Joe Maddon Balances Rest, Routine For Cubs As The Playoffs Loom

(CBS) With six days remaining in the regular season, Cubs manager Joe Maddon is in a position he can't recall having been in often, if ever.

"I don't think I've ever been in this situation where we've been in the playoffs this soon," said Maddon, who's been in on the MLB bench since 1994 and a coach since 1981. "I don't think so. It came down to the last minutes of the season a couple years ago (in 2011 with the Rays)."

Maddon's Cubs clinched a spot in the NL wild-card game late last Friday night when the Giants lost on the West Coast. Chicago currently trails Pittsburgh by 3.5 games for the top wild-card spot and right to host that game. It's worth noting that the Cubs are three games back in the loss column and hold the tiebreaker over the Pirates to host because they won the season series. So if Pittsburgh was to falter in the final week, there remains the outside chance Chicago could host the wild-card game at Wrigley Field on Oct. 7.

The Cubs close with three games against the Reds and three against the Brewers, two bad teams. The Pirates have two games left against the MLB-best Cardinals and three left against the Reds.

As of now, Pittsburgh ace Gerrit Cole remains scheduled to pitch Wednesday against St. Louis in what almost certainly will be his final appearance of the regular season.

Maddon isn't preoccupied or overwhelmed with chasing the Pirates down. He's focused on getting his players the right balance of rest and routine. On Tuesday night, rookie shortstop Addison Russell will get the night off, with Javier Baez replacing him.

First baseman Anthony Rizzo had the night off in Monday's win against the Royals, just the second time this year he's sat a full game out.

"Right now, it's about keeping everybody involved," Maddon told the Spiegel and Goff Show on Tuesday.

"You mix and match and give guys rest right now."

For now, the Cubs plan to pitch ace Jake Arrieta against the Brewers on Friday, which would give him his regular four days of rest before the wild-card game on Oct. 7. Most likely, Arrieta won't pitch as deep into the game as he often does.

"We'll watch closely," Maddon said. "You want to keep him fresh."

Listen to Maddon's full interview below.