Cubs face their biggest game in 10 years

Editor's note: Each day throughout the Cubs' playoff drive, we'll chat with Dan Plesac and share his answers to key questions.

Q. The Cubs' previously silent offense pieced together 6 hits and 3 runs in the final three innings of Game 2. Does that build any confidence going into Game 3?

A. No. You want me to be honest, don't you?

The bottom line is this is going to be the biggest game this team has played in 10 years. This team is too good to go three-and-out.

Maybe you can accuse me of drinking the blue Kool-Aid for the last four years, but I can't remember a Cubs team with more talent and more depth and better equipped to go deep into the postseason. This was a well-built team that's healthy.

There were lots of expectations on this team and they've met those expectations. A lot of Cubs fans wrapped their arms around this team thinking this would be the one to do it.

Some way, the Cubs have got to change the mojo. And if they go down, go down fighting.

Q. If you know how good the Cubs are and the fans know how good the Cubs are, can the Cubs remember this, too, and forget about the first two games?

A. They're going to have to. And remember, it's hard to win three games in a row. In the regular season, it's hard to sweep a three-game series.

If they can win Game 3 - and I really believe they'll win Game 3 - the pressure goes back to the Dodgers because they don't want to come back to Wrigley.

Q. Four months ago, Dodgers Game 3 starter Hiroki Kuroda faced the Cubs twice and allowed just 1 earned run in 15-plus innings. Does that matter in this game?

A. No. You get into the postseason and throw the records out the window.

Ryan Dempster had about as good a record as anybody in baseball pitching in Wrigley Field and you saw what happened in Game 1.

I know Lou Piniella was trying to take some pressure off his team the other day by saying this isn't life or death. Well, it is life or death - in a sports sense.

The Cubs need to come out kicking and screaming.

• Former Cubs pitcher Dan Plesac is Comcast SportsNet's Cubs studio analyst on "Cubs Pre-Game Live" and "Cubs Post Game Live." An 18-year major-leaguer, Plesac received 3 points in the 1988 American League MVP voting.