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Meyer has said repeatedly that signing players who already know his methodology would be helpful in Year 1. Jacksonville now has six guys on its roster who previously played for Meyer: Tebow, Farrell, running back Carlos Hyde, guard Andrew Norwell, defensive end Lerentee McCray and defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton.

“We have to take points at home, that’s for sure,” Berić said. “You know how difficult for us it is to play away. I mean, in every league it’s difficult to play away. … It’s really crucial (at) this point to take points because after, if we are not in a good spot, we will have difficulties. So it’s really, really important.”

“For us, the sky’s the limit,” Giolito said. “Last year, we got that little taste, and now we want the whole thing. So we’re going to do everything in our power to make that happen, and that means taking every single game seriously, motivating each other and also having a lot of fun, which is what we’re doing.

Ian Happ’s bases-loaded single in the fifth pulled the Cubs within two runs, but Max Scherzer struck out Willson Contreras and retired David Bote on a flyout to end his night. Scherzer also lasted only five innings, scattering four walks and five hits. He finished with eight strikeouts, passing Jim Bunning for 19th on the all-time list with 2,856 after fanning Happ to end the third.

Rizzo, who was out of the starting lineup Wednesday with lower back pain, is the only player left from the start of the Cubs rebuild in 2012. He has seen what it’s like going from the bottom to the top and then down again, and he hopes to keep the Cubs relevant before the July trade deadline, which could be a turning point in the direction of the franchise with Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Javier Báez all in their walk years.