ERST LESEN! » lan to use Cespedes as the designated hitter

CHICAGO -- John Lackey was cruising along when Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon hit for the right-hander in the eighth inning.Finding some work for his bullpen is Maddons biggest problem these days.Lackey got his first win in six weeks and Miguel Montero drove in three runs, helping the Cubs sweep the Cincinnati Reds with a 9-2 victory on Wednesday night.I definitely felt like I got better as the game went along, Lackey said.Kris Bryant hit his 38th homer and Dexter Fowler also connected as major league-leading Chicago moved a season-high 42 games over .500. The Cubs (97-55) also matched their win total from a year ago and lowered their magic number for clinching home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs to two over Washington.Lackey (10-8) allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings in his first win since he beat the Angels on Aug. 9. The right-hander retired his last 14 batters and finished with just 87 pitches.After seven, having to get these bullpen guys some work, I had to do what we did, Maddon said, but he definitely could have gone deeper into the game.Hector Rondon got two outs and Mike Montgomery pitched a scoreless inning before Maddon went to Joe Smith for a game-ending strikeout of Steve Selsky. The Cubs clinched the NL Central title last week, giving Maddon plenty of time to take a look at various postseason possibilities.The last-place Reds lost for the seventh time in eight games. They managed just five runs and 19 hits in the three-game series.Its a challenge over the last couple of years to constantly find ourselves down in the game, especially when its by three, four or five runs and then rally and rally and rally, manager Bryan Price said. Its a comfort zone for the opposing pitchers.Robert Stephenson (2-2) was pulled with two out in the fourth inning and remains winless in four September starts. The rookie was charged with four runs and a career-high eight hits.I just couldnt get into a rhythm today, he said.Jose Peraza hit a tying RBI single in Cincinnatis two-run second, but Chicago pulled away from there. Montero hit an RBI single in the third and a two-run single with two out in the sixth. The veteran catcher also scored on Michael Lorenzens balk in the fifth.Bryant capped the scoring with a two-run shot to left in the seventh. It was Bryants 10th homer of the year against Cincinnati, tied for the second most for a single season against the Reds.Montero, Ben Zobrist and Javier Baez each had three of Chicagos 15 hits, and Fowler scored three times from the leadoff spot.ABOUT THAT ROTATIONChicago right-hander Kyle Hendricks, one of the leading contenders for the NL Cy Young Award, will start on seven days rest Monday at Pittsburgh, and the Cubs will have a bullpen day with several pitchers on Tuesday.Its to look a lot of different things right now, Maddon said. Potentially line things up, potentially look at different people in different roles. ... Theres all kinds of different things were working on right now to try to make it a constructive week and we get a really a final good look at some guys, get them a chance to possibly be in a role that they might be utilized in in the postseason.TRAINERS ROOMReds: Price said RHP Homer Bailey (biceps) could start Sunday at Milwaukee after there were no negatives following his Tuesday bullpen session. Hes looked very good to me, Price said. I think if hes 100 percent Id like to see him pitch. If Bailey cant go, Price said LHP Brandon Finnegan or RHP Tim Adleman would start.Cubs: LHP Jon Lester said he was fine a day after he had a liner go off his right wrist in the sixth inning of Chicagos 6-1 victory on Tuesday night. ... OF Jorge Soler (tightness on his right side) is doing well, according to Maddon. Probably by Friday hopefully well be able to interject him in the game, Maddon said.UP NEXTReds: Following a day off, the Reds begin a weekend series at Milwaukee. Cincinnati RHP Anthony DeSclafani (8-4, 3.15 ERA) gets the ball on Friday night.Cubs: RHP Jake Arrieta (17-7, 2.96 ERA) faces St. Louis RHP Mike Leake (9-10, 4.54 ERA) on Friday afternoon. Maddon said he plans to play the weekend series straight up out of respect for the Cardinals competition in the wild-card race.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap Paul Hornung Womens Jersey . First off, the fans ripped the Cubbies introduction of a fuzzy new kid-friendly mascot named "Clark". Reggie White Jersey . -- Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings was selected Monday to his second straight Pro Bowl, while guard Kyle Long made it after a solid rookie season. http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Dave-Robinson-Packers-Jersey/ . 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NEW YORK -- Mets manager Terry Collins said he had no problem with outfielder Yoenis Cespedes playing golf on Wednesday despite being out of the starting lineup the previous three days with a balky right quadriceps.Cespedes remains unable to play the field, but starts as the designated hitter on Wednesday night as the Mets open a stretch of five straight games in American League ballparks with a Subway Series matchup against the New York Yankees in the Bronx.Former major leaguer Kevin Millar tweeted a photo with Cespedes after a round of golf.Was he running on the course or was he walking? Did he ride a cart or was he jogging? Collins asked. I dont have any problem with it.A Mets official said Cespedes was unavailable to comment pregame Wednesday.Cespedes raised eyebrows during the National League Championship Series when he golfed in suburban Chicago on the morning of Game 4. Cespedes then departed that game with a shoulder injury. Cespedes subsequently explained that golfing relaxes him and he regularly plays during the season.Cespedes did pinch hit on Tuesday against the Yankees at Citi Field and was credited with an infield single. After the game he said the quadriceps was uncomfortable.I felt a little discomfort running down the line, but once I got into the dugout it went away, Cespedes said through an interpreter. The problem is that once I take a couple of days off, I feel better. But once I go full speed is whenn the pain returns.ddddddddddddThe Mets plan to use Cespedes as the designated hitter for the next five games. After the weekend, when the Mets return to National League ballparks, a decision will be made about whether Cespedes will require a stint on the disabled list, general manager Sandy Alderson said.Asked if he was troubled by Cespedes round of golf, Alderson tried to add some levity. Ill let you know after the game tonight, he said.In other injury news, first baseman Lucas Duda?--?who landed on the DL on May 23 with a stress fracture in his lower back -- had a setback last week when discomfort flared up.Los Angeles-based specialist Robert Watkins recommended 30 days of rest, which likely ends Dudas season, according to Alderson. Watkins does not believe surgery ultimately will be necessary, Alderson added.Duda could be a non-tender candidate in December. He is making $6.725 million this season and is eligible for arbitration one final time this winter. Alderson suggested it is possible one of the Mets outfielders -- presumably Michael Conforto or Jay Bruce -- might be asked to get acclimated to first base during the offseason.Right-hander Zack Wheeler will begin a rehab assignment on Saturday with Class A St. Lucie. Wheeler is returning from Tommy John surgery, performed in March 2015. ' ' '