An update on Javier Báez, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and other former Cubs

Of the “Big Three” of former Cubs, Javier Báez, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, only one — Bryant — appears to be guaranteed a postseason appearance this year. Báez’ Mets are at .500 and not in playoff position, and Rizzo’s Yankees appear to be in free fall, now out of a wild-card spot.

Here’s how those three and some other former Cubs did over the past week.

Javier Báez

Javy had a big week, hitting .444/.500/.741 (12-for-27) with two home runs. Those numbers could put him in the running for NL Player of the Week.

Overall with the Mets Báez is hitting 306./364/.586 (34-for-111) with eight home runs in 31 games, numbers considerably better than his Cubs numbers.

During Sunday’s Yankees/Mets game there was a bit of a kerfuffle. Francisco Lindor hit three home runs. Rounding the bases after one of them he was apparently heard whistling at Gleyber Torres, ostensibly because the Mets thought the Yankees were stealing signs by whistling. (Which is perfectly legal.) The Yankees didn’t like it, and when Giancarlo Stanton homered later, he had words for Lindor while rounding the bases, and benches cleared. You can see Javy in the middle of it, sort of saying, “Come here!” [VIDEO]

Never change, Javy.

Kris Bryant

You know the KB story from his return to Chicago, long ovations and a tribute video played before adoring crowds at Wrigley Field. Details and video here. He went 4-for-12 with five runs scored in the three-game series.

In five games over the past week, Bryant hit .286/.348/.286 (6-for-21) with (obviously) no extra-base hits. With the Giants his numbers are a bit worse than they were with the Cubs. In 34 games with San Francisco he is hitting .271/.338/.473 (35-for-129) with six home runs. With the Cubs: .267/.358/.503 (87-for-326) with 18 home runs.

Anthony Rizzo

Rizzo hit .280/.357/.520 (7-for-25) over the last week with two home runs, but that didn’t help the Yankees much, as they went 1-6 in the seven games played.

He has been essentially the same player with New York (.250/.338/.446 in 130 PA) as he was in Chicago this year (.248/.346/.446 in 373 PA).

Rizzo and Báez did have a moment together when the Yankees played the Mets over the weekend:

Craig Kimbrel

The former Cubs closer did not have a good week, blowing two saves against the Red Sox. He wound up with a win in the second one Sunday, when Leury Garcia hit a walkoff home run. Overall with the Sox, Kimbrel has a 5.82 ERA and 1.353 WHIP and four home runs allowed in 17 innings. My personal opinion: The Sox aren’t using him right. He was the best closer in MLB with the Cubs this year. I realize the Sox had a closer, Liam Hendriks, when they acquired Kimbrel, but when you get the best closer in baseball you ought to use him that way.

We’ll see if that winds up hurting the Sox going forward.

There is this, though:

Kyle Schwarber

I pass along this tweet without comment:

Schwarber went 0-for-11 against the White Sox with six strikeouts.

Overall last week: .150/.320/.150 (3-for-20) with nine strikeouts.

Andrew Chafin

Chafin allowed a run Sunday in an A’s loss to the Rangers, the first run he’d allowed in nine appearances.

He was really good with the Cubs and overall in Oakland he’s been even better: 20 appearances, 21⅓ innings, 1.27 ERA, 0.797 WHIP, two walks, 20 strikeouts.

Here’s a guy I wouldn’t mind the Cubs re-signing for 2022.

This feature will continue to run every Monday through the end of the 2021 season, including the postseason.