Despite all the ups and downs of the first half, the Chicago Cubs are still in the hunt for a National League wild-card spot heading into their three-game series against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers that starts on Monday night.
The Cubs, who are 3 1/2 games out of the final wild-card spot, salvaged a win in their three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday after entering the ninth inning with just one hit and trailing 1-0.
Nico Hoerner doubled and scored the tying run in the ninth to end a streak of 18 consecutive scoreless innings for the Cubs, and he walked with the bases loaded in the 10th for a walk-off 2-1 win.
"We've got to win baseball games," said Cubs manager Craig Counsell, who managed the Brewers from 2015-23. "I've said it a couple times, we don't have margin for error. We didn't win the (Arizona) series. We've got to win baseball games, so every win is crucial."
The Cubs thought they had figured things out when they swept a three-game series against the American League East-leading Baltimore Orioles from July 9-11 and then split a four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals just before the All-Star break. All five of those wins came on the road.
However, Chicago lost to the Diamondbacks in the first two games coming out of the break.
"That road trip, I thought, was really impressive and it revealed a lot of character about this group," Hoerner told Marquee Sports Network. "We got another big series coming up -- they all are. We're gonna embrace it and have some fun and go win some ballgames."
Right-hander Javier Assad is set to start the series opener for Chicago.
Assad (4-3, 3.27 ERA) only went 2 1/3 innings on July 13 in his most recent start, which came against the Cardinals. He allowed three runs and seven hits and did not earn a decision in the 5-4 loss.
In three career appearances (one start) against Milwaukee, Assad is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA.
The Brewers plan to counter with rookie right-hander Tobias Myers.
Myers (6-3, 3.13) hasn't pitched since logging eight shutout innings in a 9-0 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 10. He yielded four hits in that outing.
Myers has come a long way since posting a 5.03 ERA in 26 starts for Double-A Biloxi last season.
"This kid had no thought he was going to pitch for the Milwaukee Brewers this year," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. "He might've, but if he's being honest with himself, he was one of the first guys out of spring training."
Myers said he has kept his approach simple this season.
"For me, it means continue to do what I've been doing and that's just taking it one pitch at a time, one day at a time, not looking too far ahead," Myers said. "As simple as competing as much as I can every single time I'm out there and giving the team all I have."
In two starts against the Cubs this year, Myers has gone 0-1 with a 7.00 ERA.
