It’s a much different picture right now.
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Robert Stephenson (2-2) was pulled with two out in the fourth inning.
“I lobbied for a couple more innings like I always do”, Smith said, “but Bryan wasn’t really having any of that”. The Cubs now have 11 games remaining in the regular season, and they would have to go just 4-7 over that span to reach the century mark in victories. I feel like in my bullpens my mechanics feel locked in. “I figured if I went headfirst it would be considered a slide”.
Bryant added a diving catch in a rare start in left field as the Cubs beat the last-place Reds for the 12th time in 15 tries. They managed just five runs and 19 hits in the three-game series against the NL Central champions.
Chicago (96-55) won its second straight and is one away from matching last year’s victory total.
“Turnabout is fair play.
Like I said, not unlike a spring training situation, while within the context we’re just going out there playing the same game, we’re trying to win this game”.
Meanwhile, the Mets (80-69), Giants (79-70) and Cardinals (78-71) went into Monday night’s games understanding there would only be two postseason spots available, forcing them to channel the adrenaline and sharpen their every-pitch focus. It was fairly common, at least winning two out of three.
Barring any medical setback, the final seven games at Pittsburgh and Cincinnati will seem like a mixture of simulated and late March exhibition games. “That’s the back and forth of the game”.
By virtue of their victory Wednesday, the Cubs’ magic number to clinch home-field advantage throughout the National League playoffs fell to two.
Fernandez (16-8) allowed three hits without a walk to outduel Washington’s Tanner Roark (15-9), who pitched seven innings and allowed one run. The right-hander retired his last 14 batters and finished with just 87 pitches.
“I definitely felt like I got better as the game went along”, Lackey said. The rookie was charged with four runs and eight hits and remains winless in four September starts.
“There’s room for all his pitches to get better”, Price said.
All things considered, the 29-year-old Smith acquitted himself well. We certainly have to improve the quality of the talent.
The Cubs scored four two-out runs in the fourth off Wandy Peralta, who walked Lester before Dexter Fowler’s RBI single.
Montero put the Cubs ahead for good with an RBI single in the third. The veteran catcher also scored on Michael Lorenzen’s balk in the fifth.
As Smith is set to step in, the Reds could be poised to shut down a mainstay for the rest of the season.
Cubs starter Jason Hammel (15-9) broke out of a two-game losing streak.
After the Cubs dropped three of four against the Brewers last weekend, manager Joe Maddon met with his hitters before Monday night’s 5-2 victory over Cincinnati and talked to them about making the most of the final part of the season. Cincy is 5-5 in their last 10 games but are still well under the.500 mark and will be in tough once again here as the Cubs continue to push towards the number one overall seed in the National League. He will face Cubs LHP Jon Lester (17-4, 2.40 ERA).
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The Cubs won’t know their first-round opponent until the night of October 5, but Epstein’s front office and manager Joe Maddon will meet on Tuesday to discuss the playoff rotation, bubble players on the roster and what they need to see across the final 12 games in the regular season.
