Happ's 25th HR sends Cubs past Cards

ST. LOUIS -- There will be a time for Cubs manager David Ross to reflect on this season and, in turn, plan for the future. Right now, Ross is just trying to get his club through Sunday's regular-season finish line.

"My mindset hasn't really gotten to the end of tomorrow yet," Ross said prior to Saturday's 6-5 win over the Cardinals, a victory delivered by a two-run homer by Ian Happ in the ninth, his career-high 25th. "One thing I've learned about this seat is that there's something coming next and new that we've got to be ready for."

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Ross was asked if one of those things might be a contract extension. The manager (signed through 2022 with a '23 option) acknowledged that he has had "preliminary talks," but he wanted to keep his attention to the field before discussing that season-end possibility.

"Honestly the last thing on my brain right now is myself," Ross said. "That'd be a little bit selfish on my part, to be honest with you."

With that in mind, here were three other developments within the Cubs' penultimate game of the 2021 season:

1. Contreras' season ends early?
After reaching base and heading back to the visitors' dugout in the third inning, Cubs catcher Willson Contreras motioned to Ross. The catcher left the game with what the team described as "tightness" in his right hip.

That could put the period on Contreras' season, which he said Friday was filled with "ups and downs" for him. The two-time All-Star was on pace to lead the Majors in innings caught before a right knee injury sidelined him in August.

In 128 games, Contreras has hit .237 with 21 homers, 57 RBIs and a .778 OPS.

"Learning experience. Accepting a lot of things," Contreras said of his campaign. "Found myself in the box later in the year. Wish I could've done it before, but it was an up-and-down season and I accept that.

"I give my best. I give my best day in and day out. That's why I'm going to leave with my head up high."

2. Most players used in MLB history
When Tyler Ladendorf stepped into the batter's box as a pinch-hitter in the fifth inning, he became the 67th player used by the Cubs this season.

Chicago had previously set the National League record at 66 players used. Now, the 2021 North Siders are tied with the '19 Mariners for the most players utilized in a single season in AL/NL history, per the Elias Sports Bureau.

"We're not looking to break those records," Ross said before the game.

The roster-altering Trade Deadline played a major role in the second-half surge in players used for the Cubs. And in the last week, a group of players landed on the injured list, leading to another wave of reinforcements.

There have been some good stories from the long list of contributors. One has been Trayce Thompson, who has helped Chicago's depleted outfield for the past two weeks. On Saturday, he launched his first career grand slam (off former Cub Jon Lester) to put Chicago up, 4-1, in the fifth.

“He’s got real leverage,” Ross said of Thompson, who has an .800 slugging percentage in 14 games for the Cubs. “You get down there in his power zone, good things can happen for us.”

3. Sampson's last start
Adrian Sampson is one in a long line of Cubs who were not on the radar on Opening Day. Down the stretch, the right-hander has given Chicago a reliable arm that might now be considered for the '22 staff.

"Thinking that I was even going to be here, at the beginning of the season was a far thought," said Sampson, who pitched in Korea in '20. "But getting the opportunity and then making the best of it was what I wanted to do. I wanted to turn some heads. I wanted to surprise some people."

Since joining the Cubs in mid-August, Sampson has made five starts and five relief appearances. The righty has been a "pitching coach's dream," as Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy put it recently.

Against St. Louis, Sampson allowed one run -- via a leadoff homer by Harrison Bader -- over four frames. The pitcher ends this season with a 2.80 ERA and 28 strikeouts against eight walks in 35 1/3 innings.