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 The Cubs' magical season reached its first crisis point Sunday, when
the red-hot New York Mets knocked around Chicago ace right-hander
Jake Arrieta and took a 4-1 win in Game 2 of the National League
Championship Series at Citi Field.
The Cubs trail two games to none heading back to Wrigley Field for
Games 3, 4 and, if necessary, 5 beginning Tuesday. Chicago must win
four of its next five games to win its first pennant since 1945 and
continue the pursuit of its first world championship since 1908.
Fortunately for the Cubs, in Maddon, they have someone who won't let
the club's 0-2 deficit or star-crossed history creep into the minds
of its players.
"We're all about one-game winning streaks," Maddon said. "I really
preach daily the one-day-at-a-time approach. I know it's Psycho
Babble 101, but it actually works. So all I'm concerned about is the
next game."
With the Mets' ace, right-hander Jacob deGrom, going in Game 3,
Maddon would have plenty of reason to be concerned. However, he
sounded Sunday night as if he would spend the next 36 hours
reminding the Cubs to embrace the challenge instead of shying away
from it.
"From our players' perspective, I just want them to focus on the
next game, not the fact that you're down two or try to win all three
at home," Maddon said. "Just try to win the next game."
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MLB Team Report - Chicago Cubs - NOTES, QUOTES
RECORD: 97-65, third place in National League Central; won NL
wild-card game over Pittsburgh Pirates; won NL Division Series 3-1
over St. Louis Cardinals
NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: Mets 2, Cubs 0
NEXT: NLCS, Game 3, Tuesday -- Mets (RHP Jacob deGrom, 14-8, 2.54
ERA regular season; 2-0, 1.38 ERA postseason) at Cubs (RHP Kyle
Hendricks, 8-7, 3.95 ERA regular season; 0-0, 5.79 ERA postseason)
PLAYER NOTES:
--RHP Kyle Hendricks will look to keep the Cubs from falling into a
three games to none hole in the National League Championship Series
on Tuesday night, when he takes the mound in Game 3 against the Mets
at Wrigley Field. This will be the second postseason start for
Hendricks. He didn't factor into the decision in Game 2 of the NL
Division Series against the Cardinals on Oct. 10, when he gave up
three runs on four hits and no walks while striking out seven over 4
2/3 innings in the Cubs' 6-3 win. Hendricks won his lone
regular-season start against the Mets this season on June 30, when
he tossed six shutout innings of three-hit ball in the Cubs' 1-0
victory at Citi Field.
--RHP Jake Arrieta picked a bad time for his worst start in four
months. Arrieta took the loss Sunday, when he allowed four runs on
four hits and two walks while striking out eight over five innings
as the Cubs fell to the Mets 4-1 in Game 2 of the NL Championship
Series. It was the second consecutive start in which Arrieta allowed
four runs and his shortest outing since June 16. Arrieta recorded a
1.14 ERA in 21 starts from late June through the NL wild-card game.
In addition, the loss was his first since July 25, when the Cubs
were no-hit by then-Phillies LHP Cole Hamels. Arrieta is in line to
start Game 6 if the Cubs can extend the series that long.
--RHP Jason Hammel is in line to start for the Cubs in Game 4 of the
NL Championship Series. Manager Joe Maddon said Sunday afternoon
that he won't officially commit to Hammel in case the veteran is
needed in relief in Game 3 Tuesday but that "if we don't have to use
Jason, it will be him." Hammel started the decisive Game 4 of the NL
Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals but didn't factor
into the decision when he was lifted after allowing two runs over
three innings in the Cubs' 6-4 win.
--3B Kris Bryant recorded the Cubs' only RBI in Game 2 of the NL
Championship Series on Sunday, when his sixth-inning double scored
CF Dexter Fowler in a 4-1 loss to the Mets. Bryant finished 2-for-4
in his second multi-hit game of the playoffs. Even with the two
multi-hit games, he is batting just .185 (5-for-27) with one homer
and three RBIs in seven playoff games.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The cold didn't bother me much. I do my best to get
the body ready, get hot and stay hot, so the weather isn't much of a
factor once the body gets heated up." -- RHP Jake Arrieta, who took
the loss Sunday to the Mets in New York in Game 2 of the NL
Championship Series, his first defeat since July 25.
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MLB Team Report - Chicago Cubs - ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
--SS Addison Russell (strained left hamstring) left the Oct. 12 game
and didn't play Oct. 13. He was left off the roster for the NL
Championship Series, but there is a chance he could be back if the
Cubs make the World Series.
--RHP Jason Motte (right shoulder sprain) went on the 15-day
disabled list Aug. 24. He began throwing off flat ground Sept. 15.
He threw a bullpen session Oct. 3, and there is a chance he could be
back if the Cubs make the World Series..
--RHP Jacob Turner (mild right flexor strain and bone bruise on
right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March
27, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 19. He began a
rehab assignment with Double-A Tennessee on June 9, but he was shut
down in mid-June after experiencing a setback.
ROTATION:
RHP Jake Arrieta
LHP Jon Lester
RHP Kyle Hendricks
RHP Jason Hammel
BULLPEN:
RHP Hector Rondon (closer)
RHP Pedro Strop
RHP Fernando Rodney
RHP Justin Grimm
LHP Travis Wood
LHP Clayton Richard
RHP Trevor Cahill
CATCHERS:
Miguel Montero
David Ross
INFIELDERS:
1B Anthony Rizzo
2B Starlin Castro
SS Javier Baez
3B Kris Bryant
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Kyle Schwarber
CF Dexter Fowler
RF Jorge Soler
OF Austin Jackson
OF Chris Denorfia
OF Chris Coghlan
OF Quintin Berry
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reserved.]
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