Wrigley is a friendly place for Hendricks

CHICAGO — The Cubs are feeling good about coming home to Wrigley Field, but nobody is happier to be back in Chicago than Kyle Hendricks. The 26-year-old righthander will start Game 3 of the World Series against the Indians, looking to follow up his brilliant NLCS Game 6 performance with another strong start.

“How often do you get these opportunities?” Hendricks said. “You dream of it as a kid. This is what you work all year long for, though. It’s not just me out there. We’ve got this group of guys, the offense, the at-bats they were putting together in Game 2 were awesome to see. Hopefully they can stay hot, keep it rolling, get a lead.”

Hendricks was exquisite at home during the regular season, going 9-2 with a 1.32 ERA in 15 games (14 starts) at Wrigley. He’s made all three of his postseason starts at home, going 1-1 with a 1.65 ERA, including his 7.1 innings of two-hit, shutout ball against the Dodgers in the Cubs’ NL pennant clincher.

So what makes Hendricks so good at Wrigley Field?

“The overall comfortability,” Hendricks said. “Starts with maybe the clubhouse, the fans. It just feels like I’m right at home, honestly. I think that’s part of why I’ve had the success here. Just being able to make pitches. I know when I come in, I know what my timing is, I know my routine, I know where I’ve got to go. Coming out, you know what you’re going to get out of the crowd; there is going to be a lot of energy every game, even regular season. It really prepared me coming into the postseason.”

SMOOTH ENOUGH?

With National League rules in effect for the next three days, the Indians are planning to use designated hitter Carlos Santana in left field.

“We’re thinking about it,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “It’s no big secret, we’re trying to balance scoring more runs than them. He’s a big part of our offense.”

Santana has played only four innings in left field in his career, doing so in 2012, but he’ll have a chance on the big stage Friday.