NLCS: 5 takeaways from Dodgers' Game 3 win over Cubs
CHICAGO — Five takeaways from the Dodgers' 6-1 win over the Cubs in Game 3 of the NLCS at Wrigley Field on Tuesday.
1. The Cubs are (probably) done
Only one team in baseball history has lost the first three games of a seven-game series and come back to win it: The championship-bound 2004 Red Sox, in their now legendary turnaround against the Yankees.
And though momentum can swing quickly in baseball, the convincing way the Dodgers dispatched Chicago in the first three games of the set make it hard to envision the Cubs even forcing the teams back to Los Angeles for a Game 6, much less going to the World Series. Even the normally festive Wrigley Crowd seemed morose for most of the night on Tuesday.
2. The Dodgers' bullpen is dominating
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Ross Stripling allowed hits to the first two batters he faced in the ninth, and the Dodgers' bullpen nearly allowed a run to the Cubs for the first time in the series. Then Dave Roberts called on Kenley Jansen, who got a pop-up and two strikeouts to strand runners on second and third and continue the L.A. relief corps' utter dominance of the Chicago lineup.
Dodgers relievers have combined for a 1.21 ERA over 22⅓ innings in the postseason to date. They've struck out 23 batters and walked only two. It's a good recipe for going about winning your first six postseason games.
3. The Cubs' bullpen is not
Yikes. A relief group that was shaky in the five-game NLDS against the Nationals has continued to struggle in the NLCS. Carl Edwards Jr., who looked better than he had all postseason in his Game 2 outing, walked opposing pitcher Yu Darvish with two outs and the bases loaded in Tuesday night's game.
As a group, Cubs relievers have a 6.35 ERA in 28⅓ innings this postseason. Where the Dodgers, again, have struck out 23 and walked two, the Cubs' group has fanned 24 and walked an alarming 23 opposing hitters.
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4. Missing in action
Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Willson Contreras all contributed hits in the Game 3 loss, but the Cubs' best hitters have been quiet for most of October. None of Chicago's everyday players has a postseason OPS higher than Contreras' .675, Bryant's is a woeful .524, and Javier Baez is 0-for-20 in the playoffs to date. The bullpen's been awful, sure, but the lineup hasn't been much better.
5. Rolling deep
In Joc Pederson and Andre Ethier, Dave Roberts started two outfielders who entered Game 3 with a combined zero official at-bats in the 2017 postseason. Both contributed big hits in the Dodgers' win. With basically everyone on the club besides Corey Seager healthy at the right time, the Dodgers have more viable options for their lineup, rotation and bullpen than they can fit on a playoff roster. Keeping guys like Pederson and Ethier active and giving them some at-bats can only help the Dodgers later in October, if and when they're called upon in pinch-hitting situations.
In Wednesday's Game 4, they'll start Alex Wood — who finished the regular season with a stellar 2.72 ERA over 152⅓ innings but has not yet been called upon in the postseason.
