Preview: Cardinals at Cubs
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[October 12, 2015]
SportsDirect Inc.
The Chicago Cubs did what they needed to do in the first two games of
the National League Division Series and head home with a chance to take
the best-of-five set at Wrigley Field. The St. Louis Cardinals, who
visit the Cubs for Game 3 on Monday, will try to bounce back after an
error-marred performance in Game 2.
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The Cardinals took an early lead on Matt Carpenter's leadoff homer
in Game 2 but made a pair of errors in the second inning as Chicago
scored three times without getting the ball out of the infield
before Jorge Soler's two-run homer capped the big frame. "It is hard
to watch a club that's played so well defensively, see a couple
things happen that are kind of uncharacteristic for us, but they do
happen," St. Louis manager Mike Matheny told reporters. "We gotta
figure out ways to get around 'em." Avoiding a deficit in the series
could prove to be a tough task when the Cardinals go up against
Chicago ace Jake Arrieta in Game 3. "Getting Jake pitching the next
game is kind of a good thought for us, obviously," Cubs manager Joe
Maddon told reporters. "He's been pitching -- how can I even say?
You've all been watching; he's been spectacular."
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TV: 6:07 p.m. ET, TBS
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Michael Wacha (17-7, 3.38 ERA) vs.
Cubs RH Jake Arrieta (22-6, 1.77)
Wacha is hoping a shaky final month doesn't carry over into the
postseason after he went 2-3 with a 7.88 ERA in five September
starts. The Texas A&M product yielded seven home runs in those five
outings and lost to Chicago twice in that span, allowing a total of
10 runs and 12 hits - four homers - in nine total innings against
the Cubs. Wacha is 4-2 with a 3.48 ERA in six career postseason
games - five starts.
Arrieta started the wild-card game at Pittsburgh and scattered four
hits without a walk while striking out 11 in a shutout. The Cy Young
Award candidate has not lost since July 25 and has allowed a total
of two earned runs in his last 10 outings. Arrieta is 2-1 with a
2.42 ERA in four starts against St. Louis this season but has not
faced the Cardinals since July 7.
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WALK-OFFS
1. Cubs rookie 3B Kris Bryant is 0-for-11 with four strikeouts in
the postseason.
2. St. Louis 2B Kolten Wong and OF Randall Grichuk hit back-to-back
home runs in Game 2.
3. Carpenter has homered five times in his last 11 postseason games.
PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Cardinals 0
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