What’s New

Rodon will get two extra days rest; Lance Lynn to start Thursday vs. Twins

Left-hander Carlos Rodon’s scheduled start Thursday against the Twins got pushed back to Saturday against the Royals due to a tight right hamstring and tight back, manager Tony La Russa said Wednesday.

La Russa characterized both issues as minor, but right-hander Lance Lynn will start Thursday on four days rest. Rodon (5-0, 0.58 ERA) will get seven days following his scoreless six-inning performance with eight strikeouts and no walks against the Royals Saturday in Kansas City.

“He had a little hamstring tightness,” La Russa said. “And he could’ve pitched [Thursday].

“It was more just to make sure that his leg — and his back was a little tight, things that crop up — just don’t want to push it, unless you have to, and we didn’t have to.”

Rodon’s clean bill of health after bouncing back from shoulder and Tommy John surgery has been the big story in the former No. 3 draft pick’s resurgence this season, in which he has been one of the best pitchers in baseball.

Rodon was limited to 42 ¹⁄₃ innings over the previous two seasons but La Russa envisions him taking the ball every fifth day this season.

“Yeah, I think so,” La Russa said. “He’ll be like everybody else. It’s a strenuous thing when all of a sudden you feel a little tweak here or there, it’s not going to feel better if you go out there and pitch. There’s nothing in the way he’s gotten ready and the way he’s built up the strength and stamina that’s going to prevent him from pitching every five days.”

Rodon pitched a career high 165 innings in 2016.

Vaughn hits first homer

A few hours after hitting coach Frank Menechino said he told rookie Andrew Vaughn to “[bleep] the home run” and work on hitting .300 instead, Vaughn hit his first career homer against Twins lefty J.A. Happ. It came in his 24^th game and 85^th plate appearance.

“I’ve told Andrew to hit .300. I don’t care if you don’t hit one home run,” Menechino said. Let’s hit .300. Then we will worry about the other stuff later.”

The homer, which traveled 436 feet to left center, raised Vaughn’s average to .327 in his last 16 games.

The graduate

Right-hander Evan Marshall completed his bachelor’s degree from Kansas State this week.

“I’m extremely proud,” said Marshall, 31, the first one of his family to receive a degree. “I owed it to [my parents] to follow through with this.”

A fourth round draft choice by the Diamondbacks after his junior year in 2011, Marshall’s degree is in business management with a minor in marketing. He resumed taking classes after the 2017 season needing 50 credits.

“I just took my last final yesterday so it’s been quietly happening in the background during all of baseball which has been difficult sometimes,” said Marshall, who took classes online and credited wife Allie for giving him the necessary motivation.

“There are a lot of guys in this clubhouse with pending degrees and maybe I can serve as a beacon of hope,” Marshall said.

This and that

Outfielder Adam Engel (hamstring) is ramping up the intensity of his work as he gets closer to making his season debut, La Russa said.

“He’s making progress,” La Russa said. “We’re counting down the days until he rejoins us. I think it’s going to be sometime this month.”

*After enjoying six off days in the first 40 days on the schedule, the Sox began a stretch of 27 games in 27 days and 40 games in 41 days Tuesday.

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The school system plans to phase out its school management partnership with the Academy of Urban School Leadership over the next three years, starting with 16 schools next year.

Chicago Public Schools officials plan to move 31 schools back into the district’s control after 15 years of private management by a not-for-profit organization that used controversial “turnaround” strategies.

The school system said Wednesday it would phase out its school management partnership with the Academy of Urban School Leadership over the next three years, starting with 16 schools next year.

CPS first brought AUSL into the fold in 2006 to “transform” schools the district deemed were struggling with poor academic records. The organization’s M.O. was to fire entire school staffs — everyone from principals and teachers to janitors — and make them reapply for their positions under new leadership.

Critics have said those takeovers led to mass firings of Black educators in predominantly Black schools and contributed to the racial disparities in today’s teaching ranks.

“AUSL has been a critical partner in helping schools and communities in need of additional support, which has led to years of consistent, stable, and improved academic experiences for thousands of CPS students,” CPS spokesman James Gherardi said in a statement announcing the end of the partnership.

Gherardi said the district decided to make the change because “AUSL schools have successfully demonstrated sustained progress” and no longer needed the organization’s support.

The schools, which serve about 16,000 students, would move back into CPS’ geographic networks. Officials are set to propose the move at this month’s Board of Education meeting, and plans are underway to engage each school community about the transition in the coming weeks.

CPS will still pay AUSL more than $1 million per year for a teacher training program that will cover at least 75 teachers each year. The district said it would propose a new three year partnership at the school board meeting.

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A prosecutor wrote that the FBI “is seeking the public’s assistance in locating” Devontay Anderson, who is the subject of an “ongoing federal fugitive investigation.”

Federal authorities say a Chicago man fled Illinois to avoid being prosecuted for last month’s fatal shooting of 7-year-old Jaslyn Adams at a West Side McDonald’s.

A criminal complaint filed April 29 in U.S. District Court says an arrest warrant was issued April 26 for Devontay Anderson, 21, after he was charged with first-degree murder in Cook County Circuit Court. However, it says attempts to find him have been unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, GPS ping notifications from a Facebook account associated with Anderson have pointed to Miami, Florida.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney M. David Habich asked a judge to unseal the complaint Wednesday, writing that the FBI “is seeking the public’s assistance in locating” Anderson, who is the subject of an “ongoing federal fugitive investigation.”

U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheila Finnegan granted the order.

The complaint against Anderson describes how Chicago police responded to the April 18 shooting at a McDonald’s in the 3200 block of West Roosevelt Road. It said they found a 2003 Infiniti sedan “riddled with bullets in the drive-thru lane of the restaurant.”

Jaslyn and her father, Jontae Adams, were in the Infiniti about 4:20 p.m. when two gunmen got out of an Audi and fired into the Infiniti, authorities have said. Jaslyn was killed and her father was wounded.

The federal criminal complaint describes surveillance video viewed by the Chicago Police Department that captured the shooting. It said the Audi contained three occupants when it pulled behind the Infiniti.

“Two adult males then exited the Audi,” the complaint said. “One male, later identified by CPD as Anderson, exited the rear passenger side of the Audi brandishing a Draco AK-47 pistol. The other male exited the Audi from the front passenger seat brandishing a Glock pistol. Both men opened fire on the Infiniti, firing dozens of rounds before re-entering the Audi and leaving the scene.”

Demond Goudy and Marion Lewis have also been charged in connection with the shooting. Prosecutors have said Lewis was the getaway driver but did not fire any of the shots.

The federal complaint says Chicago police identified Jaslyn’s father as a known gang member and began to scour social media accounts of rival gang members. It said they discovered an Instagram Live video which linked Anderson to the murder.

A separate public Facebook page connected to Anderson contained corroborating photos, the complaint said.

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There’s plenty to see and do in Chicago in the week ahead, online and in-person.

All about chocolate

Long Grove’s annual homage to the cocoa bean returns with “For the Love of Chocolate.” The event May 14-16 may be on a smaller scale to comply with COVID-19 health and safety guidelines but it won’t skimp on everything chocolate. Included are food vendors, live entertainment and kid’s activities. Opening night includes an artist hand carving a sculpture of Frank Sinatra while singer Tony Ocean performs. Advance online registration is required to attend. Downtown Long Grove, 308 Old McHenry Rd. Tickets: $10-$45. Visit longgrove.org.

Playing it live

Cody Nieset

The Goodman Theatre’s series of three livestreamed plays gets underway with Adam Rapp’s “The Sound Inside,” the play’s first live production since its Tony Award-nominated Broadway run. Artistic director Robert Falls directs Mary Beth Fisher and John Drea in Rapp’s drama about a creative writing professor who finds herself opening up to a reclusive, mysterious student with lofty literary aspirations. (Upcoming plays are Adrienne Kennedy’s “Ohio State Murders” June 17-20 and Ike Holter’s “I Hate It Here.”) “The Sound Inside” streams May 13-16. Tickets: $30, $60 for all three plays. Visit goodmantheatre.org/live.

Dance & sing along

Sean Berger:

An in-person weekend music fest for kids and families gets underway at Chicago Children’s Theatre. “Little Jams: A Parking Lot Performance” is an interactive 60-minute revue featuring a lineup of CCT’s favorite musicians and performers including Ralph Covert (Ralph’s World), who kicks off the fun May 15-16. Food trucks will be on site as will half a dozen industrial-strength bubble machines that are sure to make any child (and adult) very happy. “Little Jams” takes place at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays through June 6. Tickets: $55/pod, car or walk-in; advance reservations required. Visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org/event/littlejams.

Saluting a legend

Brian Rich/Sun-Times

The Lyric Opera of Chicago presents a free stream of “Celebrating Sir Andrew Davis: From Mozart to Stravinsky” at 6 p.m. May 16. The tribute features the departing music director leading members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra and soloists in a concert that celebrates his remarkable career. The program includes selections from Mozart’s beloved comedy “The Marriage of Figaro” — the first opera Davis conducted at Lyric — and Stravinsky’s English-language masterpiece “The Rake’s Progress” — the last opera he would have conducted as music director this spring — with personal narration from some of your favorite Lyric artists. Visit lyricopera.org.

Challenging the norm

Provided

The Chicago Printmakers Collaborative presents a new exhibit, “Dis-,” which features the advocacy work of artists with disabilities. “The prefix ‘dis-‘ in the English language has meant ‘apart’ since its early Latin roots,” says the show’s curator Matt Bodett. “The artists in this exhibition challenge that prefix, instead showing us how ‘dis-‘ can be a force of identity, empowerment, and community.” The artists are Bri Beck, Justin Cooper, Timotheus “TJ” Gordon Jr., Riva Lehrer, Katie O’Neil, Reveca Torres, Sandie Yi and Momenta Dance Company. The exhibit runs to June 26 at Chicago Printmakers Collaborative, 4912 N. Western. Visit chicagoprintmakers.com.

Latin rhythms

John Cebula

As the June 5 opening date for the “Frida Kahlo: Timeless” exhibit at the Cleve Carney Museum gets closer, the New Philharmonic presents “A Salute to Frida,” a concert celebrating the rhythms of Hispanic culture. Pieces performed include Manuel Ponce’s “Estrellita,” Latin Grammy winner Armando Manzanero’s “No Se Tu,” Rafael Mendez’s “La Virgen de la Macarana,” Jesus Gonzalez Rubio’s “Mexican Hat Dance,” Arturo Marquez’s “Danzon No. 2” and more. Guest tenor is Jesse Donner. Streams May 15-June 15. Tickets: $40. Visit atthemac.org

Musical moments

Provided

Jeff Award-winning director Christopher Pazdernik helms the sixth annual Belting for Life concert, a benefit for Howard Brown Health, which features 30 musical theater artists performing songs from favorite musicals as well as pop songs. The performers include Angela Ingersoll, Missy Aguilar, Lucy Godinez, Jacquelyne Jones, Neala Barron, Sawyer Smith, Honey West and many more. Streams from May 16-31. Tickets: $20. Visit howardbrown.org/beltingforlife. … The Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus presents an LGBTQ+ spin on a classic with its new show “The Wizard of Oz: Debbie Does Dorothy,” featuring original music by artistic director James Morehead and a book by Ashlee Hardgrave. Streams at 8 p.m. May 14-15 and 3 p.m. May 16. Tickets: $15-$40. Visit cgmc.org/oz.

Virtual stage

Sun-Times file

The latest edition of “Hershey Felder Presents – Live from Florence” is “Anna & Sergei,” with actor-pianist Felder portraying Sergei Rachmaninoff. A memory play, it’s the story of a little-known real-life meeting between the famed Russian composer-pianist and Anna Anderson, the woman who claimed to be the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nicholaievna Romanov (portrayed by Ekaterina Siurina). Livestreams at 7 p.m. May 16 and on demand to May 23. Tickets: $55. Visit porchlightmusictheatre.org. … Northlight Theatre presents a free reading of Kareem Fahmy’s “A Distinct Society,” at 6:30 p.m. May 16 and available on demand to May 20. Visit northlight.org. … PrideArts reading series continues with Paul Rudnick’s comedy “Jeffrey” at 7 p.m. May 18. Tickets: $10. Visit pridearts.org.

Mary Houlihan is a Chicago freelance writer.

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The singer died in his home in South suburban Dolton on May 6.

Pervis Staples, one of the co-founders of the legendary gospel/R&B group The Staple Singers, has died. He was 85.

The singer died in his home in south suburban Dolton on May 6, according to Adam Ayers, a member of his sister Mavis Staples’ management team.

In a statement, his sister, the iconic singer Mavis Staples, said: “Pervis was one of a kind — comical and downright fly. He would want to be remembered as an upright man, always willing to help and encourage others. He was one of the good guys and will live on as a true Chicago legend.”

Pervis Staples was born Nov. 18, 1935, in Drew, Mississippi. Roebuck “Pops” Staples and his wife Oceola moved their family from Mississippi to Chicago’s South Side in the late 1930s to raise their children Cleotha, Pervis, Mavis and Yvonne (the latter two born in Chicago). The singing group was founded by Pops Staples and his children in the early 1950s, singing first in their local church and then releasing such early hits as “Uncloudy Day” and “Will the Circle Be Unbroken?” Later success for the group came via 1970s hits such as ”Respect Yourself,” “I’ll Take You There,” and “Let’s Do It Again.” Pervis’ last album with the group was the 1968 release “Soul Folks in Action” on the Stax label.

“Pervis’ childhood was filled with wonderful experiences,” Mavis Staples said. “… Some of Pervis’ best friends as a youngster included Sam Cooke, Lou Rawls, and Jerry Butler. Pervis and the guys would stand under the lampposts in the summertime singing doo-wop songs.”

Pervis Staples graduated from Chicago’s Dunbar Vocational Career Academy and later served in the U.S. Army, where he was a member of the U.S. Army Choral Group.

“Under Roebuck ‘Pops’ Staples, you learn how to do everything [singing, writing songs, church particpation],” said Alvin Daniels, creator of the TV series, “Preacher’s Kids: The Untold Stories.” “As I became more aware of the [Staple Singers], they were connected with the Civil Rights Movement, because of Dr. King. They had a real spirituality to their music. Some music is static, and just talks about ‘God,’ but their music hit a chord and you can feel ‘God’ in that spirituality.

Courtesy of the Opal Nations Archive

“Some gospel artists are religious, and you hear the word ‘God,’ but in the Staple Singers’ music, you felt ‘God.’ I believe Pervis was really instrumental in that before he left the group.”

Chicago blues artist Wayne Baker Brooks said the Staple Singers are the “Spirit and soul of Chicago,” and Pervis Staples was the catalyst for making that happen. “They represented Chicago wherever they performed worldwide with immense dignity and class,” said Brooks. “I truly believe the Staple Singers would not have reached the high level of mainstream success without Pervis. He was the one who lobbied hard for them to cross over into the mainstream. “Without that push, we may not have timeless hits such as ‘I’ll Take You There,’ ‘Respect Yourself,’ and ‘Let’s Do It Again,’ which was a bit risqué for a gospel-singing family back then, but it worked so well. I think Pervis at that time knew it would before anyone.”

Pervis Staples is survived by Mavis as well as his six children, seven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. May 17 at Leak & Son’s Funeral Homes, 7838 S. Cottage Grove Ave. A wake precedes the funeral at 10 a.m. at the funeral home.

Contributing: Evan F. Moore

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Chicago Bears Schedule Release: Full 2021 schedule leaks by Jordan Campbell

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Chicago Bears (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bears have released their 2021 schedule along with the rest of the National Football League. There are some really fun matchups to look forward to as they try to establish themselves as a contender for the NFC North. They are hoping to insert Justin Fields as the starting quarterback at some point and have him lead the way. There are going to be some amazing opposing quarterbacks as well. These are the three best opposing quarterbacks that the Bears will for sure see in 2021:

12

Tom Brady

QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Chicago Bears will see Tom Brady in weeks seven of the 2021 NFL season.

The Chicago Bears are going to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 24th, 2021. That is a week seven matchup where Tom Brady will be on the other side. He is the greatest quarterback of all time coming off of his seventh Super Bowl victory. He is returning with pretty much the exact same roster that Tampa Bay had last year which is remarkable in today’s game. He is looking to continue doing what no quarterback has ever done before.

The Bears, you may remember, were one of the only teams to make the Buccaneers look silly in 2020. They defeated them in prime time which made the Bears look like a much better team than they were. Things only got better for Tampa Bay and worse for Chicago from that point on. This time, the Bears will face Tom in Tampa Bay instead of Chicago.

If anything, it will be another chance for the Bears to see Tom while he is still playing. We don’t know exactly how long he has left but he is doesn’t appear to be leaving any time soon. The Bears are playing the Bucs because both NFC teams came in second place last season. It is certainly going to be one of the more fun matchups of the season.

Next: Quarterback two is also a Super Bowl champion

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Bryant was removed from the game in the seventh inning after taking a 95 mph fastball off his left wrist.

CLEVELAND – Third baseman Kris Bryant was removed in the seventh inning of Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to the Indians after being hit on the left wrist.

Bryant didn’t start the game as he was recovering from an illness, but with the game tied in the seventh, manager David Ross turned to Bryant for an at-bat late in the game.

On the fourth pitch of the at-bat, Bryant was drilled in the left wrist/forearm by a 95 mph fastball from Cleveland reliever Cal Quantrill. After taking a long walk down the first-base line and talking with head athletic trainer PJ Mainville, Bryant left the game.

“I think it’s just a contusion,” Ross said. “We were pinch-running for him either way. He’s felt pretty crappy. So we were running for him no matter what.”

Bryant was removed in the seventh inning of Tuesday’s game after dealing with congestion/breathing issues throughout the game. The Cubs’ third baseman has been arguably the best hitter in baseball this season, slashing .308/.400/.650 with nine home runs and an MLB-leading 23 extra-base hits this season.

“He’s just super under the weather,” Ross said before the game. “He didn’t sleep much last night. Just not feeling good.”

Happ and Hoerner on the mend, Arrieta to start Friday

After putting several players on the 10-day injured list over the last week, the Cubs are one the verge of getting a few of those players back. Infielder Nico Hoerner has been increasing his baseball activities for the last week and recently started taking batting practice. Hoerner could be ready to come off the IL as soon as Friday.

Hoerner injured his left forearm in a collision with center fielder Ian Happ going for a fly ball on May 2. The 23-year-old infielder is slashing .389/.500/.556 with six doubles and three stolen bases this season.

Happ has also started to ramp up his workload over the last few days. The Cubs’ center fielder and lead-off man isn’t as far along as Happ, but continues after suffering a left rib bruise in the collision with Hoerner.

“Nico did not hit on the field yesterday, [Happ] did,” Ross said. “Nico was supposed to have his own session this morning out there to hit a little bit. I’ll get some feedback from that. He took a ton of ground balls and ran bases yesterday, everything seems to be progressing well for Nico.

“[Ian] still just probably a tick behind. Each day [he] improves pretty significantly. So the more he’s able to do, the better just to stay active.”

Starter Jake Arrieta is on track to make his return to the mound after suffering a cut on his right thumb. Arrieta threw a bullpen before Wednesday’s series finale and will start against the Tigers in Friday’s series opener.

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Bortles is a free agent whose career includes four seasons working under offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett when both were in Jacksonville.

GREEN BAY — Regardless of whether quarterback Aaron Rodgers resolves his beef with the organization, the Green Bay Packers are in the market for at least two quarterbacks to help them get through the offseason and training camp.

One of those is expected to be a veteran who could start if necessary.

A person familiar with the situation told the USA TODAY Network that the Packers were expected to bring Blake Bortles to town Wednesday or Thursday to meet with him and that a deal seemed likely. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because a deal was not yet finalized. It’s not known if the Packers have interest in any other veterans, but they could sign Bortles on the spot and get him ready to take part in upcoming on-field organized team activities (OTAs).

ESPN reported that Bortles was set to sign a one-year deal.

Bortles is a free agent whose career includes four seasons working under offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett when both were in Jacksonville.

General manager Brian Gutekunst said after the draft that even if Rodgers were taking part in offseason workouts, coach Matt LaFleur would need one more quarterback on the roster and possibly two. In addition to a veteran, the Packers will probably bring in an undrafted free agent or young street free agent to fill out the position.

“We’ll add a third arm or maybe a fourth arm as we go through this,” Gutekunst said after the final rounds of the draft. “We’ve kind of had some conversations before the draft with some veterans and then there’s some rookie guys we’re looking at as well.

“So, we would never go into camp with two or at least have three men, possibly four.”

Since 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love has been the only quarterback attending the virtual meetings that constitute the four-week Phase One part of the voluntary off-season program, which ends this week. Phase Two begins next week with limited on-field work at the Packers’ facility and expands to full OTA practices on May 24.

Signing Bortles now would allow him to get up to speed with the offense and be ready to take snaps when the OTAs begin whether Rodgers is there or not.

Bortles, 29, has started 73 games, all during his five-year stint with the Jaguars starting in 2014 when he was the No. 3 pick in the draft.

The Jaguars released him in March 2019 and he spent a year with the Los Angeles Rams, appearing in three games and attempting two passes. He signed a one-year deal with the Denver Broncos in ’20, was released in October and then re-signed to the Broncos’ practice squad, where he stayed until the Los Angeles Rams signed him to their active roster Dec. 28 after starter Jared Goff injured his thumb.

The 6-5, 236-pound Bortles was the backup quarterback for the Rams behind Goff when the Packers beat them in the divisional round of the playoffs at Lambeau Field.

When Hackett was offensive coordinator in Jacksonville, Bortles played some of his best football, including the 2017 season when he completed 60.2% of his passes, threw for 3,687 yards and 21 touchdowns and was intercepted 13 times (84.7 rating).

The Jaguars went 10-6 and made it to the AFC championship game.

Over his five seasons in Jacksonville, however, Bortles was a huge disappointment. He went 11-34 on his first three seasons and threw nearly as many interceptions (51) as touchdowns (69). He finished his time in Jacksonville with 103 touchdowns, 75 interceptions and an 80.6 rating.

Read more at usatoday.com

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Pederson had another big day at the plate, going 3-for-5 in the Cubs’ 2-1 loss to Cleveland on Wednesday.

CLEVELAND – Like many Cubs’ players the month of April was not kind to outfielder Joc Pederson, but it looks like he’s starting to heat things up.

Pederson was the hottest hitter on the planet coming out of spring training as he hit a league-leading eight homers. But when the team headed to Chicago to start the season, he quickly fell on hard times.

Things had begun to spiral for the Cubs’ outfielder, hitting .137 (7-for-51) with one homer in 16 games before left wrist inflammation landed him on the 10-day injured list. But after a quick stint on the IL, Pederson has gotten locked in.

“Baseball is a strange game and sometimes it speeds up on you pretty quickly,” Pederson said after Wednesday’s 2-1 loss. “Unfortunately, I was on the IL, but you just have to make the best of a situation and get your mind back locked in so that you’re ready to go out there, compete and help the team win.

Pederson is having a monster month of May and continued his hot hitting in the Cubs’ 2-1 loss in 10 innings to the Indians with three more hits on Wednesday, going 5-for-10 in the two-game set.

The improved offense by Pederson has come at the right time as the Cubs have been hit by several injuries to position players over the last two weeks. The 29-year-old outfielder is hitting .444 (12-for-27) since returning from the IL on May 4.

Pederson looked like a shell of himself during April, but has looked like the player who was raking when the team left Arizona at the end of March.

“I was able to take a break mentally from that [stretch],” Pederson said. “Kind of been doing the same thing in the cage. Sometimes you put good swings on it, sometimes you don’t. You just keep it moving and stay positive.”

Manager David Ross had spoken all spring and during the early portion of the season about how he would give Pederson every opportunity to succeed, including against left-handed pitching, which has historically given Pederson problems.

“I think his timing. His timing is in sync, he’s using all fields,”Ross said. “I really thought he was pulling his hands in well when they’re trying to pitch him in. He’s stayed on some lefties and taken some balls up the middle, the other way.

“There’s been a whole field approach not trying to do too much. Touch the baseball when he has two strikes on him and he’s swinging for power when he’s in hitter’s counts.

Pederson’s offensive resurgence has mirrored an improved offensive stretch as a team. The Cubs didn’t have much to celebrate offensively, going 2-for-27 with runners in scoring position in the two games in Cleveland, but also collected 20 hits in the series. They’re hitting .260 as a club over their last 14 games, which ranks third in MLB over that stretch.

While the injuries will never be a team’s excuse, it is the Cubs’ reality that they’ve been without much of their lineup this month and have still found some offensive footing. When the likes of Nico Hoerner, Ian Happ and Jake Marisnick are healthy, things could really begin to turn.

“We’re banged up, but the grit, determination, fight and how these guys approached really good pitching while short-handed, I’ve been impressed with, to be honest with you,” Ross said “I would definitely say, I like where we’re at.”

“We’re close,” Pederson said. “Things are coming. The pitching has been great. We’re moving in the right direction.”

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Days before Illinois enters the “bridge” phase of his reopening plan, Gov. J.B. Pritzker encouraged the state’s residents and tourists to get out and drive this summer with the Wednesday launch of a tourism campaign focused on seeing “all of Illinois.”

“After an incredibly difficult year in which the pandemic kept us all close to home and staying apart, life-saving vaccines are bringing us back to life and heading toward a summer of fun and venturing out,” Pritzker said at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield.

“I’m proud to launch the ‘Time for Me to Drive Campaign,’ inviting people to see all of Illinois, showing off adventures of all kinds — historic sites and winery tours, state parks and rock climbing, hiking and zip lining, hundreds of craft breweries and thousands of excellent restaurants across the entire state,” Pritzker said.

The campaign highlights the “fun and beauty” of the state’s diverse communities, as well as its natural assets and man-made ones, through a $6 million media campaign sound tracked by a play on Downstate Champaign band REO Speedwagon’s “Time for Me to Fly.”

“If you want to see the sights, if you want to change your scenery, if you want to travel safely, come to Illinois,” Pritzker said.

Blue Room Stream

Those interested in seeing what the state has to offer can go to enjoyillinois.com for trip ideas and proposed itineraries for visits that range from romantic getaways to Galena in northwestern Illinois to a dose of nature in DuPage County.

The ad campaign is marketed toward state residents and those in border states. The ad will appear in seven states and 18 markets, Sylvia Garcia, the acting director of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, said, adding that the campaign is part of the state’s “ongoing work toward a strong recovery for the tourism industry over the long term.”

The push to see Illinois’ sites comes as recent surveys show about half of Americans plan to travel this summer — half of that number plan to do so via car, the governor said.

Pointing to coronavirus case numbers trending in a more positive direction, Pritzker said nearly a week ago that he’d ease more COVID-19 business restrictions across the state starting this Friday. Barring another surge of infections, or a downturn in other reopening metrics, he’ll let the state fully reopen June 11.

Entering the “bridge” stage, which is a 28-day period between Phases 4 and 5 of his original reopening plan, means museums, amusement parks and zoos will be able to increase capacity from 25% to 60%, while festivals and other general admission outdoor events will be able to seat 30 people per 1,000 square feet.

Meetings, conferences and conventions will also see their capacity limit increase to either 1,000 people or 60% — whichever is less — with the same applying to theaters and performing arts venues.

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