CHICAGO — attempt to hold onto first place in the National League Central down the stretch.So if there was a time when a team that has already experienced its share of injuries this season couldn’t afford another setback to its roster Ryan Rua Jersey , it’s now.Already in a difficult stretch when fatigue has become an issue heading into Saturday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds, the Cubs will have to play the remainder of the regular season without one of their most valuable bullpen arms. Article continues below ...Before Chicago won its third game in its last four with a 3-2 victory over the Reds on Friday, the team announced closer Pedro Strop will be sidelined with a moderate hamstring strain.“He’s been so big for us now,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon told reporters Friday, according to team’s official website. “To be without him for the next couple of weeks will be difficult.”As Brandon Morrow — who started the season as the Cubs’ closer before sustaining a bone bruise on his right arm — moves closer after not pitching since July 18, the Cubs will have to put a new reliever into the closer’s role. Maddon is confident he has plenty of candidates, but that replacing Strop’s confident contributions will be a challenge.Jorge De La Rosa picked up the save in Friday’s victory when he stranded the tying runner in scoring position to preserve the Cubs’ one-run win over the Cincinnati Reds. Now, Maddon will look for others to follow De La Rosa’s lead.“It’s going to be (about) who gets the last three outs based on what happens before that,” Maddon said. “And we’ll see how it all shakes out.”After being shut down by Matt Harvey early only to get to the Reds for three seventh-inning runs to capture the series opener, the Cubs will attempt to keep rolling behind Jon Lester, who will start in Saturday’s matinee. Lester (15-6 Drew Robinson Jersey , 3.57 ERA) had rediscovered his winning ways before he took a loss in his last start against the Milwaukee Brewers when he allowed three runs and struck out seven in 5 2/3 innings. Lester is 6-1 with a 4.18 ERA in 15 career starts against the Reds.The Cubs aren’t the only ones dealing with injuries to their pitching staff. On Friday, the Reds announced that right-hander Lucas Sims will miss the remainder of the season due to a muscle strain near his shoulder.Sims sustained the injury last weekend when he pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief against the San Diego Padres and allowed four earned runs and three hits before saying he felt some shoulder discomfort.Sims was a September call-up and had joined Cincinnati’s starting rotation. But interim manager Jim Riggleman told reporters Friday that the injury will prevent Sims from pitching.“These things seem to take a while,” Riggleman said, according to the Reds’ official website. “I don’t know how serious it was.”Cody Reed will take the mound for the Reds on Saturday. Reed (0-2, 5.08) will make just his fifth start of the year. He started the season in bullpen but was part of a shift when the Reds changed their rotation in August.Reed is coming off a no-decision against the Los Angeles Dodgers when he allowed three runs and struck out five in four innings. Reed is 0-3 with a 12.79 ERA in five career outings (three starts) against the Cubs. CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Bryce Harper drew big cheers, a pair of walks and an unusual defense in his spring training debut for the Philadelphia Phillies.Both times the slugger with the biggest contract in baseball came to the plate, the Toronto Blue Jays shifted to a four-man outfield, moved the shortstop on the other side of second base and gave the left-handed hitting Harper a wide-open left side of the infield.“I’ve never seen that. That’s intense,” Harper said, adding he hopes teams don’t do that to him often. “If they start playing ball like that http://www.rangersfanproshop.com/authentic-matt-moore-jersey , it’s definitely different.”Phillies manager Gabe Kapler didn’t want to discuss shift strategy but shared his advice for Harper.“Hit a lot of homers, drive the ball like you’re capable of, do exactly what you always do, be Bryce Harper,” said Kapler, who is known for using many shifts.The Cubs, Astros and even the Rockies have employed a four-man outfield but it was quite strange in an exhibition game.No surprise, however, was the loud ovation fans gave Harper when he walked up to the plate to Will Smith’s theme song from “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.”Wearing No. 3 on his uniform, eye black under his eyes and a white armband with “HEART” written in red letters around it, Harper dug into the batter’s box as “In West Philadelphia born and raised…” blared from the stadium’s speakers.“The ovation they gave me http://www.rangersfanproshop.com/authentic-matt-moore-jersey , I’m very humbled, very blessed to be able to get out there and play in front of a fan base like that,” Harper said, adding he’ll probably use a different walk-up song once the season starts. “Selling out a spring training game is pretty incredible to see. Just goes to show how great a fan base Philly is.”Batting third as the designated hitter, Harper didn’t go deep but jogged around the bases after Rhys Hoskins blasted a two-run homer off Jays right-hander Matt Shoemaker on the first pitch following the first walk in the first.“Rhys is a special player,” Harper said. “Nice to see him jump on the first pitch and go deep. Having Rhys hit behind me, I’m very excited about it.”Harper took a mighty swing and missed on the first pitch he saw and fouled off the first pitch he faced in the third. He looked at eight balls outside the strike zone, including a few close ones. Though he is known for hitting home runs, Harper also is a patient hitter who knows how to work the count. He has a .388 career on-base percentage and had a career-best 130 walks last season.“It was fun to be out there, get some dirt on my cleats, get in the batter’s box and compete. That’s what I love to do Curtis Granderson Jersey ,” Harper said. “I was able to see some pitches, take two swings early in the count, see some splits from a good pitcher, really happy where I was today.”Kapler was impressed.“That’s who Bryce Harper is,” the second-year manager said. “He took some strong cuts and the balls he was taking, he was comfortable taking them. It certainly didn’t look like his timing or rhythm was off. Looked like Bryce Harper as we saw him in a Nationals uniform last year and he looks much better in a Phillies uniform.”The six-time All-Star outfielder signed a $330 million, 13-year contract last week, surpassing the $325 million deal the Miami Marlins gave Giancarlo Stanton in 2014.Phillies fans have embraced the superstar since his arrival.Fanatics said Harper’s No. 3 Phillies jersey was the all-time best-seller for any athlete during the first 24 hours of launch. The team store quickly store ran out of letters and didn’t have any more R’s for adult jerseys in the first week. More than 340,000 tickets were sold within a week.The 26-year-old Harper played his first seven seasons in Washington. He joked about the red Phillies pinstripes making him look slimmer.“When you put Phillies across your chest, it means something to these people,” Harper said. “I’m excited about that. I’m very excited to be part of something bigger than myself.”NFL Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins Jaime Garcia Jersey , a Philadelphia Eagles legend, gave the Phillies an inspirational speech in the clubhouse before the game and got the fans even more fired up when he welcomed the team onto the field.Dawkins may be the most beloved athlete in Philly sports history. If Harper helps the Phillies win a few World Series championships, he could challenge for that title.“It’s been great being around the guys, being able to get into a clubhouse where everybody cares and really appreciates everything everybody does,” Harper said, perhaps taking a shot at the Nationals. “You can say that about the whole organization. People have been working here 20-25 years. It goes to show how much of a family it is here and how important people are to this organization.”