Jake Arrieta struck out seven in six strong innings in a 6-1 victory over Milwaukee on Friday night, and Chicago tried to keep up with Pittsburgh in the race to host the NL wild card game but remained two games back with two to play.
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The Chicago Cubs would love to host the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL wild card game next week.
Lopez was the Brewers’ minor league pitcher of the year after going 12-5 with 2.26 ERA in 24 starts for Double-A Biloxi. Khris Davis hit a homer, his 27th, off Trevor Cahill. Still, they needed a win on the final day of the regular season to clinch home field in the NL wild-card game.
It is now time for us to say something not said about the Chicago Cubs since 2008: “Let’s get the playoffs started!” Maddon said he wanted to see how Schwarber would fare at the position, as the team starts preparing its postseason roster. He has hit safely in 13 of his last 19 appearances since being recalled on September 1.
The bevy of Chicago fans at Miller Park went home happy again. That first hit, a lead-off double by Addison Russell, would turn into a run quickly. With five starters 33 or older, that team also had a one-and-done feel to it. Sure, there was a bright young rotation, led by Mark Prior and Kerry Wood, but they flamed out far short of their potential because of injuries.
Hitting against Arrieta is about one of the hardest tasks in baseball these days. They’re in the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
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The MLB wild-card game has quickly become one of the more exciting events in sports since its inception in 2012, and this year’s National League battle between the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates should be no different. “It’s kind of nice now that it’s over, I think it’s a lot easier to be optimistic and to be able to look ahead and look forward and try to find a few positives to take from this season”. “His stuff is electric right now”. In their season-ending eight-game winning streak – a franchise first! – the Cubs outscored their opponents 34-9, threw three shutouts, and had their starting pitchers allow just two earned runs in 51⅓ innings. There’s much more Cubs baseball to come this October, we hope, and maybe, just maybe, 2015 will end in happiness and joy. The 25-year-old was terrific in a no-decision against Kansas City last time out, matching his season-high with nine strikeouts while allowing two hits over six scoreless frames. We saw the typical weak ground balls to second and first base, while Arrieta baffled them with his fastball and cutter.
