Cubs fall 3-1 to Rockies, but vibe is improved heading into series against rival Cardinals

Sweep?

What sweep?

It’s almost like those three games last weekend in St. Louis never even happened.

The Cardinals surely would beg to differ. They knocked off the rival Cubs three days in a row at Busch Stadium, fair and square.

But the Cubs are a different team since then. A whole new animal. Even after falling to the Rockies 3-1 on Thursday at Wrigley Field, the Cubs are basking in a moment of rebirth.

It’s almost like their first loss through four games of this seven-game homestand never even happened.

OK, now we’re pushing it.

But in a three-game series beginning Friday, the Cardinals will be confronted by a Cubs team with some added pep in its step. The deal agreed to Wednesday with elite free-agent closer Craig Kimbrel was a game-changer, positioning the Cubs as clear contenders to win a second World Series in four seasons. This week’s acquisition of veteran outfielder Carlos Gonzalez and the return of stalwart reliever Pedro Strop from injury also helped put the Cubs in a much better place.

“It’s a pretty good team right now,” manager Joe Maddon said.

It’s arguably the most complete and the most promising the Cubs have looked since 2016. And if anyone wants to hold the “arguably” on either count, go ahead and do so. It’s a pretty safe move.

According to Maddon, the Cubs and Cardinals, who are 2½ games off the lead in the National League Central, are “comparatively good.” Maddon said the same of the Rockies after starting pitcher Peter Lambert carried them to victory in his major-league debut.

“There’s a lot of equity in the National League right now,” he said.

Yet many will expect the Cubs — with seven-time All-Star Kimbrel promising to erase the team’s seasonlong weakness of blowing saves — to eventually pull away from the Cardinals and even from the Brewers, with whom they share the division lead. If that’s what happens, it could elevate the Cubs into the role of NL co-favorites with the mighty Dodgers.

How does a third Cubs-Dodgers NL Championship Series in four years sound?

But first, a chance at some revenge against the Cardinals.

“We didn’t like what happened [last weekend],” Maddon said. “We’ve had a chance to right ourselves a little bit this week between the Angels and now this [Rockies] series.”

No, revenge doesn’t count for a whole heck of a lot in June. But then, this is no run-of-the-mill late spring for the suddenly revamped Cubs.

You know what? It’s almost like Kimbrel is already warming up in the bullpen, and not weeks away from being activated.

“This is a huge boost for us,” left-hander Jon Lester said. “I just hope he can get here soon and get in uniform. Whenever that is, it’ll be a good sight to see.”

Kimbrel wouldn’t have been needed on a day when the 22-year-old Lambert outdueled Cubs starter Jose Quintana (4-5). Lambert’s diciest moment came in the sixth inning as he faced the Cubs’ lineup for the third time, but he got the outs he needed against Kyle Schwarber, Anthony Rizzo and Willson Contreras.

“His debut was amazing,” Quintana said. “It was tough for me.”

But the Cubs have managed, since staggering out of St. Louis, to win three of four games, end a three-series losing streak and add — have we mentioned this yet? — a top-notch closer in Kimbrel. It’s a new beginning, a new chapter in their run of excellence that began in 2015.

And their mojo? It’s rising.

ON DECK: CARDINALS AT CUBS

Friday: Miles Mikolas (4-5, 4.41 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (4-2, 3.62), 1:20 p.m., NBCSCH, 670-AM.

Saturday: Jack Flaherty (4-3, 3.76) vs. Jon Lester (4-4, 3.32), 6:15 p.m., Fox-32, 670-AM.

Sunday: Adam Wainwright (5-5, 4.34) vs. Kyle Hendricks (6-4, 3.16), 6:07 p.m., ESPN, 670-AM.