Kyle Schwarber is just getting warmed up for the Home Run Derby on Monday and boy is his swing a thing of beauty. Schwarber blasted a two-run shot against the San Diego Padres Saturday night, giving the Chicago Cubs a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning.
Practice makes perfect. #EverybodyIn pic.twitter.com/EXstOgyGhZ
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 15, 2018
That was Schwarber’s 18th home run of the season, tying him with Javier Baez for the team lead. Both of them will be competing in the HR derby Monday in Washington D.C.
As for Baez, he added a two-run double in the fifth inning that extended the lead for the Cubs to 5-2.
Baez now has 68 RBIs this season, ranking first on the Cubs and third most in the National League.
Maybe it’s time to take the MVP discussion more seriously for Baez.
Javy Baez is now hitting .292/.327/.563 with a 132 wRC+. His 68 RBI are third highest in the NL.
And he, you know, can kinda also play some defense and run the bases. #MVP
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) July 15, 2018
Anyway, back to the derby. Schwarber getting in the work before Saturday’s game and hey he homered in the game, so his swing is just fine.
#Cubs Schwarber tuning up for HR derby pic.twitter.com/87GX6FNcba
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) July 14, 2018
Hopefully Schwarber and Baez go deeper in the tournament Monday than Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant did a few years ago. Rizzo gave them some advice. You can read that here.