The Cubs managed to rout the Cardinals on Labor Day 9-0 behind a terrific performance from Dan Haren who gave them seven shutout innings. I had expected Haren to find some kind of groove before the season ended - he has been just too consistent a pitcher not to do so - but he was really good on Monday. Granted he was staked to an eight run lead after three innings, but the Cubs have blown a couple of big leads in St. Louis this season, so this was big.
Anyway, the team is off on another high after sweeping Arizona to close out the homestand. Make no mistake, though, this is going to be a tough road trip, what with two more games against the Cards and a four game series with the Phillies sandwiched between the Cards and four games in Pittsburgh. Right now the Cubs look certain to be the second wildcard team. The Nationals and the Giants are eight games or so behind them. They have easier schedules than the Cubs, but they still have key late series against their principal division rivals, the Mets and the Dodgers respectively. In addition, the Giants have been pretty much in free fall since they took the Cubs series 2-1.
As we noted before, the Cubs are playing really well by and large as a team. It's not just Rizzo and Bryant and Schwarber, but actually Fowler and Russell have been carrying the team of late as well. We got a look at C.J. Edwards who, until this season was thought of as the best Cubs starting prospect. This year he has switched to relief, maybe not permanently. He pitched only one inning yesterday, but his stuff looked good and he was helped immensely by a great double play.
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