Cubs out-slug Cards in Game 3

In Game 3 of the NLDS on Monday night, the Cubs outlasted the Cardinals by a score of 8-6 (box score). Now let’s look at some key takeaways now that the Cubs have gone up 2-1 in the best-of-five series …

1. The Cubs’ power was on display.

In the regular season, the Cubs ranked fifth in the NL with 171 home runs and third in the NL with 92 home runs at home. Throw in a fly-ball pitcher who’s not at his best (more on Michael Wacha below), a windy night at Wrigley (more on the wind below), and it’s not surprising that the ball was taking off. In fact …

Yes: A record six different players homered for the host Cubs. While the Cubs’ certainly aren’t worried about the long-term future right now, what with their being one win from the NLCS, there’s also this …

Those three players were Kris Bryant, Jorge Soler, and Kyle Schwarber. For good measure, Anthony Rizzo, who’s 26 and potentially under team control through 2021, also hit one.

2. Jake Arrieta didn’t have it, and the Cubs still won.

Arrieta entered his Game 3 start against the Cardinals having worked 31 straight scoreless innings, a span that includes his gem against the Pirates in the NL wild card game. In the second half, he pitched to an ERA of 0.75. In September, his ERA was 0.39 (and his K/BB ratio was 11.50). On Monday, though, the opposing lineup got to Arrieta for the first time in a long time …

That’s the most runs he’s given up in a start since June 16. That’s his shortest outing since, yes, June 16 (on that date, the Indians got to him for four runs in 5.0 innings). As well, when Jhonny Peralta plated Stephen Piscotty with his fourth-inning double, it was the first time Arrieta had given up a run at Wrigley Field since July 25. There’s also this …

Still and yet, the Cubs managed to prevail despite the decidedly mortal efforts of Mr. Arrieta. They prevailed largely because of all those home runs noted above.

3. Michael Wacha’s struggles continued.

Wacha is a lavishly gifted young hurler, but he hasn’t been the same of late, possibly because he’s in uncharted territory in terms of workload as a pro. In the first half, Wacha pitched to an ERA of 2.93 and a K/BB ratio of 3.58 while averaging 6.3 innings per start. In the second half, he registered an ERA of 4.01 and a K/BB ratio of 1.97 while averaging 5.7 innings per start. As well, in the first half he allowed home runs on 7.3 percent of fly balls, and in the second half that figure increased to 16.4 percent. That he struggled on Monday night against a good offense was hardly surprising given recent trends.

4. The wind was a factor.

On Monday night, you saw the strong Chicago wind make things difficult on fielders and very likely play a supporting role in the rather large pile of home runs that were hit. Per CBS Chicago, here’s how the wind forecast looked for Monday night …

Per MLB, the wind speed averaged 17 mph, but that might be a conservative estimate. An outward-blowing wind was probably a poor match for the fly-ball-inclined Wacha, who gave up three of the Cubs’ six dingers on the night.

5. Jorge Soler still hasn’t made an out this postseason.

The Cubs’ 23-year-old rookie outfielder entered Game 3 having gone 2-2 with three walks in the first two games of the series. On Monday night he went … 2-for-2 with two walks. So that’s nine plate appearances and nine times on base. As Elias noted, Soler was the first hitter ever to reach base in each of his first eight postseason plate appearances. Maybe he’ll go for 10 in a row in Game 4.

6. The Cardinals are one game from not making the NLCS for the first time since 2010.

Monday night’s results put the Cubs up 2-1 in the series and, thus, the Cardinals one game from seeing their 2015 season end. Throughout recent history, the Cardinals aren’t accustomed to going out this “early.” In fact, they’ve made it at least as far as the NLCS in each of the last four seasons. That impressive streak is very much in peril.

The Cubs brought the thunder in their Game 3 win over the Cardinals.(USATSI)

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