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Jake Arrieta and Cardinals’ Matt Carpenter are best buds

With their 4-0 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Wednesday’s NL wild-card game, they have advanced to NLDS and will now ace their NL Central rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals. On Wednesday night, this group of “kids” went on the road to Pittsburgh, stared down an incredibly rabid fan base, and toppled the Pirates in the National League wild-card game by a score of 4-0.

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Arrieta threw a four-hit complete game and struck out 11.

Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta says he touches his jersey to fix his nipple slipping out. In that loss, opposing pitcher Madison Bumgarner also went all nine innings, allowing just four hits and one walk, while striking out 10.

A four-run cushion after 41/2 innings – thanks to Schwarber’s three RBIs and Fowler’s 3-for-3, three-run performance – was the flawless prescription for Arrieta and Maddon, who started Schwarber in right field for only the third time and batted Tommy La Stella fifth while starting him at third base for only the seventh time.

But that was the last bark the Pirates showed as Arrieta’s arm and Maddon’s brain proved too much for Pittsburgh.

“I couldn’t really get into a good rhythm”. “The fact he’s been able to be on this stage, has had success on this stage, there are so many different things that he’s brought to this club this year that makes it a pretty obvious choice”.

Robinson Chirinos hit a two-run homer against David Price, Rougned Odor had a solo shot and the Texas Rangers beat the Blue Jays 5-3 Thursday in an AL Division Series opener as postseason baseball returned to…

Speaking afterwards, Arrieta said: “I anticipated that”. Something to go to.

Under the current format, the top team in each of the three NL divisions advances directly to a best-of-five Division Series, while the two teams with the next best records meet in the Wild Card game.

The bearded, 29-year-old Arrieta, unbeaten since July25, stretched his remarkable second half – in which he posted an 0.75 ERA – into the opening round of the postseason. And it’ll take more than just talent to stop them.

“I hit two guys”.

Now we know the rest of St. Louis’ rotation.

Schwarber then hit a mammoth two-run homer in the third inning that cleared the right field stands and increased the Cubs’ lead to 3-0.

As the Cubs continue to win and get deeper into the playoffs, their bandwagon has gotten bigger.

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But the move backfired in the first inning as Rodriguez mishandled a bounced throw from second baseman Neil Walker. Startling Marte killed the roar by grounding into a double play.

Jeff Curry  USA Today Sports