Chicago Cubs post HUGE WIN to begin playoffs!

Chicago Cubs post HUGE WIN to begin playoffs!

For the first time since 2017, you could say the Chicago Cubs won a playoff game. Go Cubs. You are Locked on Cubs. Your daily Chicago Cubs podcast, part of the Locked On podcast network. Your team every day. You are Locked On Cubs, part of the Locked On Network. your team every day alongside Sam Olber. I’m Matt Cozy. Sam and I are lifelong fans taking our passion into a discussion with you on all things Cubs. Today’s episode is brought to you by Game Time. Download the Game Time app. Create an account. Use code locked on MLB for $20 off your first purchase. Cubs defeated the Padres’s 3-1 on Tuesday to take a 10 lead in the wildcard series at Wrigley Field. Man, that sounds good to say. First postseason win for the Cubs since 2017. An absolutely amazing start to the playoffs for our favorite team. Great baseball, uh, great atmosphere. And as the sport changes in the playoffs, like we’ve detailed the last couple of episodes, now you’re dealing from a major major position of strength going up 1, Sam, in a three-game series. Where do you want to start? You want to start with I I thought Matthew Boyd really did exactly what I hoped and thought that he would do. He battled. Um it wasn’t a pretty performance by any means. I wouldn’t even say that he was overly sharp, but he battled. And credit to council for getting him out when he needed to get him out. And then Daniel Palencia, who about two, three weeks ago wasn’t even on the postseason radar, gets five massive outs. That goes to Pomerance. huge story there over Theelbar and guess what it was the right button and then Kitridge to Keller or do you want to go with the fact that Seya Suzuki um I want a ticket on that roller coaster and maybe it’ll go all the way through October because after not doing anything for two months he has now hit six home runs in five games and he just hit the biggest home run of his life or do you want to discuss Kelly going after him or or the two guys that I thought were the difference in the game? Uh the guys up the middle, Nicoer and Dansby Swanson. Her with two big base hits. Uh uh and then of course the sack fly. And I thought Swanson I thought Swanson was outstanding today. Uh yes, he gets the big base hit and comes around and scores. Defensively, I thought he saved two runs. Um it was um it was it was an October performance, Matt. It’s late September, but it was an October performance. That’s how you win. Outside of the no hat, hat bunt fiasco. They did exactly what they needed to do to win an October baseball game. H how many months have we talked about it? Windb blowing in lowcoring. Find a way to win a baseball game. 10 Chicago. All right, let’s go offense to pitching to defense. Then there’s a couple questions to go over. We’re going to preview Wednesday. uh go over a couple things with the wildcard roster uh as well. I thought Nick Paveta executed a really simple plan early. Mostly fast balls and the Cubs just they love chasing vertical. They love chasing vertical vo and they just swing and miss, swing and miss, swing and miss. Pavetta in only five innings struck out nine g guys. The Cubs struck out 12 times in this game. They walked once and it was intentional. But for Seiya and Carson Kelly to connect like that in the fifth with a pair of solo homers plus good baseball in the eighth to manufacture a run. Those for me those are the major highlights because you could have won the game two to one just on the homers. It was exciting. Got the place fired up. But to see them respond in that fashion in the eighth after they uh didn’t execute an opportunity in the sixth inning I thought was really good to see. In the eighth you have because in the first and second no outs in the sixth half grounded a double play. Maybe he should have bunted but we could really talk later Sam about more of the lineup construction. Yeah. Uh then Tucker went F8 but man on second and one out in the eighth. uh first and second. Uh they advance 90 feet on the wild pitch after the Swanson single. Shaw sacrifice bunt Bush intentional walk. And then Hoarder puts the ball in play. It’s 3-1. And you’re right, and we saw it with the Tigers Guardians game. I thought you were right the last couple of days with with hinting at the score prediction. This is going to be the score and it’s probably going to be the same way Wednesday. Uh, but for the Cubs to prove that they could win a game like this, it’s critical. It really is. Yeah, I agree with what you said. I thought early, it felt like Paveta when I was doing the watch along, which, you know, we might have to ban because they never score, but I was feeling real good about my calls on the watch along because the first time through was all high chase, high chase, high chase. Then he mixed in a lot more of his breaking stuff. I thought he had a really good plan. And ironically, the first time if you go back and watch the first at bat uh with Seiya, he missed. He missed down the middle and Seiya missed it. And then he missed again to Sea and he didn’t miss it again. And that just and and that just felt like it changed the game. Kelly Homer was on a pitch actually up and out of the zone. Yeah. It was a ball. Yeah. And and so that was just a really good piece of hitting, really good adjustment. And you know, you’ve said it all year- when when Boyd or showed a pitch and the wind is blowing in and they’re playing at home, three is the magic number and and now they’re 18 and three and they were able to get three runs. Like I said, it wasn’t, like you said, wasn’t always pretty, but they got it done. Like three is a lot more than one. It’s a lot more than zero, which is what we saw in 18 and 20. And um you know, they they did enough. And and to be honest with you, it was the suspects outside of um I mean, nobody could have expected this from Seiya uh uh out of nowhere, but but you know, two for three uh with Nico. I mean, that’s that’s the guy. And immediately when those runners reach second and third, you had to mark your scorebook that a run was coming in. That’s what he’s there to do. That’s what he’s there to do. There’s 93 people with us live, Matt. And that’s what Nicoer is there to do. Put the ball in play. runner on third, less than two outs, and then you got a couple big swings, couple homers. It was kind of a best of both worlds. And uh I thought it was I would describe it as just enough offensively. Yeah, it was. And I’d like to follow up a little bit on would you like to follow up on the lineup or just situationally is it is it a stretch to ask for for Hap to bunt in the sixth inning just to be thorough before we get to the pitching side. So here’s here’s why they didn’t. So let’s start with there. Here’s why they didn’t. If he bunts and and it’s successful, it’s second and third one out, right? They’re gonna walk Tucker. Bases loaded, one out. And then Miller’s coming in. And so Miller’s gonna see Suzuki and Kelly. And we saw what Miller did to Suzuki and Kelly. So that’s the case against That’s the case against it. Um I was for it more so because Hap as a right-handed hitter hits the ball on the ground a ton. Um a ton. And so it just felt like that was what was going to happen. and you know I you know say I you know whatever and I and I would have liked to seen Mason Miller then in a little bit earlier so it helps. I just think going forward now I get it Tucker doesn’t look himself but as we know as we know this stuff changes quickly. I just feel more comfortable with his bat-to ball skills with him third um instead of Hap. It’s just weird to put Hap there. Uh but the counterpoint is is who who have you moved down? Seiya and and ever since Seiya’s moved out of the five hole, he is hitting uh uh at a level I mean he makes righty Mickey Manel uh uh jealous with the way that he’s hitting right now. I mean six home runs in five games. I’ve never I mean this is crazy. He’s on a fantastic ride and that’s you need to you need that type of performance if you’re if you if you want to dream 100%. And and you know what, like we always talk about Seiya um you know as an enigma and and I think that gets categorized a lot as a negative thing, but it’s not a negative thing. It just means I don’t know how to figure this guy out. There’s there’s a lot of waves to his year. He might hit three homers tomorrow or he might not get another hit the rest of the playoffs. I I don’t know, but I’m here for it. Boy got the early hook. The bullpen was perfect. and we preview game two right after this. This episode is brought to you by Game Time. There’s nothing like catching a baseball game live. The energy, the crowd, the chance to see your team in person, but actually getting tickets, that’s the tough part. Cues, login screens, surprise fees. It takes all the fun out of it. That’s why I use Game Time, the app that gives the advantage back to fans. Game time is fast, easy, and backed by the Game Time Guarantee. You’ll always get 100% authentic tickets delivered on time and at the best price. Plus, all fees are included, so the price you see is the price you pay. I’ve used Game Time for every Cub game that I’ve been to. Uh, it’s the best. You you you get tickets right away. You could literally wait up to first pitch. The prices go down. Fees are included. Know your total upfront with no surprise fees at checkout. So, download the Game Time app, create an account, and use code lock.mlb for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Again, that’s promo code L O C K D O MLB for $20 off. Swipe, tap, ticket, go. Download Game Time today. This episode is brought to you by Monarch Money. Most people can’t name all their financial accounts or even what they’re worth, whether it’s 401ks, properties, or investments. And when you don’t have the full picture, you can end up leaving money on the table. That’s why there is Monarch Money. It’s an all-in-one personal finance tool that brings your entire financial life together in one clean, easy to use interface on your laptop or your phone. Monarch is built for people with busy lives. If you put put off organizing your finances, Monarch is for you. Monarch does the heavy lifting for you. You can link all your accounts in minutes, see clear data visuals, get smart categorization of your spending, and finally feel in control of your money without ever touching a spreadsheet. You can identify that you aren’t saving as much as you thought, like I identified because all I do is spend money on food delivery services instead of driving to seven minutes to go get the food. That stuff starts to add up. maximizing investments, increasing your savings rate, easily reviewing finances with your partner and/or advisor, keeping a clear review of your financial health week to week. So, don’t let financial opportunity slip through the cracks. Use code locked on MLB at monarchmoney.com in your browser for half off your first year. That’s 50% off your first year at monarchmoney.com with code locked on ML. Shout out to the everydayers. and you could become a locked on Cubs every day or by joining us for every episode throughout the week. And if this is your first time here, that makes sense. After a huge win, first postseason win for the Cubs since 2017. Uh but we’re here five days a week basically the whole year. Uh save for some some winter time, January, February, but uh please stay with us all postseason long. All right, Matthew Boyd. So Craig Councel did the thing with Matthew Boyd that I’ve always floated out there. You face your 18 guys, you go put the gym shoes on. And that’s exactly what happened on on Tuesday. Did you see him did you see him put on his gym shoes? I should have. Okay. Uh he missed one of his his laces. But yeah, uh he got pulled in the fifth. Uh only faced the 18 guys exactly two times through, but it worked. Um, let’s keep it there for now, Sam. Yeah. Uh, I thought Boyd got behind in the count a little too often, but he minimized the damage. Obviously, that proved to be uh monumental as the game went along and and they held him to one run, but there was a few situations that were big. the one early man on third less than two outs they didn’t score uh first and third one out they didn’t score so he did he he was able to to limit the damage and clearly council had a plan after that I thought the key to the game you know we talked about yesterday and I talked about uh um you know with Javier the the uh uh Padres struggle yeah the the Padres struggle a little bit with lefties and how crucial The Raone Lauraniano absence was, Matt, you felt it today because you talked about I thought the key part of this game was in the second inning. Second and fourth. Second and the fourth. You So both times though, you’re right. Yeah. Yeah. Second inning it was one- nothing Padres’s and they already had a man on second or excuse me, a man on third. Nobody out. Right. And then guess what pocket got Boyd out of it? Three straight lefties. O’Harn, Sheets, Croninworth. And then in the in the fourth inning, first and third, one out, same pocket, it was O’Harn, and then it was Sheets, right? And so I was a little bit surprised that she’ll we always talk about lineup construction on the show typically uh in in those winter days that you mentioned and and we always we make lineups a little bit different because you you like to go right, left, right, left for that exact reason. And I thought that was really critical. And I thought, boy, like I said, I think you hit it on the nose. Um, I wouldn’t say that he he pitched great, but considering everything, the results were great and he did what I thought he was going to do, which was battle and put together a a really solid effort on a really big stage. And I think he was aided by the fact that in the biggest spots of the game, um, he got to see left on left guys that typically don’t feel comfortable hitting left on left. And the real only bad bad mistake that led to a run was he just made a two strike threw a two- strike fast ball to Bogarts right down the middle with a guy on second. So um credit to Matthew Boyd, credit to Craig Councel um because it’s not a popular decision and I’m one of those guys that doesn’t love to see pitchers get pulled early, but it was extremely appropriate today and it worked out. The bullpen didn’t allow a base runner. four and two3 innings. Wow. Palencia five outs and then a trio of Pomerance, Kitridge, and Keller all got three outs in their outing. The bullpen has been a steady presence basically from Jump Street, but definitely since the I remember them taking a turn mid to late April. It was actually right around when Pomerance was acquired, right? Mid to late April, they turned on the Jets. They had a patch, I want to say around the All-Star break, maybe just I think it was actually just prior or just after, I don’t remember which, that they was a little turbulent, but okay. So, what is that 20ish games where, you know, they they maybe had some some trouble, maybe it was less. Uh we saw the recipe of a a great Cubs team today. I thought one of that was just the the steady bullpen, a resurgence throughout the year and it it just continued today and they were so pitch efficient. They attack guys. They didn’t waste a lot of pitches. They did their jobs. Um, shoot. As I’m trying to build out my outline, I I more or less are am missing some plate appearances because it’s that it’s that fast. Uh, especially Kitridge. The guy is an animal. Yeah. Um, quick. He When was the last time Kitridge threw more than 20 pitches in a frame? Someone look that up. I think I think it’s such a funny lesson because the bullpen was awful the first three weeks of the year. I mean, you had the debacle in Arizona with Eli Morgan and that whole situation. Then it went to be, okay, we’re really worried about Presley, then Haj, then Presley. It really wasn’t until mid year where it stabilized completely. And look at the names. If I were to tell you March 15th, hey, hey, hey, we’re going to close a a playoff game, game one against the Padres’s. Here’s going to be the relievers in order. Palencia, all right, I guess I could see that. But he started the year in Triple A. Keep going. Start the year in Alea. Pomearance started the year in TripleA for the Mariners. For the Mariners, Kitridge was on the Orioles. Brad Keller spring train invite as a starter that they turned him into a reliever. Exactly. So, and a and a non-roster invite team. That’s right. That’s right. And so, the point is is with these relievers now, some teams, you know, the Padres’s knew Suarez was going to get the ninth or whatever, but this bullpen thing, it’s almost like uh uh you just kind of have to let Jed do his thing. Now, I’ve been picky over the years, and I still will be. I wish they could do it a little bit faster. I don’t know why it always has to take so long every year, but this this group they’ve really settled in on. And um Felbar is also a part of it. It’s just I I guess he struggled lately and and got demoted. And again, you got to give council credit there. I mean, he pushed outside of the half thing, which you could go back and forth on, he pushed all the right buttons today pitching wise, and uh, you know, it’s just funny. These are the guys. It’s just it’s it’s how it works in baseball now. You just don’t know. So, Palencia will be down on Wednesday, but Pomearance, so Fieldbar, Pomearance, Kitridge, Keller should all be available. I wouldn’t be I wouldn’t be so sure that Palencia is down. Okay. Okay. Maybe they squeeze them in to do the one out to let finish an inning if they’re winning. Yeah. What is really interesting, but again they didn’t throw that many pitches, but still they appeared in the game is you had Miller. Yep. Estrada appear in a loss. Great points. And keep doing that. Keep having the good relievers appear in losses. Yep. Okay. They just didn’t throw a lot of pitches, but fantastic plan from council and the Cubs can wrap this thing up on Wednesday. We preview game two and more next. This episode is brought to you by FanDuel. The NFL season is here and FanDuel has an offer you don’t want to miss. Right now, new customers can bet just $5 and get 300 in bonus bets if you win. That’s right. Pick a bet, put down five bucks, and if it hits, you’ll unlock $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. Folks, the Cubs open as minus 26 minus 126 favorites on FanDuel. Matt talked about how important game one is. 126 for the series. That is you want to know what it is right now? Cubbies minus 410. go Cubs to to go up to Milwaukee and face the Brewers. If you think a boxing analog is coming, you know it is. So, what are you waiting for? Visit fanduel.com to download the FanDuel app today and get started. Make sure you’re subscribed to Locked On Cubs. That way, you don’t miss any of the great Cubs content we’ve got for you. Uh, hit subscribe if you’re on Apple or Spotify right now or in your ears. Uh, perhaps you’re going for an evening walk right now. You’re you’re driving to work. Uh, then on YouTube as well. All right, Sha Imanaga and Dylan Cease. Although Sam uh double check the internet machine updates. There is a possibility that they open for Imanaga. Let’s get to that uh in a minute or two. CE has a career 247 erra in eight starts against the Northsiders. On the road this season though, this is on the road, right? I know he’s good against the Cubs, but on the road, which he’ll be starting on the road on on Wednesday, he has an RA of 558. Really, the whole year he’s had mixed results, but his stuff is still one of the best in baseball. And uh yeah, the Cubs just have not done well against him over the years. Uh and he’s a free agent to be. You could make a claim that that has some incentive there as well. Uh Imanaga might have an opener. 12 homers allowed in his last six starts. Uh period in which he’s posted a 597 erra. Woof. Uh 373 for the year. I think Colin Ray would be a great option. I think if they really flex their creative muscle, Colin Ray could even go one time through the order or but but you know, I think a cleaner version would be Shota coming out the top of the second. Uh Sam, thoughts on an opener first and then we’ll get to the path to victory against Cease and otherwise. Yeah, I I I don’t think so. I I would just let let Shota go. Um I feel very similar to Shota as I do about Boyd. I trust these guys in a big moment. It’s going to be a little bit cooler, little less sun tomorrow. I would assume really similar conditions. Let me jump real quick on FanDuel and just see if I can catch an over under on that yet. Seven. I’m going to guess seven and a half. A and if that’s the case, uh, six and a half. Actually, I’m going to say six and a half. And you’re and you’re spot on. It’s six and a half. So, if that’s going to be the overunder, that means I I Let’s show to go. Okay. Let’s show to go see what happens. I I I I believe in this guy just very similar to how I believe in Matt Boyd. Now, that doesn’t mean he’s going to be great, but I just I really have a hard time seeing him just completely let this thing go off the rails. And I would do something very similar to what you did today. Uh 18 18 outs and go there and and yes, the the implied risk would be, well, what if it’s tied or something and you use Palencia Kit Keller backto-back days? This is the postseason, right? So, you’re going to use them three straight days. They’re probably going to use and Miller three straight days if if you get beat. Absolutely. Um, so it is what it is. Um, I I think Sha is going to pitch well tomorrow and I would let him start the game and and and show us what he can do. Uh, and as far as cease goes, uh, this is a game where I’d get real real crazy a little bit just because what does that mean? It just means you’re up 10. I think CE isn’t very comfortable throwing a bases and things like that. And you know, he’s a really tough guy to hit. He’s gonna he’s gonna rack up his strikeouts, but man, you know, bunt, steel, that type of game. I think you could really mess with him a little bit. And um you know, you’re kind of house money is not the right word in a best of three, but you definitely have less pressure tomorrow. And when you have less pressure, you could be a little bit more aggressive. You could be a little bit more aggressive on the base pads. you could be a little bit more aggressive with with certain situations. And I think the path to victory against Cease. Yeah, maybe we hit a couple long balls again, but really make him work. And when you get on base, you know, just toy with him a little bit and see if you could just get him to maybe throw one in the right center field or or or down the right field line and all of a sudden you get yourself in trouble or he gets himself in trouble. So, we’ll see. Um I’m very confident and um I’m ready to roll. Well, what if I broke the news to you on the show and told you that you’re going to be solo after this game? You’re going tomorrow? Yeah. I I I I That’s That’s a done deal. Especially selfishly after the win. Okay. All right. Hey, man. I’m happy for you. My dad invited me. I told him, “Can I give you 20 and a half 21 hour notice?” Selfishly waiting for this result. Uh, you know, I I don’t think any of us are are, you know, thrilled about the uh commute either, but um I I’m going to be there. I’m going to figure out a way to be there and uh I’ll be there with my dad. Sam will be right here after the game covering all things Cubs Padres’s. Few more notes. Swanson great defensively. Her great defensively. Pete continues to make it look easy in center field as the weather uh messed with some some balls in the air today. I thought Kelly I I I it’s a great Hey, I thought Pete really had command in center field today because it I got to tell you there were a couple balls in right that it felt like Seya really didn’t uh uh you know have a good beat on at all. Um did you see that at all? Yes. And then and then Pete kind of just saved the day and and and called him off which was and one for Hap too but he was by himself. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Right. Right. All right. So, um, yeah, I mean, I thought defensively the Cubs really did a good job today outside of that that ball, which they gave an air to Pete on on that throw. U, that was that’s Nico’s air. Nico needs to keep that ball in front of him and not try and tag a guy that was clearly going to be safe. But, um, it was a very clean game for the most part. And man, I hope you get to see I’ve never seen a playoff game where the Cubs have clinched ever. And I mean, there’s not many of them, right? It’s it’s 15 uh it’s 15 against the Cardinals. It’s 16 against uh the Dodgers and that’s it. So, um, well, the only playoff game I was at and I think, you might have been at this, too, or your dad was the Manny Ramirez hit like a homer with the ball was at his shin. He hit a home run. I think that was game two. I was at game Dodgers. What was that? 07 or 08? 08.08. Yeah. My Cubs playoff record. I was 2 and 0 in 03 and then I lost in ‘ 08. So that’s Yeah. Two and one and I haven’t been back since cuz I refused to go game three 07 against the Dbacks. My dad we had season tickets. I refused to go. Oh, that’s what it was. That’s how I remember it. I refused to go. I I didn’t want to go. I knew that they were going to lose and I didn’t want to go. It was the same afternoon where I believe my Ali football team upset the Badgers in football as the Rose Bowl year. I was feeling real good about that and I did not want to go watch us get swept by a Diamondbacks team. Um and so my dad went, it was about 90 degrees and watched us get beat at home. Um so yeah, man, enjoy it and um I’ll make sure I’m I’m ready to rock and roll tomorrow. Uh the wild card roster was released at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday. Based on my final projection the other day, there weren’t any surprises, but because Javier Assad threw 79 pitches on Sunday, I don’t think I realized it was that many. Aaron Savali did get that final bullpen spot instead of Assad. And Kevin Alcantra did get the final position spot as Billy Hamilton remains uh over at Murphy’s Bleachers or wherever uh wherever they’re stashing him, just in case. Couple other notes, Sam, before we get out of here. Love the Rizzo hype video released Monday night that he narrated. All the hype stuff was amazing. It’s amazing. And ESPN showed Go Cubs go after that that win. I thought that was a nice touch as well. Yeah, ABC just a little bit better camera angle on the grounders to third. Got it. This is Locked On Cubs, part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day. For your second listen, check out Locked on MLB Game Night. Every game, every night, all season long. Get local analysis on a national scale. Find MLB Game Night on the Lock MLB channel on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcast. A playoff win for the Cubs. Man, it’s fun to do the show. With with that being said, he’s Samber. I’m Matt Cozy. This is Locked On Cubs. Go Cubs.

We recap all the key moments from Game 1 of the Wild Card Series between the Cubs and Padres, preview Game 2, and more.

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts…

Locked On MLB League-Wide: Every Team, Prospects & More
🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/leagues/…

#Cubs #ChicagoCubs