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Even though the Cubs won a division title in 2020, this is the first time in the Ross era the Cubs have looked offensively fit, even playing small ball to get the job done when necessary. Heyward walked leading off the seventh, stole second and scored on Duffy’s two-out, pinch single to short right. Heyward’s headfirst slide barely beat the throw home, and replay confirmed the call on the go-ahead run.

“You have to understand what a pitcher’s strengths are, what he’s able to land,” he said. “It’s like a chess game. You have to play along, have an idea what he’s going to do. And that’s one thing that helps me a lot, I’m always thinking about what the catcher’s going to call, what the pitcher’s feeling, and then throughout the game it could change.

2822 N. Orchard St. No. 3, Chicago: $845,000 | Listed: April 17, 2021 This three-bedroom, two-bathroom home has refinished solid oak flooring, a wood-burning fireplace with a gas starter and a private deck that measures 22 feet by 22 feet and offers sweeping views of the downtown skyline. The kitchen is equipped with custom cabinetry, quartz countertops and extra-large island with seating for five. A family room offers direct access to the deck and could function as an office or media room. Both the living and family room have recessed lighting that can be controlled with a smart phone. The living room, family room, master bedroom, and deck have built-in speakers for sound throughout the home. This home comes with one parking space. Agent: Ed Watts of Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty, 847-869-9494 *Some listing photos are “virtually staged,” meaning they have been digitally altered to represent different furnishing or decorating options. To feature your luxury listing of $800,000 or more in Chicago Tribune’s Dream Homes, send listing information and high-res photos to ctc-realestate@chicagotribune.com. Join our Chicago Dream Homes Facebook group for more luxury listings and real estate news.

“Those were tactical changes,” Wicky said of tweaking his lineup. “(W)e have a pretty competitive roster when everyone’s back. Everyone will be back hopefully soon besides Stanislav Ivanov, who is out for longer. But after that, this is the norm. That’s the only way a team can get better, if you have this competition and you have possibilities to change players, to rotate players.

“I remember being a rookie (in Colorado) and getting into some trouble in games, falling behind on counts, and I’d look over at Todd (Helton), and Todd would give me a stern look, ‘Let’s go,’” Brothers said. “I always seemed to respond pretty well to that, so I just told ‘Rossy’: ‘Let me know if you need more out of me. If you see me slacking, just flat out tell me I’ve got to pick it up or just be better.

“If the McCaskeys are saying, ‘This is it.’ I would say, ‘Hell, then let me go get Russell Wilson because I don’t have time to wait on the young guy.’ They may feel they’re one player away, I don’t know. If they do, then Russell was the play. He would make it better for them. Nagy, like most offensive-minded coaches, thinks he’s smarter than everyone else in the world. All of them do. Our guy does. All offensive-minded head coaches think that way. I’m not killing him. It is what it is. Now, you have to see what he can do with Fields.”