The Brewers and Cubs, earlier than this sequence, had by no means performed one another within the postseason — although they did play a notable Recreation 163 tiebreaker in 2018 — and it positive looks like they’ve packed many years of pressure into the primary 4 video games of this Nationwide League Division Collection.
The Brewers jumped out to a 2-0 lead and appeared primed to place this away shortly, however then Wrigley Subject labored its magic in Video games 3 and 4. And thus, right here we’re: A supervisor dealing with his former staff on the Cubs aspect, and the Brewers, having simply had one of the best season of their historical past (within the yr they misplaced their signature franchise icon in Bob Uecker), attempting to maintain this wonderful trip going. All the things is on the road. I’m sweating simply desirous about it.
All through this postseason, I’ll be previewing the subsequent day’s motion, recreation by recreation. Listed here are three storylines to look at main into this sure-to-be-epic Recreation 5 on Saturday night time.
NLDS Recreation 5: Cubs at Brewers (Collection tied 2-2)8:08 p.m. ET, TBSSP: Drew Pomeranz (CHC) vs. Trevor Megill (MIL)
1. How will the Brewers cobble collectively their employees?
Recreation 4 lined up completely for the Brewers, with ace Freddy Peralta obtainable on full relaxation in what might have been a clincher in Chicago. However that plan shortly bumped into hassle because of Ian Happ’s three-run homer within the first inning, and all of the sudden, the Brewers discover themselves headed again to Milwaukee and scrambling.
It’s going to be one other bullpen recreation for the Brew Crew. That’s a plan that labored effectively in Recreation 2 however, in a win-or-go-home situation, even one pitcher faltering might imply the tip of a magical season. The Brewers introduced on Saturday that it will likely be Trevor Megill because the opener — however the important thing pitcher could also be Jacob Misiorowski, the 23-year-old flamethrowing rookie who was sporadically dominant through the common season (and positively pitched effectively in Recreation 2, tossing three scoreless innings) however was additionally erratic at instances and, most worrisomely, generally struggled along with his feelings. That’s affordable, in fact, as a rookie, however, effectively, with an advance-or-go-home recreation in entrance of a really stressed-out residence crowd on the agenda, the feelings are going to be driving excessive.
The Brewers’ pitching plan for Saturday is scattered and really a lot up within the air, however the one factor they’re relying on is Misiorowski to present them some bulk (and hopefully scoreless) innings. It’s as a lot stress as you possibly can probably placed on a pitcher. Let’s see if he’s up for it.
2. Will the Cubs energy their approach to the NLCS?
The Cubs had one of the best offense in baseball for many of the first half of the season, largely due to their energy. That fell off within the second half, although, as Kyle Tucker struggled with accidents and Pete Crow-Armstrong simply struggled, but it surely has returned within the playoffs, at the absolute best time.
The Cubs lead all groups this postseason with 11 homers, and their Recreation 4 victory was powered by three of them, from Happ, Michael Busch (who has been their finest hitter all October) and Tucker, who nonetheless isn’t enjoying the sphere however is trying more healthy by the day. For all of the speak of small ball within the postseason, one of the simplest ways to attain runs (which is to say, win video games) is by hitting residence runs. (Ball go far, staff go far, because the baseball author Joe Sheehan places it.)
The Cubs’ comeback on this NLDS very a lot proves that. The query, actually, is whether or not this being a bullpen recreation makes it simpler to hit these homers, or tougher. As any tv commentator will inform you throughout a bullpen recreation, the issue with them is that you just solely want one man to have a foul day to blow the entire thing up. Can the Cubs take benefit if that one man exhibits up … and put the ball over the wall?
3. How does the Pat Murphy-Craig Counsell matchup play out?
Any time the Cubs play in Milwaukee — not to mention when it’s a decisive Recreation 5 of the NLDS — the truth that Counsell is again on the town to face his former staff (and shut good friend) goes to be a serious storyline. Counsell is the all-time managerial win chief over there, in any case. However Murphy, his successor, has the best successful proportion in franchise historical past and simply presided over the Brewers’ finest season, proper after many individuals thought they have been going to fall off.
Watching how these two males match up can be fascinating even exterior the private dynamics: They know one another, and one another’s groups, very effectively. Murphy has proven a considerably stunning propensity for small ball this sequence — it was odd to see him name for a bunt with two on, no outs and down three runs in Recreation 4 — but it surely’s tough to argue with the outcomes up up to now. The Brewers don’t get to the place they’re with out him pulling all the correct strings. He’ll have to do this once more on this recreation.
In the meantime, Counsell form of handled his transfer to Chicago as a promotion, with a pay elevate, in a method that actually rankled some Brewers followers, and so they remind him of it each time he comes out to make a pitching change. It’s a psychological drama within the dugouts, each pitch. The playoffs are a stress cooker: How will every supervisor reply?
