As good as the Cubs are, the playoffs will be a different animal. Pitching rotations get shortened, a series can begin and end so quickly that a team’s superior depth in the bullpen or with their position players might never really come into play. A wasted at-bat here, a misplay in the field there, a passed ball or two, seven walks from a starting pitcher, all of these events can swing a series.
The Cubs spent the early part of last week in Washington D.C. playing what looks like another playoff team in the Nationals and the result was three pretty entertaining, hard-fought games.