4 takeaways from the Cubs' series sweep of the Cardinals, including great pitching and defense and a scalding Kyle Schwarber

The Cubs dressed appropriately for their seven-day trip out west. Several players, including Kyle Schwarber, Jason Heyward and Pedro Strop, donned cowboy hats.

The Cubs will play three games in Colorado beginning Monday and then four against the Dodgers in Los Angeles before an off day and a visit from the White Sox (June 18-19).

But first a look back. Here are four takeaways from their three-game sweep of the Cardinals:

1. The starters are dominating.

Cole Hamels threw a gem. Jon Lester fired blanks after an ugly first inning. And Kyle Hendricks was “masterful,” as manager Joe Maddon put it, in winning Sunday. He gave up one run on eight hits and issued no walks over seven innings.

“I wasn’t super-sharp early, but Willson was locked in,” Hendricks said, referring to catcher Willson Contreras. “His pitch selection was really good. He mentally got me into it, and then I attacked better and my fastball got better. He could feel what the hitters were doing better than I could.”

Hendricks lowered his home ERA to 1.65, second-best among qualifying starters in the National League.

And in the last 11 games, Cubs starters have posted a 2.23 ERA and averaged 6 2/3 innings.

“Really good starting pitching,” Maddon said, “makes for a really good bullpen.”

2. The defense was superb — mostly.

Kris Bryant airmailed a throw across the diamond Sunday. But he bailed out Hendricks with a nice play after the right-hander failed to cover first.

Also notable Sunday — Rizzo cut down Paul Goldschmidt at the plate with a perfect throw. Contreras nabbed Marcell Ozuna on an attempted steal. And Albert Almora Jr. made a fine running catch in the ninth.

Hendricks also helped himself by firing a muddy ball to first to nab Harrison Bader to end the sixth.

“He is a complete player,” Maddon said of Hendricks. “And how about those (sacrifice) bunts? Don’t take them for granted.”

3. Kyle Schwarber is scorching.

Maddon predicted big things for Schwarber before Sunday’s game, raving about his approach. And then the brawny leadoff man came through, going 2-for-3 with a walk and two run-scoring hits.

“I love his stance, man,” Maddon said. “I love what he’s doing in the box. I think it looks great. That’s why he is punishing the baseball.

“It’s as good as I’ve seen him — ever. (I wish) we could put this in a time capsule.”

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Schwarber downplayed his hot streak — 11-for-26 (.423) since June 2.

“I feel good,” he said. “I have to trust it and keep trying to put in quality at-bats.”

4. Carl Edwards Jr. is still not quite himself.

Tasked with closing out Sunday’s 5-1 victory, Edwards walked two of the four batters he faced, throwing just seven strikes in 16 pitches. Strop had to be summoned to clean up his mess.

“The walks are the one thing that holds him back,” Maddon said of Edwards, who had issued only one free pass in his previous 14 outings. “As Carl continues to grow, if he cuts those suckers out he will be one of the best relievers there is.”

tgreenstein@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @TeddyGreenstein

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