The Chicago Cubs have seen all that they have wanted from the San Diego Padres’ celebrated bullpen.
Thursday afternoon, however, the Cubs will see a familiar face in Yu Darvish as they play the Padres in a decisive winner-take-all Game 3 of their National League wild-card series in Chicago.
Darvish (5-5, 5.38 ERA) will get the start against his former team when he squares off against fellow right-hander Jameson Taillon (11-7, 3.68).
The Cubs recorded a 3-1 victory in the series opener Tuesday before being limited to just four hits in a 3-0 setback Wednesday. The winner of Thursday’s contest will face the top-seeded Milwaukee Brewers in a best-of-five NL Division Series.
All-Star Mason Miller drew rave reviews as he followed up striking out the side in Game 1 by fanning the first five batters he faced in Game 2. Robert Suarez recorded a four-out save to extend the series.
“Clearly they were tremendous, back-against-the-wall scenario,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said of his bullpen. “Adrian (Morejon) came in and was outstanding. … (Miller) did a tremendous job … consecutive strikeouts in the postseason from (Tuesday), so that speaks for itself. Pretty impressive. One hundred and four (miles per hour on a pitch), we like that, and Suarez was tremendous to bring it home.”
Chicago manager Craig Counsell was left to pick up the pieces after a dominating display by San Diego.
“I think the first two games are what you expected in this series. I think (Thursday) will be a lot of the same. I think we’re made for that,” Counsell said. “We’re gonna have to produce more offense, there’s no question. … That’s gonna be the challenge.”
That challenge will begin against Darvish, who rebounded from losing his first three decisions by going 5-2 over his last 11 starts. The 39-year-old allowed two runs on six hits — including a pair of solo homers — over five innings in a 7-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday.
Darvish, who pitched for the Cubs from 2018-20, is 3-2 with a 2.36 ERA in six career appearances (all starts) versus the representatives from the North Side.
“This place did me good,” Darvish said of the Cubs through an interpreter on Wednesday morning. “The organization, the fans did me good, too. Wrigley Field does have a special place in my heart.”
A favorite of the Wrigley Field faithful isn’t having a banner start to this series, however.
Pete Crow-Armstrong is 0-for-6 with five strikeouts after going 5-for-14 with two homers and four RBIs in his last four games of the regular season.
Taillon improved to 4-1 in his last six outings on Saturday after yielding one run on three hits in six innings of a 7-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. He has permitted six runs on 24 hits in 34 1/3 innings during that stretch.
Taillon is 2-0 with a 2.40 ERA in five career appearances (all starts) against San Diego. He received a no-decision in his last encounter despite allowing two runs on four hits in 5 1/3 innings on April 14.
–Field Level Media
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