The Cubs hope a stint at Triple-A Iowa can help first baseman Frank Schwindel regain the hitting proficiency that made him a two-month wonder after the trade deadline last season.

Schwindel was demoted Sunday after batting .209 with 21 strikeouts and a feeble .308 slugging percentage in 96 plate appearances. He was claimed off waivers from the Athletics on July 18, took over at first base after Anthony Rizzo was traded to the Yankees and batted .342 with 13 home runs, 40 RBI and a 1.002 OPS in 56 games in 2021.

Schwindel, 29, struck out 36 times in 239 plate appearances in August and September and showed no signs of struggling until this season.

”This is a league [where] you’ve got to produce, and he’s working on some things,” manager David Ross said. ”We’re just going to take a little bit of the bright lights off and let him work through some things.

”Hopefully it’s not very long, and he gets back and finds his rhythm and is able to come back and help us out real soon.”

The move clears more playing time for left-handed-hitting Alfonso Rivas, who is 9-for-27 with a .936 OPS. Rivas, 25, doesn’t have the same power as Schwindel but is considered a better contact hitter and a superior defender at first. He also can play left field.

”[Rivas] is off to a good start and showing a nice, calm approach in the batter’s box, and being a really good defensive player allows him to get a little runway here,” Ross said. ”We’ll see what he can prove to continue to establish himself as a regular big-leaguer.”

Caleb’s case

Iowa right-hander Caleb Kilian won’t be under consideration as the Cubs look for candidates to start Tuesday and Wednesday against the Padres in San Diego.

Nevertheless, Kilian continues to strengthen his case for a promotion. He pitched five scoreless innings to lead Iowa to a 10-3 victory at St. Paul.

Kilian, who was acquired at the trade deadline last season as part of the deal that sent Kris Bryant to the Giants, lowered his ERA to 1.46 in 24? innings.

Shortstop Andrelton Simmons (right shoulder) went 1-for-4 with an RBI and three strikeouts as the designated hitter in his second game of a rehab assignment.

Roster update

Right-hander Adrian Sampson was selected from Iowa, where he posted a 2.04 ERA in his last four starts. He had a 2.80 ERA in 10 games with the Cubs last season, and Ross likes his versatility.

Reliever Ethan Roberts will start rehabbing his right shoulder this week at the Cubs’ complex in Mesa, Arizona. Outfielder Clint Frazier (appendicitis) hopes to join him, pending tests Tuesday.

Right-hander Luke Farrell, who made 20 appearances for the Cubs in 2018, will join the roster at Iowa.

Bleacher ‘pink-out’

The Cubs honored breast-cancer survivors, their families and technicians before the game. Pink T-shirts were distributed to fans sitting in the bleachers as part of a ”pink-out” to raise awareness.

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Here come the White Sox.

Riding a six-game winning streak as they return home to face the Guardians and Yankees this week, the Sox are back above .500 — at 14-13 — for the first time since April 20. They are on fire, scorching, sizzling, red-hot. No, make that white-hot. Is it too soon to start planning the championship parade?

“It feels amazing,” catcher Reese McGuire said Sunday after a 3-2 win in Boston.

At the least, thank-you notes should be sent to the Red Sox and Cubs, the stuck-in-the-muck squads the Sox just swept. How does a team go 6-0 despite scoring only 20 runs in that stretch? By pitching very well, steadying a shaky defense, sprinkling in a few clutch hits and — perhaps the key to the whole operation — playing two of the worst teams in baseball so far.

The Sox went 6-2 to start the season. Then came an eight-game losing streak as injuries mounted, an explosion of errors occurred, Tony La Russa was knocked for his managing and fans muttered expletives into their soup. Now the Sox have a winning streak that matches their longest one of the entire 2021 season. What a roller-coaster ride it already has been.

But are the Sox really on the right track, which is to say one that will go in pretty much in the intended direction for a nice, long stretch? Think freight train, not roller coaster. If three games against the Guardians don’t illuminate us, four against the American League-leading Yankees sure will.

Here’s what’s happening:

MON 9

Panthers at Capitals, Game 4 (6 p.m., TBS)

Top-seeded, Presidents’ Trophy-winning Florida is in trouble already, down 2-1 in the series. This is one serious high-danger scoring chance for Alex Ovechkin and the Caps.

Celtics at Bucks, Game 4 (6:30 p.m., TNT)

Giannis Antetokounmpo outscored Jayson Tatum 42-10 in Game 3 as the defending champs took a 2-1 series lead. If you want to be a superstar, this is when you have to act the part.

Grizzlies at Warriors, Game 4 (9 p.m., TNT)

Did the Dubs’ Jordan Poole really try to hurt sensational Grizz star Ja Morant in Game 3? Probably not, but the rancor that’s here to stay in this series doesn’t want to hear it.

TUE 10

NHL draft lottery (5:30 p.m., ESPN)

Only with a top-two draw do the Blackhawks get to keep their first-round pick. Any other result can just be tossed onto the heaping pile of recent disappointments.

76ers at Heat, Game 5 (6:30 p.m., TNT)

Any Joel Embiid is better than a watching-from-the-bench Joel Embiid. As long as the banged-up big fella is on the floor, the Sixers are always going to have a chance.

Blues at Wild, Game 5 (8:30 p.m., ESPN)

The sultry stench of violence hangs over this series, which promises to be deliciously nasty until the end. You know, in case you’re into that sort of thing.

Mavericks at Suns, Game 5 (9 p.m., TNT)

Who’s the point guard on the all-zero-rings team? John Stockton? Steve Nash? Chris Paul? The championship quest continues for CP3.

WED 11

Guardians at White Sox (1:10 p.m., NBCSCH)

Cleveland probably isn’t the division rival the Sox need to be most worried about, but the games between these teams always feel 10% bigger — and that’s a guaranteed rate.

Cubs at Padres (3:10 p.m., Marquee)

The Pads have been killing it without their best player, Fernando Tatis Jr. Early MVP frontrunner Manny Machado might take issue with that “best player” designation.

Liberty at Sky (7 p.m., Marquee, CBSSN)

Three cheers for old pal Stefanie Dolson, who makes her return to Wintrust Arena with her new team. May she experience winning it all again soon … but not too soon.

THU 12

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Arsenal (1:45 p.m., USA, Universo)

The fourth and final Champions League spot is there for the taking in a massively important North London Derby. Folks, that’s soccer-ese for “really big game.”

Yankees at White Sox (7:10 p.m., NBCSCH)

Dylan Cease is lined up to take the bump, and can we just start the best-pitcher-in-Chicago conversation right now?

FRI 13

Cubs at Diamondbacks (8:40 p.m., Apple TV+)

The Cubs are back in Arizona for the first time since spring training, which raises a question: Should they have ever left?

SAT 14

FC Cincinnati at Fire (7 p.m., Ch. 9)

In only its fourth MLS season, Cincinnati might be the league’s best surprise. So much for the Fire circling a rare game on their schedule as a “W.”

SUN 15

Yankees at White Sox (1:10 p.m., NBCSCH)

Wouldn’t it be something if these teams ran into each other in October? Not-so-fun fact: The Sox and Blue Jays are the only American League teams left that have never faced the Yankees in the postseason.

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CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs scratched starting pitcher Marcus Stroman for Sunday night’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, placing him on the injured list without a designation.

That move is normally reserved for COVID-19 related issues.

Stroman, 31, will be replaced by lefty Justin Steele who is 1-3 with a 5.50 ERA in five starts. Stroman had just started to find his stride after struggling in his first few appearances with the Cubs after signing a 3-year, $71 million deal with them this past offseason. He threw seven shutout innings against the Milwaukee Brewers in his most recent outing.

Righty Adrian Sampson has been called up from Triple-A Iowa to take Stroman’s place on the roster. The team also sent down struggling first baseman Frank Schwindel.

The Cubs have lost four in a row.

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White Sox starters own a 2.50 ERA in their last 13 games. Keuchel, who entered with a 8.40 ERA, wanted in on the action.

Manager Tony La Russa, knowing his bullpen was thin Sunday, wanted to see that, too.

“Come on Keuchel!” La Russa said before the Sox completed a series sweep of the slumping Red Sox with a 3-2 victory, their sixth straight.

With Liam Hendriks and Kendall Graveman unavailable, La Russa got scoreless innings from Ryan Burr, Matt Foster and Jose Ruiz in the seventh, eighth and ninth to preserve the win. Ruiz allowed a leadoff double off the Green Monster in left to J.D. Martinez but retired Christian Vazquez and Alex Verdugo.

La Russa then went to rookie left-hander Bennett Sousa with Jackie Bradley Jr. due up. Right-handed hitting Kevin Plawecki pinch hit and flew out as Sousa recorded his first career save.

Faith in the 34-year-old veteran has been waning, but Keuchel made his longest start of the season with six innings and allowed two runs — both in his final inning as Red Sox hard contact was ramping up — on eight hits and a walk. Seven of the hits were singles. Keuchel struck out five.

The Sox gave Keuchel a 3-0 lead in the third. Leury Garcia, leading off in Tim Anderson’s customary spot — Anderson was rested by La Russa with Danny Mendick playing shortstop — scored Reese McGuire with an infield single, and Jose Abreu doubled in two runs.

Keuchel needed an inning in an 11:30 a.m. (ET) start to get his footing. He walked leadoff man Kike Hernandez and allowed a one-out single to Rafael Devers but retired Xander Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez to finish a 26-pitch inning. His previous longest starts were five innings. His 92 pitches were a season high.

The last time Keuchel wore pink cleats on Mother’s Day was in 2018 when he pitched seven scoreless innings with eight strikeouts for the Astros against the Rangers.

He seemed unfazed sitting through a lengthy top half of the fourth that included an 18-minute delay after plate umpire Ron Kulpa left the game when he was hit in the mask by a foul tip. Marty Foster, needing that time to change gear and get ready, moved from first base to the plate.

La Russa told Anderson he would have Sunday’s game off before Saturday’s 3-1 victory.

“Look, he’s playing at a high level, he’s hot so he’s on the bases all the time,” La Russa said. “So we were talking with the morning game, sometimes you just don’t play some guys. Tim is just resting. He feels good, he’s playing at a very high level.”

Before the game, the Red Sox’ scheduled starter Michael Wacha landed on the injured list with left intercostal irritation, retroactive to May 5. Former Sox right-hander Tyler Danish was recalled from Triple-A Worcester and pitched a scoreless inning in relief. Starter Tanner Rouck went 2 2/3 innings, allowing three runs.

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The NFL is a huge step for every player at rookie mini-camp, but center Doug Kramer has the sweetest transition of all — from Bears fan to Bear.

The Hinsdale Central product, a sixth-round draft pick from Illinois, had his introduction to Halas Hall this weekend. After being “kind of in shock” about becoming a Bear when he was drafted last week, the reality hit him this week.

“That’s a cool moment,” Kramer said. “I know what the logo means to so many people in this city. I was impacted by the team growing up — that was one of the reasons why I fell in love with the game, was watching the Bears as a kid.

“I understand what it means to people in this city — to the people who wear it to the people who have worn it in the past. Obviously I haven’t gone through it yet, so there are still things I need to learn and figure out. I’m just happy to go through it.”

Kramer, who will turn 24 next month, was coming of age as a sports fan when the Bears went to the Super Bowl XLI in 2006. So his favorite Bears players growing up were predictable.

“Before I started playing offensive line, it was Brian Urlacher and Devin Hester — those are the two guys I think a lot of young guys growing up in Chicago loved,” Kramer said. “Once I started playing offensive line, Olin Kreutz was the guy that I always watched. I just loved the way he played the game, what he stood for. He just got after it every single play, so I loved him.”

Now the work begins. As a sixth-round draft pick, the 6-2, 299-pound Kramer has a long road ahead of him, with the practice squad a likely spot to learn behind Lucas Patrick. But centers with his makeup have had long NFL careers.

“You just have to have confidence in yourself and your ability,” said Kramer, who started 48 games in five seasons at Illinois and was a second-team all-Big Ten selection in 2021. “I was drafted here and this is the reality. Now it’s about taking it to the field and the film room, getting to meet the guys in the offensive line room, become a part of that room and earn that spot.”

Looking out for No. 1

Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy is undaunted by the likelihood that the Bears will go into training camp without a proven No. 1 receiver. He’s hoping the offense will produce one.

“Everybody wants Davante Adams. Who wouldn’t want Davante Adams, right?” Said Getsy, who was the Packers’ quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator the past two seasons. “But Davante wasn’t Davante until he became Davante. I think the system will enable some of these guys to play at their potential. So we’ll see what we can do. We’ll give them an opportunity to show what they’ve got.”

High EQ-rating

Wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown, who had nine receptions for 98 yards and no touchdowns for the Packers last year, is a candidate to be better than people think. The Bears signed St. Brown to a one-year contract in free agency.

“I was really excited that we were able to snag him because I think his best football is ahead of him,” Getsy said. “You talk about a big body, a guy that can run –his toughness and all that stuff and everything we’re going to preach in this system, he’s that expectation. He’s that leader of that mindset.”

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BOSTON — Yoan Moncada will join the lineup Monday and make his season debut when the White Sox open a home stand against the Cleveland Guardians at Guaranteed Rate Field, manager Tony La Russa said Sunday.

Moncada, who suffered a strained right oblique before the final spring training game, has played six games for Triple-A Charlotte on his rehab assignment. La Russa already knew Sunday that the switch-hitting third baseman would be batting second, with center fielder Luis Robert fourth.

“Moncada is swinging the bat well and he adds a lot to the lineup at that spot,” La Russa said.

Moncada was 7-for-22 with two home runs.

“We are excited to get him back, period. But add the exclamation mark with the way [Charlotte manager] Wes [Helms] is talking about how he’s working, great frame of mind and really getting the bat out. He’s ready now to help us.”

Right-handed reliever Joe Kelly is likely to join the team as well. Kelly, signed to a two-year, $17 million free agent deal in March, delayed his start to the season because of a nerve issue.

Kelly will give the bullpen a needed boost.

“Kelly, we are going to embrace him with open arms,” La Russa said.

Left-hander Aaron Bummer is dealing with a knee issue, La Russa said on his pregame radio show. And closer Liam Hendriks has pitched in six of the last eight days and was probably unavailable Sunday.

“This guy, he’s got a serious strength of competing and ‘let’s go get them,’ ” La Russa said of Hendriks. “He wants to pitch today.

“We told Liam don’t even put your spikes on. He said, ‘I have them on,’ ”

But Kendall Graveman, who had 10 saves with the Mariners last season and one with the Sox this year, will be the likely closer if needed. Or perhaps Matt Foster, La Russa said.

Vaughn not close to return

Outfielder Andrew Vaughn is eligible to come off the IL Thursday, but he probably wouldn’t be recovered from the bone bruise in his right hand by then. And when he is ready, he’ll need to do a rehab assignment.

“I don’t know how he can avoid that,” La Russa said. “There’s no way to get simulation at the big-league level. Unless you fly pitchers in to throw to them. And even then, it’s simulated. My guess is he’s going to take some at-bats. I don’t think it will be many because it hasn’t been that long.”

“It’s been good progress, still day to day. Able to take some easy swings off the tee now but there is still a good bit of pain in there,” Vaughn said. “It’s a bone bruise that has to feel its way out. I’ve heard once it’s done it will be a quick.”

Vaughn has used a tracking machine and stood in during pitchers bullpens to try and maintain his timing.

Hendriks jamming

Hendriks has converted each of his last nine save chances, and is 9-for-10 this season. He has saves in each of the Sox wins in their five-game wining streak with batters going 0-for-15 against him. Nine of his last 10 appearances have been scoreless, and eight of his last 10 have been hitless.

Anderson rests

La Russa told shortstop Tim Anderson he would have Sunday’s game off before Saturday’s game.

“Look, he’s playing at a high level, he’s hot so he’s on the bases all the time,” La Russa said. “So we were talking with the morning game, sometimes you just don’t play some guys. Tim is just resting. He feels good, he’s playing at a very high level.”

Wacha scratched

Red Sox scheduled starter Michael Wacha landed on the 15-day list with left intercostal irritation, retroactive to May 5. Former Sox right-hander Tyler Danish was recalled from Triple-A Worcester.

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