“I mean they’ve both done really well this season”, said one fan.
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Now, Maddon is leading the Cubs into St. Louis and looking to knock off the local favorites as Game 1 of the NLDS approaches Friday evening.
Cardinals manager Mike Matheny also believes Garcia has grown from the injuries. Obviously pretty familiar with each other, you know being in the same division. 281 against him in 121 plate appearances. He was 0 for 3 but seemingly had no issues.
Chicago Cubs’ Starlin Castro makes a play on a ball hit by St…
Kevin Siegrist struck out two to end the eighth, when it was still a one-run score. It’s going to be a good competition and I think it’s going to go four or five games.
Opposing him will be John Lackey. Lackey came to St. Louis during the mid-season deadline.
When Lester learned he would be opposed by Lackey, he thought it amusing – and fitting. The Cubs’ biggest worry might be setup man Pedro Strop, who has struggled at Busch Stadium. However, they are sending a pitcher to the mound in Game 1 that has plenty of experience in the playoffs as Jon Lester looks towards a rematch with the Cardinals in the 2013 World Series. Scully said in August he expects next season will be his last in the booth… Lester is 1-4, but he has a 2.79 ERA against St. Louis. Had the Cubs not needed their top ace to record the Wild Card win against Pittsburgh, it may be a different story for who would start Game 1. This team is not the same team that we broke camp with and was playing in May.
Lester settled in for an impressive night after the first. Piscotty slapped a ground-rule double to right with one out and scored as left fielder Matt Holliday lined a single to center. Lackey met the Cubs four times this season and allowed three runs on 19 hits in 21.2 innings.
The victory added several bullet points to Arrieta’s sparkling resume, as the right-hander became the first pitcher in post-season history to throw a shutout with over ten strikeouts and zero walks. Ten years ago, Sanders hit a grand slam off San Diego’s Jake Peavy in the opener of the Division Series. If Lester beats Lackey in Game 1, the Cubs should have a significant advantage, particularly with Arrieta starting Game 3.
Records: Cubs 97-65 (3rd NL Central), Cardinals 100-62 (1st NL Central). “To see the hard work of all those people manifest itself in the young, exciting gutsy winning major-league team before our eyes is incredibly special”, he said.
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ST. LOUIS (AP) – Jon Lester did all he could to keep the Chicago Cubs close. Overall, he was 13-10 with a 2.77 ERA – the first sub 3.00 ERA of his career.
