This feels like a series that could go one of two ways depending on whether the Cardinals decide to stand up and fight or lay down and die. The Cubs swept their opponents in Pittsburgh last week behind a deluge of offense, with the first contest setting the stage for what was to come. Jameson Taillon wasn’t really on his game, allowing four earned runs on eight hits with just three strikeouts, but he gave the Cubs length by recording 20 outs.
It helped that they pounced on Pirate pitching with a snowman in the top of the 6th, giving Taillon plenty of margin for error.