Q: I’m a stats kind of guy. I noticed that Welington Castillo is a much better hitter in the daytime (.305) than at night (.219). Yes, it’s a small sample but most of Dioner Navarro’s starts come in the daytime. I would assume that Sveum has a valid reason for this but perhaps Navarro’s starts should come more often at night? Just an observation. — Travis C., Cedar Rapids, IA

A: My first reaction was that Castillo had played more day games, so the numbers may be lopsided but that’s not the case. Through Tuesday, he’s played 27 games in the day time, 26 at night. The splits aren’t too far off — he’s 29-for-95 during the day, 21-for-96 at night. I’ll ask him tonight before the game, and update later.

Q: Why doesn’t Cody Ransom get more playing time? He’s solid and can produce some big hits, I feel. — Jacob B.

A: Since you wrote, Ransom has gotten more playing time. Sveum has used him in a platoon at third with Luis Valbuena, inserting Ransom against left-handed pitchers. Ransom was batting .293 vs. lefties compared to .167 against right-handers. On Tuesday against the Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright, Ransom did connect for his first home run off a right-hander, and was batting .304 (7-for-23) this month after a .200 June. One of the reasons Ransom bats high in the order is to give him more at-bats.

Q: I was pleased with the Cubs Draft this year. How soon will we see Kris Bryant? Any chance he could be called up in September even just to give fans a look at him? Thanks. — John L., Portland, Ore.

A: If you want to watch Bryant play, you’ll have to go to one of the Cubs’ Minor League teams, possibly Kane County. He won’t be called up in September. First, the Cubs have to sign the third baseman, who is represented by super agent Scott Boras. The Cubs have a signing bonus pool of $10,556,500, and an assigned value of $6,708,400 for Bryant. Talks are ongoing.

Q: With Steve Clevenger coming back from injury and seeming to get a hit in every rehab game, I would assume he will be brought back to the Majors once he’s ready. When this happens, who do you think will be sent down with most of the backups playing well? Would the Cubs consider sending a bullpen guy down for an extra bat? I’m afraid you’ll say Julio Borbon but I don’t want to see that late inning speed sent down. — Michael F., Raleigh, NC

A: Clevenger does give the Cubs some versatility. With three catchers available, Sveum could use Dioner Navarro or Clevenger as a pinch-hitter, and not worry about losing a backup catcher if something happened to Welington Castillo. Right now, Clevenger is getting at-bats at Triple-A Iowa and playing some infield there. Sveum was asked Tuesday about the left-handed hitter, and there’s no date set for his return. Part of the problem is that they have plenty of left-handed bats right now.

Q: With the upcoming renovation of Wrigley Field, are they going to address how small the seats are? People were a lot smaller back in the early 1900s and these days, you feel like you’re jammed in there like a sardine on both sides with no leg room. — Jeff, Calgary

A: The renovation plan includes installation of new, wider seats at Wrigley Field. It should be a more comfortable way to watch the game.

* Jeff Samardzija is the first Cubs pitcher to throw 8 1/3 innings or more against the Cardinals since Carlos Zambrano went nine innings on Sept. 18, 2005.

* Nate Schierholtz extended his hitting streak to a career-high 10 games with a double in the first.

* Ryan Sweeney and Cody Ransom hit back to back home runs in the first, the third time the Cubs have hit consecutive homers this season, and first since Scott Hairston and Ransom did so in April against the Padres.

* Ransom’s homer was his first off a right-handed pitcher this season. He also collected his 100th career RBIs.

* Kevin Gregg is 10-for-10 in save situations.

“It’s a rivalry game, and with that aside, you have a respect for [the Cardinals] and how they play the game and how they set their lineup up, one through nine,” Samardzija said. “You know you’ve got to come at it. I’m watching film five days before, and trying to find some weaknesses, and you can look as hard as you want and you’re not going to find it. You just know your margin of error against this team is real small and you’ve just got to deal with it.”

Besides having to face the best offense in the NL and the team with the best record in the Majors, he also was up against 10-game winner Adam Wainwright, who entered with a 2.18 ERA. But Ryan Sweeney and Cody Ransom hit back-to-back home runs in the first off the right-hander to back Samardzija.

Samardzija was efficient and effective, giving up seven hits, including a solo home run to Carlos Beltran in the sixth, and striking out six over 8 1/3 innings. He exited after serving up two singles in the ninth. Kevin Gregg took over, and gave up a RBI single to unstoppable Yadier Molina. David Freese then hit a grounder to second baseman Darwin Barney, who flipped to shortstop Starlin Castro for the force at second. Pinch-runner Shane Robinson, who was on first, slid hard into Castro and well off the bag, and second base umpire Fieldin Culbreth called interference on the play. The game was over.

“[Robinson] wasn’t even close to the base and he had his cleats up,” Castro said. “I understand that you can try to break up the double play in that kind of situation but not like that. … I couldn’t throw the ball because he tried to kill me.”

Samardzija kept the Cubs infielders busy. There was only one flyout in the game, and that was when Matt Carpenter ended the eighth with a fly ball to right fielder Nate Schierholtz. The Cubs right-hander credited a tweak in his mechanics, which helped his fastball be more effective.

“I really wanted to kick this June bugaboo,” he said. “I’ve been working real hard and I just like where I’m at right now.”

In his career, he’s 2-8 with a 7.14 ERA in June, which includes an 0-4 record and 10.41 ERA in five starts last year in the month.

“The movement he had on his ball tonight and keeping hitters off balance and still throwing 96, 97 [mph] in the ninth inning, that’s huge, especially with how hot it is,” Sweeney said. “He kept the ball down and had his sinker going. Whenever you keep the ball down, that’s a plus for the defense.”

No Rizzo? No problem. The Cubs’ lineup was without Anthony Rizzo, who was given his first game off this season. Sveum didn’t say how long the first baseman would sit, just that he needed a “breather” after batting .157 this month. Rizzo is 3-for-6 against Jake Westbrook, who starts Wednesday.

– Carrie Muskat

“It’s nice to get a breather,” said Rizzo, who was batting .157 this month, with two extra-base hits.

Rizzo hasn’t homered since May 18, and he’s 3-for-14 in the last four games, including 0-for-10 in his last three games. He was batting .241 overall.

“Last year, I had a couple days off, and came back like I normally am,” Rizzo said. “You’re going to have good times and bad times, and it’s one of the down times for myself personally. It’s frustrating. The game is beating me up a little bit. I think it’ll be nice to relax and enjoy the game from the bird’s eye.

“I feel real close,” he said. “It’s just a matter of trying to do too much.”

It’s been nearly one year since Rizzo was promoted from Triple-A Iowa — he made his Cubs debut last June 26 — and one has to wonder if pitchers have figured him out. Cubs manager Dale Sveum said part of the problem is opponents have a better sample size for their scouting reports and part of it is Rizzo’s mechanics.

“Once you get a decent sample, the other teams know he’s vulnerable to this or vulnerable to that, but the bottom line is we all know hitting comes down to when you get a good pitch, do something with it,” Sveum said. “Just like [Starlin] Castro, you see him get a lot of good pitches but there are a lot of foul balls back to the screen. You’re putting the at-bat in the pitcher’s hand once you’ve missed his mistake or two mistakes in an at-bat. It’s not like Major League pitchers make three [mistakes] in an at-bat. You become vulnerable when you’re not hitting mistakes.”

Rizzo said pitchers are making him become even more patient at the plate.

“With the struggles going on, I’m still taking my walks,” he said. “It’s a matter of being patient and getting my pitch. I’ve gotten my pitches, and I’m not doing any damage with them.”

Sveum dropped Rizzo to the fifth spot in the batting order on Friday, and will likely keep the first baseman there. That’s OK with Rizzo, who had batted third in 61 games, and hit fourth in three games.

“I personally like hitting in the five hole,” Rizzo said. “There are a lot more RBI opportunities there, and that’s what my job is, to drive in runs, but I also love the three-hole. I love hitting in front of [Alfonso Soriano] and getting on in front of him. It doesn’t really matter. I think once everything gets going again, I’ll be back in the three-hole. Wherever Dale wants to put me, he’s the boss.”

Nate Schierholtz has been the Cubs most consistent hitter lately, and has taken over the No. 3 spot for now.

Could part of Rizzo’s problem be the new seven-year, $41 million contract extension he signed May 13? Since that date, he’s batting .195 with one home run, nine doubles and 11 RBIs.

“I personally think that’s all outside noise,” Rizzo said. “My contract doesn’t kick in until three years from now, to be honest. I put a lot of pressure on myself to perform, it’s baseball, I’m a competitor. No matter what I do, I want to win. In baseball, you fail most of the time, and it’s a little frustrating. It’s part of the game and understanding this will beat you up.”

– Carrie Muskat

Valbuena 3B
Castro SS
Schierholtz RF
Soriano LF
Sweeney CF
Ransom 1B
Castillo C
Barney 2B
Samardzija P

Poi Dog Pondering, Brede Baldwin, Jimmy Chamberlin from Smashing Pumpkins, the Parkington Sisters, Scott Lucas from Local H, the Hot Stove All-Stars, and former Letters to Cleo vocalist Kay Hanley also will perform.

Hot Stove Cool Music was founded in 2000 by Gammons and former Boston Herald sports writer Jeff Horrigan. The biannual event has raised more than $5.5 million for Theo and Paul Epstein’s Foundation To Be Named Later. Foundation To Be Named Later was founded in 2005 by Epstein and his brother Paul as a means to create positive opportunities for disadvantaged children and families.

Chris Rusin threw his first complete game shutout, leading Iowa to a 2-0 win over Omaha. Rusin struck out eight, scattered five hits and walked one. He got all the offense he needed from solo homers by Donnie Murphy and Brian Bogusevic.

Eric Jokisch gave up one run on three hits over six innings in Tennessee’s 2-1 win over Mississippi. The Smokies closed the first half 34-35, and in third place in the Southern League North Division. Jonathan Mota, Anthony Giansanti and Chad Noble each had two hits.

Dustin Geiger hit his eighth home run, but it was one of four hits by Daytona in a 9-2 loss to Clearwater. Zach Cates gave up four runs on five hits and five walks over four innings. Geiger’s homer was a two-run shot in the fourth.

* On Monday, Javy Baez was named Florida State League Player of the Week after going 4-for-13 with three walks, four home runs and seven RBIs. The home runs and RBIs all came in the June 10 game against Fort Myers. He also hit two doubles in the All-Star Game Saturday.

Kane County had Monday off for the All-Star break. Six Cougars were named to the West Division All-Star team: Dan Vogelbach, Rock Shoulders, Bijan Rademacher, Tayler Scott, Felix Pena, and Nathan Dorris.

Duane Underwood gave up three runs over 3 2/3 innings in Boise’s 8-6 loss to Salem-Keizer. Jacob Rogers and Yasiel Balaguert each had two hits. Balaguert had three RBIs.

Mesa begins the Rookie League on Thursday.

Other signees include right-handed pitcher Zachary Godley (10th round), catcher Cael Brockmeyer (16th round), shortstop Giuseppe Papaccio (18th round), second baseman Zak Blair (20th round), left fielder Kevin Brown (22nd round), left-handed pitcher Tyler Ihrig (23rd round) and right-handed pitcher Zak Hermans (30th round).

Zastryzny will reportedly receive a bonus of $1.1 million, which is $261,900 less than the assigned slot value for the 41st selection.

Other Cubs Draft picks who have reportedly signed — but not been confirmed by the team — include fourth-round selection Tyler Skulina ($800,000) and ninth-round pick outfielder Charcer Burks. Skulina tied a Kent State record with 11 wins in 2012. He was 6-4 with a 3.36 ERA and 102 strikeouts over 94 innings.

Also, fifth-round pick Trey Masek, a right-handed pitcher, apparently has signed as well. Masek announced the news Tuesday on Twitter: “Just signed my contract, officially a member of the Chicago Cubs organization! Couldn’t be more blessed!”

Zastryzny, 21, posted a 3.38 ERA with three complete games, one shutout and a 2-9 record for Missouri in his junior year this season. He struck out 82 in 90 2/3 innings, compared to 24 walks, and held opponents to a .266 batting average in his 13 starts. In his 2012 sophomore campaign, he struck out 76 batters compared to 31 walks while compiling a 5-5 record.

* Tennessee defeated Mississippi, 2-1, to finish the first half of the season, 34-35. Smokies starter Eric Jokisch kept Mississippi off the scoreboard until the fifth when he gave up a RBI single to Phil Gosselin. Jokisch (5-6) worked in and out of trouble all night, but only surrendered the one run over six innings. He gave up three hits, walked three and struck out three on 86 pitches (53 strikes).

* Daytona’s Javy Baez was named Florida State League Player of the Week for the second time this season. The honor came after Baez’s four homer game.

* Daytona’s Jorge Soler did not play Monday. He has some tightness in his calf, and was held out as a precautionary measure.