Game 2

I have to say that Maddon's management of the team thus far through the playoffs has been eccentric and rather arrogant.  I hate to harp on this chord, but, come on, John Lackey in relief with the game on the line.  Who is kidding whom?  So he liked the matchup with Taylor and he left him in to face Turner because he was going to pitch the tenth inning, which, of course, only means that he did not believe the Cubs would score in the top of the inning and that Lackey would blow the game anyway next time around.  Or something.  The media is definitely cutting Maddon way too much slack.  Rondon and Davis, experienced relievers who can more or less be counted on to get a single out were available.  No one knows why Lackey is even on the roster.

Granted the Cubs are not hitting a lick and are striking out at alarming rates, but...

Some other issues.  Unlike Saturday when Quintana was good to go another inning, Lester was struggling and his pitch count was high, so there is no quarrel there.  However, with Rizzo at first and two outs in the top of the ninth inning, why does Almora take his at-bat?  Almora almost never hits against righties in those situations.  Maddon has Happ, Schwarber, LaStella, and Avila available.

These playoff games have been nail-biters throughout, but besides the general inability of the Cubs to score runs, what stands out has been that each loss has hinged in one way or another on pitching decisions that Maddon has made that have turned sour.

In terms of the Dodgers, the Cubs match up quite well with them in terms of position players and their bench.  There are only three real difference makers in the Dodgers lineup, Turner, Bellinger, and possibly Puig.  Puig, though, is a flamboyant and undisciplined player rather like Baez, so you could make an argument either way there.  Where the Dodgers excel, however, is with their pitching, especially the bullpen, which has been dominant so far against the Cubs.  Still, this team should be doing a lot better.  Despite both sides neutralizing their opponents starting pitching by running up the pitch counts, the Cubs have got to figure out a way to do the same thing with the Dodgers bullpen.