MILWAUKEE – The first save probability after the nearer went again on the injured record Thursday blew up within the eighth inning Saturday.
And on the day the All-Star shortstop was recognized with a thumb fracture, the backup sailed a throw within the ninth that led to an unearned run and a walk-off loss to the Brewers at Miller Park.
Welcome to the primary day of the remainder of the Cubs’ life this season with out Javy Baez. Welcome to the start of the tip of their playoff hopes?
The 3-2 loss to the Brewers on Christian Yelich’s two-out, run-scoring double within the ninth despatched the Cubs to their second consecutive loss and left simply 1½ video games of room between them and the fast-closing Diamondbacks within the race for the second wild-card berth.
“I think we still have a pretty good shot – I know that we have a really good shot,” mentioned shortstop Addison Russell, whose third throwing error in as many video games set the stage for reigning MVP Yelich to even see the plate within the ninth.
“Just tomorrow’s another day.”
It higher be dramatically totally different than this one in the event that they plan to achieve a fifth consecutive postseason.
With nearer Craig Kimbrel out not less than per week, the Cubs used a mix-and-match sequence within the eighth and ninth towards the Brewers’ greatest hitters to no avail. By the time Yelich confronted Brandon Kintzler (1-for-9 towards Kintzler in his profession) within the ninth with two out and a person on first, an intentional stroll appeared cheap.
But Kintzler rapidly bought forward 0-2 and Yelich didn’t see a pitch within the zone after that – hitting the game-winner on a sinker away.
Might not have mattered if the Cubs have been higher towards mediocre starter Gio Gonzalez or had scored a couple of towards Josh Hader within the eighth after loading the bases with no one out.
Or if Baez was within the lineup. Or if Russell made the throw within the ninth.
“In that situation you have to be on point, especially where we’re at in the season,” Russell mentioned. “But it’s good to have that happen. I hate that it has to happen that way. But moving forward for September it just can be more motivation to get better and work on some things.”
Meanwhile, he mentioned, he’s “absolutely” assured he can deal with the on a regular basis job at a excessive degree down the stretch.
Even the one factor that went proper for the Cubs on this night time appeared short-lived – Yu Darvish making a profitable return after being scratched from his final begin due to forearm tightness.
He had no points this time, pitching 5 scoreless innings, however was lifted at 72 pitches as a part of the Cubs’ prescribed restrict for his workload in his return.
Darvish, who mentioned he has handled the recurring discomfort since July 3, allowed simply three singles and a stroll and putting out seven. His ERA because the All-Star break: 2.67.
Rotation gyration
Looking forward at matchups the remainder of the best way, the Cubs flip-flopped beginning pitchers for the subsequent two video games, transferring up Jon Lester to Sunday and pushing Kyle Hendricks to Monday.
Among different issues, it assures Hendricks faces the Cardinals in each remaining collection towards the division leaders. He’s 8-Zero with a 2.14 in his final 12 begins towards them.
Sticking to the Contreras plan
Despite a stroll and 6 hits – 4 for further bases – in his first two video games again from a hamstring harm, catcher Willson Contreras was on the bench for each Friday’s and Saturday’s video games towards the Brewers.
Maddon mentioned the medical employees was “adamant” about not taking part in Contreras Friday after all of the exercise, cautioning that the primary few video games again from an harm of that nature are the video games of best danger for re-injury.
Maddon, who likes pairing Victor Caratini with Saturday’s starter, Darvish, mentioned Contreras shall be again Sunday.
“Of course, we always want to play,” Contreras mentioned. “But you’ve got to follow the plan. You’ve got to understand there’s a lot of games to play.”
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