Who will Chicago Cubs start in Game 1? Maddon still not sure
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers are set in their rotation for the National League championship series.
The Chicago Cubs? Not so much.
The two teams open their rematch of last year's NLCS Saturday night with Game 1 at Dodger Stadium. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has set his rotation for Games 1-4, respectively, as Clayton Kershaw, former Cub Rich Hill, Yu Darvish and Alex Wood.
The Cubs had to scramble to beat the Washington Nationals in five games in the division series. To stay alive in Games 4 and 5, they had to use starting pitchers Jon Lester and Jose Quintana in relief.
Quintana is a candidate to pitch in Game 1. He threw just 12 pitches Thursday night in the Cubs' 9-8 victory at Washington. Lester, on the other hand, threw 55 pitches in relief of starter Jake Arrieta Game 4 on Wednesday at Wrigley Field.
So for Game 1, the Cubs can go with either Quintana, or they can turn to veteran John Lackey, their No. 5 starter. Lackey did not pitch in the NLDS. He pitched 1 inning of relief in the final regular-season game on Oct. 1.
Maddon met with the media at Dodger Stadium late Friday afternoon and said he would talk during the evening with team president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer about the NLCS rotation.
“We haven't decided yet,” Maddon said. “Honestly, as soon as this (news conference) is done, I've got to go back to the hotel. We (will get) together with Theo, Jed and all the coaches, and we'll decide at that point. We have not determined anything yet. Of course, John is in the running, Q is in the running, all these guys. Those two guys are primarily in the running.
“So we'll go back, try to get information, and try to make our best decision.”
It is possible Lester, the left-handed ace of the staff, could start Game 2 on Sunday.n
A reliever swap-out?
Teams may change their rosters from the NLDS to the NLCS and do that by Saturday morning. It's possible the Cubs will swap out one bullpen pitcher for another.
Joe Maddon said that would be more likely than adding either an extra pitcher or extra position player to the roster.
Closer Wade Davis pitched 2⅓ innings in Game 5 of the NLDS. Carl Edwards Jr. was erratic as he appeared in all five games.
“Of course, we've got to be really mindful of Wade after throwing (44) pitches and getting seven outs last night,” Maddon said. “So all those things need to be considered. But you need the bench to match up like we were able to match up in some of these games.
“The pinch-hitting being aggressive, the defensive maneuvering being aggressive. So all of that, it's just the way of the world right now. The days off still are beneficial, two on, one off, three on, one off. It's still beneficial regarding keeping your bullpen in order.”
Getting some rest:
The Cubs will be underdogs against the Dodgers, who went 104-58 while the Cubs went 92-70 during the regular season. The Dodgers are well rested after a sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks in their NLCS, while the Cubs went the limit against the Nationals and endured a long flight delay on their cross-country journey from Washington to L.A.
“Obviously, the day off's going to be important,” Maddon said of Friday. “We have to really maintain this. Again, I always talk about the mind, but it's true. The adrenaline will be supplied.
“But the day of rest is going to be really vital. We have to get to that day in good shape, I think. So we have to battle through these first two games, hopefully win one of them. Getting two would be incredibly difficult, but possible, of course.
“But what our guys have been through the last several years, they're young. They're really young. I can't say they're inexperienced anymore. I can't use that line anymore. We're young, but we're not inexperienced. So the boys have responded properly and well. I'm really proud of it.”