The Chicago Cubs have no margin for error heading into Wednesday’s Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers.
That’s reality because the Cubs are down 2-0 after two lopsided losses in the five-of-five series.
For Chicago to salvage its season, it must win three straight against a Brewers team that posted a franchise-record 97 wins to earn the top seed in the NL.
Cubs outfielder Ian Happ, however, said he wasn’t interested in the big picture — only the immediate.
“You can’t look at it as these three intimidating games,” he said. “You have to take it as, win (Wednesday), move on, win (Wednesday), move on. And so that’s the only thing we can do as a group is just win on Wednesday, go from there.”
Chicago’s Pete Crow-Armstrong kept the faith when asked if his team had a chance to win the series.
“Absolutely,” Crow-Armstrong said. “I’d be a fool if I was here and I didn’t mean it. That’s why we’re here.”
The Cubs are in the postseason on the strength of a high-octane offense that recorded 793 runs during the regular season, the fifth-highest total in the majors. Chicago, however, has just 12 points in five playoff games.
The Cubs have won just one playoff series since their run to the NL Championship Series in 2017.
Illinois native Quinn Priester (13-3, 3.32 ERA in regular season) will look to send Milwaukee back to the NLC on Wednesday when he starts in Game 3 against fellow Jameson Taillon (11-7, 3.68).
Priester graduated from Cary-Grove High School in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. And on Wednesday, he’ll have a chance to finish the season for his favorite childhood team.
“To have the opportunity to make the playoffs, it definitely comes with pressures or nerves, or anxiety,” Priester said, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. “It’s all of those things, but I’d rather be sitting at home? Absolutely not. In no world would I rather have this opportunity.”
Priester, 25, is 1-0 with a 6.28 ERA in three appearances (two starts) against the Cubs this season. He’s 1-0 with a 6.20 ERA in 20 1/3 innings over four career outings (two starts) against them.
Taillon, 33, allowed two hits in four scoreless innings before going out after 60 pitches in a no-decision in Chicago’s 3-1 victory Thursday over the San Diego Padres in Game 3 of the Wild-Card Series.
He is 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA in three starts this season against the Brewers. Taillon is 6-10 with a 3.33 ERA in 113 2/3 innings over 21 career appearances (20 starts) against them.
Taillon will need to keep Milwaukee’s bats in control in Game 3. Andrew Vaughn and Jackson Chourio each hit a three-run homer, and William Contreras added a solo shot in the Brewers’ 7-3 win Monday.
The power surge was a welcome sight for Chourio, who experienced a hamstring lock in the series opener.
“It’s the mental hurdle,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “I’m sure it’s not 100%. But I’m more worried about behavior than feelings. However, he doesn’t feel as important as how he behaves.”
– Field level media
