Wire Taps: Washington Nationals drop opener with Chicago Cubs; Jon Lester & Kyle Schwarber return to Wrigley + more...

Kyle Schwarber trotted out to left field in Wrigley Field last night and noticed something left in the grass. This isn’t baseball in the early 1900s, so it wasn’t a glove left out for him to use. No, it was some candy that former teammate, the Cubs’ Kris Bryant dropped out there for a treat for his former teammate in Chicago. Wait, for reals? It is on video, but maybe it was a deep fake? Or did Bryant really do that?

“He did. He sure did,” Schwarber said after homering in his return to Wrigley.

“Definitely ate a Twix out there on the field and it led to a hit. So, I might have to eat a Twix tomorrow. It was really pretty good.

“I looked at him like, ‘Are you crazy, man?’ But it was a funny gesture and actually he texted me after the game and I sent him a little shot back, but it was a funny little gesture there and it’s just like I said, we form bonds, from what we did and just being able to play with each other for so long and — you know, he gave me a good little jab there.”

So, he ate a Twix and then hit a home run?

“Yeah, yeah, it was before the homer. Maybe that calmed my nerves down. Maybe the Twix calmed my nerves down or something like that I guess, I don’t know, but yeah.”

We don’t know either, but yeah. Also, was it a left or right Twix? Yes it matters. Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

A Twix from Kris Bryant helped Kyle Schwarber homer vs. Cubs - (NBC Sports Washington)
"As Nationals left fielder Kyle Schwarber trotted out to his spot at Wrigley Field on Monday night, he noticed something peculiar waiting for him in the grass."

Cubs top Nationals in Jon Lester’s return to Chicago - (WaPost)
Lester, who won the World Series with Chicago in 2016, allowed five earned runs in Washington's 7-3 loss.

Willson Contreras homers off former Cub Jon Lester in 7-3 win over Nationals - (Washington Times)
"Willson Contreras, Jason Heyward and Javier Báez homered off Jon Lester in his return to Chicago, and the Cubs beat the Washington Nationals 7-3 on Monday."

Jon Lester returns to Wrigley Field - (MLB.com)
“'You’re pitching against your buddies,' Lester said. 'You’re pitching against guys that you grinded with for a lot of years and built relationships with.'"

Nationals still evaluating Stephen Strasburg’s health after rehab start - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Nationals manager Davey Martinez declined Monday to give a specific timeline on a potential return for starter Stephen Strasburg, who made a rehab start Sunday at Triple-A Rochester."

Stephen Strasburg makes rehab start, scheduled to throw bullpen - (MLB.com)
"Strasburg was scheduled to work out on Monday, and then complete a bullpen session the next day while the staff hones in on his mechanics."

Erick Fedde puts pressure on Nationals to remain in rotation - (Washington Times)
"Erick Fedde has been here before, so at this point in his career, he’s learned to block out the noise. Still, the noise was particularly loud Sunday."

How Juan Soto plans to turn grounders into better production - (WaPost)
Soto has had trouble elevating the ball in recent games. He thinks the fix is simple.

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Lester, Schwarber talk 'business decisions' Cubs face with Bryant, Rizzo, Báez - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Starter Jon Lester and outfielder Kyle Schwarber made their official returns to Chicago on Monday, bringing back feelings of nostalgia rooted in the 2016 World Series title they won together."

Prospect Team of the Week May 17 2021 - (MLB.com)
"[Matt] Cronin struck out six of the seven batters he faced last week, with only a walk marring an otherwise perfect two appearances."

NL EAST UPDATES:

Are the Phillies overachieving or underachieving this season? | PhillyVoice
If someone told you in March that the Phillies, a quarter of the way through the 2021 season, would be a game over .500, in second in the NL East and boast one of the top trios of starters in baseball would you take it as a success?

Mets' Kevin Pillar walks off after fastball to the face - (NY Post)
"Kevin Pillar was hit in the face by a 94.5 mph fastball in the seventh inning of the Mets’ game against the Braves. The outfielder immediately hit the deck, with blood gushing from his face."

Miami Marlins city jerseys honor Cuba's Havana Sugar Kings - (USA TODAY)
"The impact of Cuban culture in Miami and southern Florida is undeniable. So it only makes sense the Miami Marlins' city edition jerseys honor a historic Cuban baseball team -- the Havana Sugar Kings."

Huascar Ynoa breaks hand punching dugout - (MLB.com)
"Huascar Ynoa was constructing one of baseball’s best stories before he broke his right hand by punching the padded dugout bench during Sunday afternoon's 10-9 loss to the Brewers at American Family Field."