3 questions for Chicago Cubs heading into Game 4 of NLDS

After beating the Washington Nationals 2-1 Monday in Game 3 of the NLDS, the Cubs are on the brink of going to their third NL championship series in three years. Here are three key questions heading into Tuesday's game at Wrigley Field:

1. How is Jake Arrieta?

The Cubs right-hander has proclaimed himself ready to start after nursing a hamstring injury he suffered on Labor Day at Pittsburgh. Each hamstring injury is different, but the Nationals' Max Scherzer was coming off a "tweaked" hamstring Monday, and he pitched well. The Cubs have made a habit of easing pitchers back after injuries, and it has paid off with Kyle Hendricks and Jon Lester. Arrieta has pitched twice since Labor Day, but the Cubs took it easy on him in the final week of the season.

2. What's the approach the Cubs will have in Game 4?

Let's have first baseman Anthony Rizzo tell it.

"We've got to attack," Rizzo said. "We've got to be in attack mode. There's no relaxing just because we're up in the series. I'm a big, big believer in travel-day wins. You've got to get that win on travel day because it makes everything better. The flight's better. Everything. The morale's better."

3. Are the Nationals down?

You couldn't blame them if they are. Their two best pitchers, Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer, dominated the Cubs, and still the Nats came away with nothing in those two games. But if they can win Game 4, they get Game 5 at home.