At lengthy final the Chicago Cubs get to take pleasure in one other off day, and the timing couldn’t be significantly better.
A dismal consequence in opposition to the worst staff within the National League once more lessens the margin for error with 15 video games remaining.
With their 7-3 loss Wednesday, the Cubs dropped their second consecutive sequence and have misplaced 5 of seven video games. The Cubs (78-69) completed their stretch of 27 video games in 27 days going 16-11.
“These guys are at the back end and grinding with everything they have, giving us everything they’ve got,” supervisor David Ross stated. “Some things didn’t show up that we’re normally better at this series. But we’re at the back end of the season. … Keep the big picture at hand. We’ve got a nice off day tomorrow and got Arizona ahead of us, so (we’re) looking forward to that series. Should be a good one.”
1. Bad time for one among their worst sequence of the season.
Pick an space of the sport and the Cubs gave the Rockies, who’re attempting to keep away from a 100-loss season, ample alternatives to take the sequence.
Bad dangers on the bases, defensive miscues and stranding runners on base with an opportunity both to place the sport away or chip away on the deficit. It’s uncharacteristic of a staff in playoff place and but doubtlessly expensive. The sequence at Coors Field was one among three of their final six in opposition to below-.500 groups. After heading to Arizona this weekend, the Cubs welcome the Pittsburgh Pirates and Rockies to Wrigley Field for the ultimate homestand subsequent week earlier than ending the season at Atlanta and Milwaukee.
In Wednesday’s loss, the Cubs left 11 runners on base and went 3-for-12 with runners in scoring place. They couldn’t take benefit early so as to add to their 3-0 lead, much like Tuesday’s recreation after they led 2-0 within the fourth. In each video games, the Rockies used a four-run inning to erase the Cubs’ benefit.
“The last two days and really the whole series was similar-feeling games as far as the importance of adding on to leads here in this ballpark is obviously a big deal with the run-scoring environment and not a lack of quality at-bats, just felt like we never really had the game-changing swing the last couple days,” Nico Hoerner stated. “And as well as some outs on the bases, myself included and those are never great, but especially here when you’ve got to let your hitters work as much as possible.”
Thursday is one among three off days within the subsequent 12, together with two over the following 5. It will give a depleted bullpen a much-needed reset and assist the on a regular basis gamers get a breather for the ultimate stretch.
The Cubs can’t afford one other sequence loss as they cling to the second National League wild-card spot. They have an excessive amount of expertise and veteran gamers to supply one other efficiency like they did in Denver.
2. Jameson Taillon is burned by unearned runs.
Taillon was on the verge of getting out of the fifth inning Wednesday with the sport not less than tied.
Ian Happ appeared positioned to catch a fly to left-center subject to finish the inning when on the final second he couldn’t maintain onto the ball, touchdown for an error. Taillon’s subsequent pitch landed over the left-field wall for a go-ahead two-run homer by Elehuris Montero.
The two runs that scored on the homer had been unearned, including to Taillon’s career-high unearned runs complete this season. After permitting only one unearned run in 177 1/3 innings final 12 months with the Yankees, Taillon’s 13 with the Cubs path solely the Los Angeles Angels’ Patrick Sandoval (19) for many within the majors (minimal 20 begins).
Taillon stated the difficulty begins with the actual fact he hasn’t had the identical degree of pitch execution as earlier seasons.
“It does feel like if we give extra opportunities this year, that coupled with me not always being at my best I’m used to, I feel that’s a bad recipe,” Taillon stated. “I’m a man too previously. If there’s an error I like choosing somebody up, and that’s a great way to construct camaraderie and stuff. You have a man make a mistake and also you decide them up after which that builds that momentum. and when you’ll be able to’t decide somebody up, it hurts a bit additional.
“We don’t ever get mad at people for errors, like physical errors, they happen. But I’m frustrated with myself, just that’s an opportunity for me to make a statement that I have your back and let’s get back in the dugout and hit and then they obviously capitalized on it, which hurts.”
3. Resiliency should resurface in Arizona.
At the time of the Cubs’ loss Wednesday, six NL groups remained inside hanging distance for the three wild-card spots.
“We’re still in a good spot, we’re in a great spot,” Taillon stated. “It’s obvious today’s a pretty bad loss. It felt like early on we’re going to get after it, get out of here with a nice win and then obviously we just fell apart there.”
Beyond the Diamondbacks sitting just one 1/2 video games behind the Cubs earlier than their recreation Wednesday, the groups’ postseason head-to-head tiebreaker shall be on the road at Chase Field. The Cubs should sweep the Diamondbacks within the three-game sequence to safe the tiebreaker after Arizona took three of 4 video games final weekend at Wrigley.
The Cubs don’t need to put any stress on themselves, however a poor displaying would knock them out of the No. 2 wild-card place and doubtlessly out of a playoff spot altogether.
The Cubs wouldn’t even be of their present place with out the resiliency they’ve proven since June. They should faucet into that once more this weekend.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com