CHICAGO _ Anthony Rizzo just completed his fifth consecutive 100-RBI season, and he's riding a nine-game postseason hitting streak.
And yet Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he believes the star first baseman doesn't receive enough recognition.
"He has been underrated," Maddon said of Rizzo, who batted .273 with 32 home runs and 109 RBIs this season. "For me, he always should be in the MVP consideration. Always."
The National League MVP ballots were cast before the postseason began, but Rizzo is batting .394 with two home runs and 10 RBIs during his playoff hitting streak.
That includes a tiebreaking single and RBI double in a Game 1 victory in the National League Division Series, and a game-winning bloop single in a dramatic 2-1 win in Game 3 on Monday.
Rizzo celebrated the hit by yelling "respect me" after the Nationals elected to pitch to him with first base open and two outs with Willson Contreras on deck.
"That's just Anthony being Anthony in the moment," Maddon said. "I would almost bet had he had a chance to re-evaluate right there, he may have. That's just Riz. He's very confident, and there's not a thing wrong with that.
"In this game, there's so much failure involved that you have to have that self-confidence to overcome the negative moments. That was truly Riz being Riz."
Maddon wouldn't bite when a reporter suggested the Nationals' decision to pitch to Rizzo was a sign of disrespect.
"I never viewed it in that regard," Maddon said. "If you're a hitter, just be ready to hit and let the game unfold the way it wants to."
Heyward odd man out? The Cubs are likely to stick with a lineup that features Jon Jay in center field, Kyle Schwarber in left and Ben Zobrist in right in place of Jason Heyward, who is 0-for-18 lifetime against Tanner Roark.
