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CHICAGO -- As the Chicago Cubs return home for the second half of their 20 games in 20 days stretch of baseball their opposition will slowly rise back-up the competitive ladder.

First the San Diego Padres come to town for a four-game series beginning Monday and sport the identical record (9-15) as the Cubs, although they've won four in a row. The Cincinnati Reds are here this weekend followed by a make-up game with the Texas Rangers. Finally the homestand concludes with a two-game set against the St. Louis Cardinals on May 7-8.

Before we look forward, let's take a look back at five things we learned during the first 10 games of this stretch, all coming on the just completed road trip:

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He’s back. Or at least he might be.

Friday might be the night that Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo looks back on with plenty of meaning. With “75-100” friends and family looking on, Rizzo might have found his swing in Miami. He said as much after belting two two-run home runs to help defeat the Miami Marlins 4-2.

“It was a good day, especially looking at the video after the game,” Rizzo told reporters. “The swing is where I want it to be. Now it’s just staying consistent with it.”

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Here’s a quick look at the Chicago Cubs' 4-2 victory over the Miami Marlins on Friday.

How it happened: Anthony Rizzo hit two two-run home runs in his first two at-bats off lefty Wade LeBlanc while Scott Feldman pitched into the seventh inning for the first time as a Cub. Rizzo hit his homers in the first and third innings with Dave Sappelt on base each time. Rizzo added a single and stolen base in the eighth. Joe Mahoney got the Marlins on the board with a solo shot in the fourth while Miami added one in the seventh with a sacrifice fly by Chris Valaika, but reliever James Russell got out of the jam. Kevin Gregg pitched a clean ninth for his second save. Darwin Barney had three hits and was on base four times in the game.

What it means: Rizzo set a Cubs record for home runs in the month of April by a lefthander, hitting No. 7 and 8 even though he only raised his average to .200 with his three hits. The fact that he has 18 RBIs considering that average is quite the feat and offsets all the strikeouts he’s incurred. The bottom line is Rizzo isn’t going to hit .200 for the season so his year can only get better and his power is already more than there. The arrow is pointing up for him even if it doesn’t seem like it all the time. Feldman threw well, getting breaking pitches over for strikes or inducing Marlin hitters to swing at some outside the zone. He threw the Cubs 14th quality start of the year in earning his first victory as a Cub. They’re now 8-14 overall.

Key stat: The Cubs played their 22nd consecutive game decided by four runs or less, setting a franchise record to start a season. It also tied the 1958 Cincinnati Reds for the fourth longest streak to start the year in baseball history. ... The Cubs won for consecutive times for the first time this season.

What’s next: Game 3 of the series on Saturday night features the Cubs' Travis Wood (1-1, 2.08 ERA) taking on the Marlins' Alex Sanabia (2-2, 5.09 ERA) in a 6:10 start.

The Chicago Cubs finally broke through and won a game started by an opposing left-handed pitcher this week when they beat the Cincinnati Reds on the night that Tony Cingrani pitched, though Cingrani didn't earn the loss or pitch poorly. On Friday, they'll try to make it two in a row against southpaw starters when Wade LeBlanc pitches for the Miami Marlins against Scott Feldman.

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It was before Thursday's game against the Miami Marlins that Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum told reporters rehabbing third baseman Ian Stewart would have to "earn" his job back when he was ready.

Then current third baseman Luis Valbuena won the game with a ninth-inning home run, his fourth in the first month of the season, presumably making Stewart's task that much harder.

"He came up huge," Sveum told reporters after the Cubs' 4-3 victory. "He's just been consistent. His at-bats, his defense. He's on pace for 30-something home runs."

It was the second late-inning home run by Valbuena this week. He hit a two-run shot in the top of the 13th inning on Monday against the Cincinnati Reds only to see that lead evaporate in the bottom of the inning in a 5-4 loss.

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Jesse Rogers enters the Cubs chat room at 12 CT, followed by Doug Padilla on the Sox at 12:30.

Submit questions here and come back for the chat.

Here's a quick look at the Chicago Cubs' 4-3 win over the Miami Marlins on Thursday:

How it happened:Luis Valbuena hit a two-out, solo home run in the top of the 9th to break the 3-3 tie. Carlos Marmol came on for the save and walked the first batter he faced and then yielded a hit before finishing out the save. Edwin Jackson was looking for his first win of the season, but yielded three earned runs in six innings. Nate Schierholtz had two hits, including a home run.

What it means: It's all about the closer right now with the Cubs, and while Marmol struggled, he got it done.

Next: Scott Feldman (0-3, 4.50) looks for his first win as he takes on Wade LeBlanc (0-3, 6.27) in a 6:10 CT start.

Buster Olney looks at four prominent players who he thinks could be traded this summer -- Chase Utley, Chris Perez, Matt Garza and John Buck.

Read the entire story here.

Time to open the mailbag for Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo as he answers your questions:

Who was your favorite baseball player growing up? -- Mike (Columbus, Ohio)
AR: Gary Sheffield. I'm from South Florida, he was on the Marlins. I always wore No. 10 because of him. I really enjoyed watching his swing and his play.

Do you think there is a book on you? Is there a trend how pitchers are pitching you this year compared to last? -- Cole (Cedar Falls, Iowa)
AR: I'm sure there are certain scouting reports they have on me and tendencies, but I need to just stick to my game. Pitchers are going to make mistakes, if I stick within my game I'll hit those.

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CINCINNATI -- It’s starting to get ridiculous for the Chicago Cubs' starting staff.

Day after day, night after night, they take the mound and throw quality inning after quality inning ... and come away with very little to show for it.

It was Jeff Samardzija’s turn to see a solid effort wasted; this time it wasn’t the bullpen, but the offense that came up short on Wednesday in the Cubs' 1-0 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.

“It was an unbelievably pitched game. We’re just having trouble hitting the outfield grass when we get people on base,” manager Dale Sveum said afterward.

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CINCINNATI -- Here's a quick look at the Chicago Cubs' 1-0 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday:

How it happened: Todd Frazier hit a solo home run in the sixth inning, and it held up as the Cubs were limited to just five hits on the day. Jeff Samardzija and Reds starter Mat Latos threw well with Samardzija getting out of several jams, including one in the third when he struck out the side after giving up back-to-back singles. The Cubs had a chance in the eighth with runners on second and third, but Alfonso Soriano and David DeJesus couldn't bring them home. DeJesus was thrown out by shortstop Zack Cozart on a great play to end the inning.

What it means: Chalk up another wasted quality outing by a starter, and this time it wasn't the defense or bullpen that let the Cubs down but an anemic offense. The Cubs played much better in Cincinnati than over the past weekend in Milwaukee but earned just one win to show for it.

Key moment: With the tying and lead runs on second and third in the eighth, Dale Sveum chose to pinch hit Soriano in the pitcher's spot. Welington Castillo and Darwin Barney were on the bench as well but Sveum went with Soriano, who struck out quickly.

Next: The Cubs travel to Miami to begin a four-game series with the Marlins on Thursday. Edwin Jackson opposes Kevin Slowey at 6:10 p.m. CT.

CINCINNATI -- The Chicago Cubs will play a make-up game with the Texas Rangers at 7:05 p.m. CT May 6 at Wrigley Field, the club announced on Wednesday.

The game was originally scheduled for April 17 but was postponed due to weather. Tickets for that day are good for the make-up game on May 6.

The Cubs also announced the June 7 game against the Pittsburgh Pirates and the June 21 game against the Houston Astros will start at 1:20 p.m.

CINCINNATI -- To really appreciate Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Villanueva's performance Tuesday you have to go inside the numbers.

Villanueva threw 99 pitches, two as slow as 60 mph and at least one as fast as 90 while allowing three hits in 8 1/3 innings of the Cubs' 4-2 victory in 10 innings.

It's the second game this year he's dipped as low as 60 mph on a pitch and surprisingly the first time he's reached 90 mph.

"That's on purpose," Villanueva said. "Sometimes you have to change the eye level."

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CINCINNATI -- Despite Kevin Gregg's first save as a Chicago Cub in Tuesday night's 4-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds, manager Dale Sveum isn't changing his stance on the end of games: closer by match-up is still his strategy.

“One thing that helps is putting people in matchups or situations where they can succeed in a better fashion,” Sveum said Wednesday morning.

That's the reason he had Carlos Marmol enter the game in the ninth inning to face Joey Votto with the Cubs leading 2-1. Votto was 1-15 with nine strikeouts against Marmol. Votto singled home the tying run but the Cubs won the game in ten innings.

Sveum has stated previously when Kyuji Fujikawa returns from the disabled list he would resume his closing duties.

Wednesday's Game

Rain fell throughout the morning on Wednesday potentially delaying the rubber game matinee between the Cubs and Reds. Alfonso Soriano will get his first day off after stealing two bases and scoring a run on Tuesday night while Julio Borbon gets his first start as a Cub. Here's the lineup:

Davis DeJesus, CF
Julio Borbon, LF
Starlin Castro, SS
Anthony Rizzo, 1b
Nate Schierholtz, RF
Dioner Navarro, C
Luis Valbuena, 2b
Cody Ransom, 3b
Jeff Samardzija, P

Sixteen of the first 19 games played by the Cubs have been decided by three runs or less for the first time since 1991. All nineteen (6-13) have been decided by four runs or less.

Cubs outfielder David DeJesus talks about adjusting on defense and trying to stay positive during the team's rough start.



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