Starting for the Cubs in the final game of this four-game set is Kyle Hendricks. He threw a season-high 112 pitches over six innings in his last start against Milwaukee. The Professor gave up one earned run in that 4-3 loss to the Brewers. Hendricks is rounding into form heading into the postseason, allowing one earned run or fewer in seven of his last 12 starts. During that 12-game span, Hendricks has managed to post a superb 2.34 ERA.
Hendricks will be licking his chops at the prospect of facing the Cards as he has fared extremely well against them of late. The right-hander manhandled the Cardinals on September 16 at Wrigley Field, surrendering just one run over 7.2 innings. As fabulous as Hendricks has been this season, he can’t do it all by himself. Expected to lead the Cubs offense in this contest is the red-hot Kris Bryant. The third baseman is batting .440 (11-of-25) in his last six games with two homers and six RBIs. He’s 3-of-14 in his career against Cards starter Lance Lynn with a homer and a pair of RBIs.
Pitching for the Cards in this critical contest is Lance Lynn. He struggled mightily in his last start against Pittsburgh, allowing a career-high eight runs over just two-thirds of an inning. The Cardinals have now lost seven of their last eight games with Lynn as their starter. It won’t get any easier for Lynn against a Cubs team who’s third in the majors in runs scored.
Given Lynn’s erratic form, the Cardinals offense will need to take charge against the Cubs tonight. One guy who’s swinging the bat well for St. Louis is Jedd Gyorko. The Cards infielder is 7-of-16 in his last six outings with two homers and three RBIs. Gyorko may just be 2-of-10 in his career against Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks but one of his two hits came out of the ballpark.
