Cubs waiting for Bryant, Rizzo to get going
Can the Cubs succeed in the playoffs without rookie third baseman Kris Bryant and first baseman Anthony Rizzo being what they’ve been most of the season?
They largely have been nonfactors offensively through three postseason games as the bestof-five National League Division Series against the Cardinals shifts to Wrigley Field for Game 3 on Monday.
‘‘Yeah, we’re looking for them,’’ manager Joe Maddon said. ‘‘That’s 100 RBIs or so for each guy; that’s 200 rib-eyes between the two of them. That’s really important.’’
Thanks to Jake Arrieta’s shutout in the wild-card game Wednesday against the Pirates and five unearned runs in the second inning of Game 2 on Saturday against the Cardinals, the Cubs have been able to survive without Bryant and Rizzo being big contributors.
But their combined 0-for-21 performance, including eight strikeouts, through three postseason games doesn’t bode well for a lengthy playoff run if it continues.
‘‘I have all the confidence in the world [in them],’’ Maddon said.
Bryant also finished the regular season in a 1-for-15 skid that featured six strikeouts for a league-leading total of 199.
Maddon said he hasn’t seen signs of fatigue in Bryant.
‘‘He’s hit a couple of ground balls in situations he normally doesn’t, which just tells me he might be off timing-wise,’’ Maddon said. ‘‘But talking to him, he’s fine. You saw the defense in Pittsburgh. He’s definitely in the moment. He’ll be all right.’’
Rest or Lester?
Don’t expect Game 1 starter Jon Lester to come back on short rest in Game 4 on Tuesday, even if the Cubs are facing elimination. Maddon didn’t rule it out, though.
‘‘I’m not saying we won’t,’’ Maddon said, ‘‘but we have not even uttered that to this point.’’
The Cubs are likely to stick with Jason Hammel for Game 4 after Lester threw 115 pitches Friday.
The Cardinals might be the better bet to bring back their Game 1 starter on short rest in an elimination Game 4. John Lackey needed only 86 pitches in a dominant 7„ innings Friday.
Notes
Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia left the game after allowing five unearned runs in the second inning (which included a throwing error by him). The Cardinals said he had become sick to his stomach. For real. Cubs leadoff hitter Dexter
Fowler is a pending free agent who could price himself off the team if he commands a long-term deal. He said he’s trying not to think about where the offseason will take him. “I believe God has a process,” he said, “and at the end of the day, if this is where I need to be, this is where I need to be.”