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 "These fans have been waiting for this for a long time, so, you
know, it's just going to be nice," said right-hander Jake Arrieta,
who will start Monday for the Cubs against the St. Louis Cardinals
in Game 3 of the National League Division Series. "It's going to be
a boost, if anything, (Monday) night, pitching in front of the city
of Chicago here at Wrigley. I think it's only going to benefit us."
Not only are the Cubs tied with the Cardinals 1-1 in the series
after a 6-3 win in St. Louis on Saturday, but they have their ace on
the mound. Arrieta, an NL Cy Young Award candidate, has been lights
out since his last loss July 25, going 11-0 in 13 starts while
allowing only six earned runs in that span. He is 9-5 with a 1.95
ERA at home on the season.
However, the home-field advantage that comes with the first
postseason game at Wrigley Field in seven years could present
problems for Chicago.
Will the young Cubs use the enthusiasm of the city and pressure that
comes with it to their advantage, or will they wilt?
Rookies Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo are hitless in the postseason,
and while Chicago posting a 2-1 postseason record without any
tangible contributions from the two lineup mainstays is surprising,
the pattern can't continue if the team is going to advance.
Bryant is 0-for-11 with one walk and four strikeouts while grounding
into two double plays. Rizzo is 0-for-10 with a walk and a run while
striking out four times and grounding into one double play.
"I've said it all year," Rizzo told ESPN. "It's not about me, it's
not about Kris, it's not about Jorge (Soler), it's about the whole
team doing what we can do to win. At the end of the day, as long as
we win, it doesn't matter."
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Bryant's 1.037 on-base-plus-slugging percentage at Wrigley Field
this season figures to be a factor, and the same could be true for
Rizzo's .455 average (10-for-22) against Cardinals righty Michael
Wacha, Monday's scheduled starter. Perhaps Game 3 will jump-start
the duo.
"There's nothing you can do," Rizzo said. "You try to hit the ball
hard, and that's it. That's all you can do."
The Cardinals won't have a slouch on the mound, with all-star Wacha
(17-7, 3.38 ERA) facing Arrieta. However, Wacha has struggled in
September, allowing 43 baserunners and posting a 7.88 ERA over 24
innings in September.
"I think his highs far outweigh his lows," veteran Cardinals
right-hander Adam Wainwright said of Wacha. "He was one of the
biggest pieces of getting us to the World Series in 2013. He's got
great stuff. We have tremendous confidence in Michael."
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