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If you had to choose a single Cubs thrower to take the hill in a match not to be missed in October, who would you go with?
Jon Lester, the guy with a ridiculous resume of post-season success?
Kyle Hendricks, aka "The Professor", who is as cold as ice and who has been the best thrower of the Cubs in the last six weeks?
Cole Hamels, the cunning veteran and former World Series MVP who has been rejuvenated since his arrival in the mid-season race?
There is a legitimate case to make the three throwers start a game with wild cards (the Cubs cross their fingers, they do not need to worry about it) or match 1 of the game. NLDS next week.
Hamels, however, seems to have retreated slightly in the race after dropping another round Monday night – a long defeat against Francisco Cervelli in the first round of the Cubs' 4-1 defeat.
This is the sixth homer that Hamels has allowed in his last four starts, but this is the only damage he was charged Monday night because the only other point scored was won thanks to the error of Kris Bryant.
"Shoot, give home runs is zero," said Hamels. "I can not stop it – I give it in. I gave it in my career, I try to minimize the damage for most solos."
Hamels, 34, still has a 2.60 ERA in Cubs and even played with the bat.
With a start remaining for each thrower, it seems to be Hendricks or Lester for the role of the starter of Game 1.
After another gem Sunday against the White Sox, Hendricks now has a 1.37 ERA and 0.79 WHIP in his last six starts. He has established a new career in spearheads (191) after scoring 16.1 frames in his last two starts and it certainly looks like it will be at the right time for the Cubs.
Lester, meanwhile, has experienced a hiccup in mid-season and has been fantastic over the past month, plus. He has a score of 1.96 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in his last seven starts and his series resume speaks for himself – 9-7, 2.55 ERA, 1.03 WHIP in 148 innings.
Right now, my money is on Hendricks to start the first game, as he did last season in Washington. Lester would probably follow, Hamels after and Jose Quintana completing the rotation (again so-card game).
Of course, the Cubs have to qualify for the playoffs first and although they are about to gain a fourth place in the playoffs, they still have to deal with the Brewers.
As we always do with this column, we will align the composition of the playoff list of Cubs and Game 1. NOWIn this case, the Cubs would welcome the winner of the wild card game. The Brewers are currently the first wild-card team, which means they will host the final of a game and, therefore, we will plan to win with the advantage of the field.
If Milwaukee throws Jhoulys Chacin into the card game, they will probably start the southpaw Wade Miley in the first game of the NLDS. Here's how the Cubs could align against Miley:
1. Daniel Murphy – 2B
2. Ben Zobrist – RF
3. Javy Baez – SS
Anthony Rizzo – 1B
5. Kris Bryant – 3B
6. Albert Almora Jr. – CF
7. Willson Contreras – C
8. Kyle Hendricks – P
9. Kyle Schwarber – LF
It is difficult to put Schwarber so low in order when he has entered the last week of the regular season as the best hitter of the Cubs, but these gaps are real. He just hit his first homer of the season Sunday with a left-handed system and posted a 671 OPS against lefties, against a OPS of 0.884 against the right-handed.
Addison Russell is expected to end up in the lineup against a left-handed thrower – moving Baez to third base and Bryant to the left field – but he is on administrative leave and his status for the playoffs is currently unknown.
David Bote could also start at third base and push Bryant to start against a southpaw in October. Bote has not done much since his last grand slam in mid-August, but he still has a 903 OPS against lefties.
The Cubs could also choose to leave with Jason Heyward in the outfield against left-handers, playing right and pushing Zobrist left. Maddon has several options and everything will probably change according to the rules of the game, as usual.
The real key to this training – especially against left-handers – will be Bryant. He seated on Sunday to let his "tired" shoulder rest and was back in the lineup on Monday, but he has been his shell since mid-May, when he was injured for the first time time.
If he's right, he'll probably be second to the Cubs in October. But as he struggles to get started, Maddon opted for Zobrist in the 2-hole behind Murphy.
This composition would let the Cubs' bench look like this:
Victor Caratini
Jason Heyward
David Bote
Terrance Gore
Tommy La Stella
Ian Happ
Russell's status being unclear, there is a clear spot in the playoffs' lineup for Happ, which we had out of the bubble last week in this column.
Assuming that Russell is not available for the month of October, the only other player position options would be Taylor Davis or Mike Freeman, and the only way for these guys to find their place in the playoffs would be due to injury.
The Cubs have used 14 players in the past and this group of six players could provide Maddon with many options, including Gore's speed of play.
Start of rotation
Kyle Hendricks
Jon Lester
Cole Hamels
Jose Quintana
As we have already discussed, Hendricks has had a fantastic week and will be on a good start in October when he can make a good start.
Bullpen
Pedro Strop
Jesse Chavez
Justin Wilson
Steve Cishek
Carl Edwards Jr.
Mike Montgomery
Jorge De La Rosa
Much has changed over the past week, with Brandon Morrow ruled out for the season and Strop feels good after his hamstring injury.
Maddon said Strop was feeling really good during the weekend and was bouncing excitedly as he approached a comeback.
Could he still make an appearance in a match this week before the end of the regular season?
This is possible.
"The difference is that he's able to launch," Maddon said. "If he was not able to launch while he was going through all of this, it would be a different story, but he managed to keep his arm moving, almost 100%." , his leg feels better, his arm is ready to go. "
That would be a huge boost for this bullpen at the playoffs' approach, depending on Strop's efficiency with what will be about two weeks of rest between appearances before his return.
The final spot of Bullpen seems lost for the moment.
Dillon Maples was a potential candidate as Darkhorse's candidate, but fought the White Sox and probably avoided arguing.
Maddon went to Jaime Garcia and Alec Mills on Monday night in a Cubs deficit, but still a close match.
If Strop suffers a setback or is unable to find his form enough to not be active for a series of playoffs, Mills may be the best bet. Garcia has much more experience, but it would be difficult to see the Cubs roll with four-handed left-handed and Mills right-handed impressed this season with the Cubs (2.87 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 19K in 15.2 IP).
The other good news for this unit is that it has been well rested lately. After a very difficult stretch, Maddon did not need to rely on his best fencers in the last 10 days, so they should be rested and fit for the last week of the regular season and until October, especially if the division and get from monday to wednesday next week.
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