CHICAGO -- As the Cubs prepared for the final few weeks of this season and the potential postseason gauntlet to follow, manager Craig Counsell wanted to find a spot to give Pete Crow-Armstrong a chance to take a deep breath.

During the last road trip, Counsell said it “became apparent” to him that Crow-Armstrong could benefit from a physical and mental break. He circled Tuesday and Wednesday as an opportune window for days out of the lineup, plus the added bonus of Thursday’s team off-day. It was an opportunity for the young center fielder to finally take his foot off the gas.

“In my experience, it’s been helpful for players,” Counsell said prior to Friday’s 11-5 win over the Nationals. “It’s the mental reset and just the break of being frustrated by the results. That's a big lift of

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