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This game sums up how to beat the Cubs if it wasn't already evident in the NLCS last year and as recently as against the Brewers last week.
Take away their hitting advantage is easy. They like to work the count. The starter piles up pitches and before you know it, you're into middle relief in the 6th inning at the beginning of a series. That may work in the regular season, but not in the playoffs. If you have a starter who is confident in his stuff, and he pounds the strike zone, the Cubs are in trouble.
Look at this game so far tonight. Mad Bum throws 28 pitches in the 1st inning and loads the bases with 2 outs. Cubs don't come through, but that won't always be the case. You have to give yourself the opportunity before you can take it. The rest of the way? 6.2+ only 87 pitches. 0 runs and no real opportunities. Yes, its Madison Bumgarner. But who do you think they face in the playoffs? You can do that during a 162 game season when you face a teams 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th best starters, but doing that against a series of front line starters.....guys getting Cy Young votes? Good luck.
Cubs are going to have the best record in Baseball, but the Giants and Mets would beat them in October with the way things stand now.
The Cubs problem? I'm trying to wrap my head around it because I can't believe this could be true: they have too many good hitters.
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