Contreras launches moonshot in return to lineup

CHICAGO -- Cubs manager Joe Maddon likes to say that his team plugs into the energy provided by catcher Willson Contreras. With a spot in the postseason on the line, the club can now tap into that power source once again.

Prior to Tuesday's game against the Mariners, the Cubs activated Contreras from the 10-day injured list and gave him the start behind the plate. That ended the catcher's month-long comeback from a strained right hamstring.

"I just came here to lift up the team," said Contreras, who launched a home run off Seattle's Felix Hernandez in the second inning on Tuesday night. "Hopefully, my energy gets them going."

With Contreras back in the fold, the Cubs are now carrying a group of four catchers that also includes Victor Caratini, Jonathan Lucroy and Taylor Davis. The veteran Lucroy was signed as a free agent on Aug. 8 -- five days after Contreras injured his hamstring in a game against the Brewers.

Contreras noted that he plans on taking things easy on the basepaths, but said he is ready for the everyday catching duties again.

"Oh yeah. I'm ready to go full-time," Contreras said. "I'm ready to be there and be back there every day. The manager knows. I already talked to him. Hopefully he listened."

Contreras then smirked.

"That's a joke," he added. "He knows that I came back here ready to play."

Contreras' return comes after he played three Minor League rehab games for Triple-A Iowa. In his last game with the Iowa Cubs on Monday, he went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk.

Through 87 games for Chicago this season, Contreras has hit .275 with 19 home runs, 57 RBIs and an .890 OPS. The 27-year-old Contreras was voted into the National League's All-Star starting lineup in July for the second straight season.