorganization is underway.
• In case you would like to continue being annoyed about the Brewers’ success, and also their genius pick-up of Drew Pomeranz:

The Brewers are built for Sept with the expanded rosters and extra arms in the bullpen. That strategy has worked well vs. both Cubs & Cards this month and is especially effective vs. these sub-.500 teams.

Plus, they just got Hiura and Woodruff back https://t.co/VoP29fBHbI

— Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) September 18, 2019

"Hader is Hader. He’s pretty good. I do my best to do a Hader impression with a two-inning save." https://t.co/NI5MhEWiGw via @MLB

— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) September 18, 2019

• Pomeranz, by the way, has a 2.53 ERA and stellar peripherals over 20.1 innings since he was traded to the Brewers.
• It’s cool. Cubs got their own Pomeranz at the deadline:

Fun with small samples: Brad Wieck has a 1.42 ERA through his first eight appearances with the Cubs. Also …

a 65.0% K rate and a 0.0% BB rate. Lulz.

— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) September 18, 2019

• Heh:

Laugh of the day: #Cubs fan in Wrigley early goes up to ⁦@D_Ross3⁩ as he is watching Kimbrel simulated game and asks “Are you an usher?” David politely said no. Fan: “Sorry I was Looking for a guy in a blue shirt” Fan completely clueless who he was. ⁦@cbschicago⁩ pic.twitter.com/hlbehgeEZR

— Megan Mawicke (@MeganMawicke) September 17, 2019

• Award-winning kicker, Eddy Piñeiro:

Celebrating Eddy Piñeiro’s NFC Special Teams Player of the Week Award Like There’s No Tomorrowhttps://t.co/zye72CK9s1

— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) September 18, 2019