October 15, Cubs.com, 3 keys for Cubs to reach World Series

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1 October 15, 2016 Daily Herald, Chicago Cubs' Lester finds his comfort zone Daily Herald, Epstein enjoyin support of Chicago Cubs fans Daily Herald, Hendricks will start Game 2 Daily Herald, How Chicago Cubs fared against Los Angeles Dodgers during season Daily Herald, Players to watch as NLCS gets going Saturday Daily Herald, Chicago Cubs set sights on Dodgers starter Maeda in Game 1 Daily Herald, Bernfield: Dodgers' year continues after Scully Daily Herald, Rozner: How much does Kershaw have left for Cubs? Cubs.com, Cubs once again rely on Lester to set tone Cubs.com, Hendricks cleared for NLCS Game 2 start Cubs.com, Cubs need Bryzzo to produce for trip to World Series Cubs.com, 3 keys for Cubs to reach World Series Cubs.com, Heyward making impact despite down year at plate Cubs.com, Year after moonshot, Schwarber a spectator Cubs.com, Old bullpen rules tossed out this postseason Cubs.com, Keeping score: Wrigley's operator retiring after season

2 ESPNChicago.com, Cubs call on their own Clayton Kershaw for Game 1 of NLCS ESPNChicago.com, Cubs won't alter rotation for NLCS, Joe Maddon says ESPNChicago.com, Manager matchup: Cubs' Joe Maddon vs. Dodgers' Dave Roberts CSNChicago.com, The Dodger Moves That Directed Cubs Toward The NLCS CSNChicago.com, How Cubs Built A Bigger And Better Version Of Last Year s NLCS Team CSNChicago.com, Jon Lester: Cubs In 'Better Place' After 2015 NLCS Experience CSNChicago.com, Cubs Prepared For Their Own Clayton Kershaw Moment CSNChicago.com, Dodgers Expect Closer Kenley Jansen To Be Available For Game 1 Of NLCS Vs. Cubs CSNChicago.com, Dodgers To Start Kenta Maeda In Game 1, Likely Clayton Kershaw In Game 2 Of NLCS Vs. Cubs 2-nlcs-vs-cubs Chicago Tribune, Way NLCS with Dodgers setting up looks perfect for the Cubs, but column.html Chicago Tribune, Albert Almora Jr. thrilled father finally gets to meet grandson story.html Chicago Tribune, Look for Cubs to add left-hander as they and Dodgers weigh roster decisions story.html Chicago Tribune, Joe Maddon-Andrew Friedman relationship adds compelling subplot to NLCS Chicago Tribune, Cubs hope their methods more successful than ballyhooed 'Dodger Way' story.html

3 Chicago Tribune, Rookie manager Dave Roberts perfect fit with Dodgers story.html Chicago Tribune, For Javier Baez, making acrobatic tags is 'just natural' Chicago Sun-Times, Can Cubs stop Roberts from stealing another October upset? Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs Maddon on pressure: Run toward it it s a good thing Chicago Sun-Times, This time around, it seems that luck is with the Cubs Chicago Sun-Times, Roberts expects Jansen ready for Game 1, Kershaw for Game 2 Chicago Sun-Times, Concussions played role in retirement decision for Cubs Ross Chicago Sun-Times, Rookie Zastryzny could be big lefty weapon vs. Dodgers in NLCS Daily Herald Chicago Cubs' Lester finds his comfort zone By Bruce Miles To see Jon Lester now with the Cubs is to see a different guy from when he first got here. At the end of his second season in Chicago, Lester is more willing to reveal a little more of his personality and yes, even a sense of humor. The other day in San Francisco, he was asked about being on Twitter. "I hate it," he said with a smile before adding that he tweets in support of his charitable foundation. He also was asked about being mistaken on Twitter for presidential debate moderator Lester Holt and whether he had met Holt. "I have not, no," he said. "I don't do anything with politics. I'm not on that." Lester has turned out to be everything the Cubs hoped he would be when they signed him to a six-year, $155 million contract in December After going with a 3.34 ERA last season, he had Cy Young-caliber year this season, going 19-5 with a 2.44 ERA. He started and won Game 1 of this year's National League division series against the San Francisco Giants, and on Saturday night, he gets the assignment of pitching against the Los Angeles Dodgers' Kenta Maeda in the opener of the championship series at Wrigley Field. Lester says his increased comfort level has been a gradual process. A shoulder ailment in his first spring training with the Cubs set him back physically, and he admitted to trying to put too much symbolic weight on his shoulders for much of last season. But by the time the Cubs reached last year's NLCS against the New York Mets, Lester has loosened up quite a bit.

4 "I think it's a gradual process," he said Friday before the Cubs and Dodgers worked out. "You get thrown into a city with all these I talk about expectations expectations on your back. "You want to live up to those, not only as a player and as a teammate and somebody that's involved in the city and the community. "There's a lot of things last year, man: getting settled in a new place, figuring out what's going on here, the travel, the teams, all that stuff. Obviously, your teammates are first and foremost, getting to know them. "So, yeah, you spend a full year together and you grind through that season and you make the playoffs and you come back this spring and we had two new guys come in, three new guys, one that I already knew (pitcher John Lackey). "You're obviously going to feel more comfortable that second year as opposed to just getting thrown in that first year with a whole new atmosphere in front of you." Behind the plate for Lester's start, as always, will be veteran catcher David Ross, who caught Lester when both were in Boston and who has had the role of Lester's personal catcher in Chicago. Ross has noticed Lester's growing comfort level. "I think there's a lot that goes into that with a second year around, having a successful season, not battling through the stuff he had going on in spring training last year and never really finding his rhythm until the second half and really wasn't as good as he could have been," Ross said. "This year, building on spring training and going all the way through, he's way more comfortable, being more comfortable with the guys. "The expectations of the contract is more over with. We've got Lackey in here, who is good for him. Yeah, he's definitely more comfortable, but there's a lot that goes into that." When the Cubs signed Lester, they said they were getting a pitcher who could not only win, but lead other pitchers by example. Manager Joe Maddon cited Lester pitching 8 innings in Game 1 of the NLDS to outduel the Giants' Johnny Cueto. "That was a spectacular game, and he was able to go 8 and do what he did," Maddon said. "Having this experience definitely matters, especially as a starting pitcher. He's going to walk out there, he's going to be very comfortable in that moment, actually, inspired by that, I believe. "Watched him the last game against the Giants, really calm demeanor. Threw the ball where he wanted to, him and David always worked well together. "And I think, I want to believe, that the rest of the group grasped a little bit of courage from that fearless nature that he demonstrates as a starting pitcher in the playoffs. "So all of that's there. And I witnessed it from the other side, too, when he was with the Red Sox. He's good. And right now he's at the top of his game." Daily Herald Epstein enjoyin support of Chicago Cubs fans By Bruce Miles

5 An interesting thing happened this past Tuesday night at AT&T Park in San Francisco, where the Chicago Cubs won the National League division series in four games over the Giants. For the entire game, Giants fans turned the ballpark into a sea of black and orange, their team's colors. After the Cubs staged a stunning comeback to win the game, the Giants fans headed home. What was left was a small patch of Cubs blue behind the visitors' first-base dugout. The Cubs fans who stayed to cheer on their team and give them a curtain call also chanted, "Theo, Theo," in honor of team president Theo Epstein, who has engineered a rebuilding of this team. "That was cool," Epstein said Friday as the Cubs worked out at Wrigley Field. "Our fans are traveling so well these days. It reminded me a little bit of the Pittsburgh game (the Cubs winning the wild-card playoff) last year, a similar dynamic. "It's great. It's a collective experience in the postseason: players, front office, fans, ownership. Everyone's in it together. "It's wonderful to have that kind of support and passion." Epstein recently signed a new five-year contract extension to remain team president. He came to Chicago in the fall of 2011 after serving as general manager of the Boston Red Sox. Born in New York and raised in Brookline, Massachusetts, Epstein entered a whole new culture in Chicago. Now it seems as if he's part of the fabric of the city and the Midwest. "You've got to live somewhere for a few years and open yourself up to the experience and understand the history and understand where people are coming from," he said." Without even knowing it, you start to feel it yourself. I've definitely had that experience." Were there any misconceptions about Chicago that Epstein might have had? "I guess I didn't quite realize how badly they wanted to win," he said of Cubs fans. "I thought it was more about the experience. But they want to win and deserve to win." Daily Herald Hendricks will start Game 2 By Bruce Miles Right-hander Kyle Hendricks threw another bullpen session Friday, and he will start Sunday night in Game 2 of the National League championship series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field. The starting rotation will follow that of the division series: Jon Lester in Game 1 followed by Hendricks at home, then Jake Arrieta and John Lackey in Los Angeles. Hendricks made it through only 3⅔ innings in Game 2 of the NLDS because he was hit on the right forearm by a line drive off the bat of the Giants' Angel Pagan. From the get-go, Hendricks said he was OK. "It's good to go," he said Friday. "Whatever game they want to come and let me know, I've told them I'm healthy and good to go as of 2-3 days ago, when I did my first throwing, about 120 feet, and it felt great. "So I was able to go into my normal bullpen program after that. There was no discomfort at all." His first NLCS:

6 Shortstop Addison Russell will be appearing in his first NLCS. He missed last year's championship series against the Mets because of a hamstring injury he suffered in the division series against the Cardinals. "I'm excited," he said before Friday's workout. "The body's feeling good. It's going to give me some new insight. It's going to give me a chance to get out there and feel the types of pressures we're going to have this series." Russell was 1-for-15 in the division series. "I don't think my game has gone off at all," he said. "I just missed a few balls. That's the reason you come back. You absolutely love this game, and you're just that close. I'm having fun. I know my teammates are having fun." First baseman Anthony Rizzo also was 1-for-15 in the NLDS, but in Game 4, he singled and drew 2 walks. Selling the game: Cubs manager Joe Maddon was asked whether having teams such as the Cubs, Dodgers, Indians and Blue Jays in the two championship series is good for baseball. At first, Maddon laughed at the notion that all four teams have had "multiple decades" without a championship. "We have more than multiple decades, but..." Maddon said. "My take-away, just watching the playoffs, the games that I've had a chance to watch and of course being absorbed in our own, this has all got to be good for baseball. "For that group out there that finds baseball boring, at least tune in. And if you don't understand what's going on, have somebody sit next to you that does. "That's the biggest rub that I have going on right now is that if you want to attract younger fans, teach them what's going on out there. "These games have been fascinating, and there's a lot of good young stars out there, too, that I would like to believe that a lot of our youth in this country could identify with. And we want to get more of the youth playing baseball. "So, I've been really enthralled by this entire thing." Daily Herald How Chicago Cubs fared against Los Angeles Dodgers during season By Bruce Miles The Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers played seven times during the regular season, with the Cubs winning three of four at Wrigley Field and one of three at Dodger Stadium. Here is how each game went: May 30: Cubs 2, Dodgers 0 Travis Wood saved the day at Wrigley Field for the Cubs after starting pitcher Jason Hammel left after 2 innings with cramping in his right hamstring. Wood worked 4 innings of hitless relief to get the win. May 31: Dodgers 5, Cubs 0 Jake Arrieta pitched 7 shutout innings for the Cubs, but relievers Clayton Richard, Adam Warren and Trevor Cahill gave up all the Dodgers' runs late.

7 June 1: Cubs 2, Dodgers 1 Jon Lester pitched a complete-game 4-hitter, and Kris Bryant hit a 2-run homer in the third inning for the Cubs. June 2 Cubs 7 Dodgers 2 Kyle Hendricks worked 8 innings of 3-hit, 2-run ball for the Cubs, who got home runs from Javier Baez, Jason Heyward, Bryant and Anthony Rizzo. Aug. 26: Cubs 6, Dodgers 4 (10) Bryant hit a pair of home runs, including the game-winner in the 10th as the Cubs battled from behind all night at Dodger Stadium. Mike Montgomery started for the Cubs and pitched 5 innings. Aug. 27: Dodgers 3, Cubs 2 Manager Joe Maddon pulled Hammel after only 2⅓ innings, as Hammel gave up 5 hits and 3 runs. The bullpen held the Dodgers scoreless on 1 hit the rest of the way, but the Cubs could not come all the way back. Aug. 28: Dodgers 1, Cubs 0 Lester went 6 shutout innings, but the Dodgers got an unearned run in the eighth, and that's all they needed. Daily Herald Players to watch as NLCS gets going Saturday By Scot Gregor It's on the next round of the playoffs, and in one corner stand the Chicago Cubs, healthy and well rested after eliminating the San Francisco Giants in four games in the National League division series. The Los Angeles Dodgers are in the other corner, and they are beat up and tired after slipping past the Washington Nationals in five games. The Cubs look to have the upper hand in the NL championship series against a Dodgers team that used a franchiserecord 55 players this season and had 28 different players on the disabled list. Here are three players to watch from each team: CUBS Javier Baez Whether he was tagging Giants pitchers with his bat or tagging San Francisco baserunners with his glove, Baez was quite a sight in the NLDS. The energetic infielder still has a big swing, but he's no longer a strikeout machine. Defensively, he is a wizard at second base, shortstop and third, and good luck finding another big leaguer with quicker hands. Aroldis Chapman He actually looked human in Game 3 of the NLDS, coming on in the eighth inning with San Francisco runners on first and second and no outs. The cannon-armed closer struck out Hunter Pence but was lifted after yielding a 2- run triple to Conor Gillaspie and RBI single to Brandon Crawford.

8 Don't expect Cubs manager Joe Maddon to call on Chapman for a six-out save in the NLCS. Pitching the ninth inning only in Games 1, 2 and 4 vs. the Giants, Chapman allowed no runs, 1 hit and had 5 strikeouts. Anthony Rizzo If he builds off Game 4 of the NLDS, Los Angeles is in big trouble. Rizzo was 0-for-13 in the first three games against the Giants and looked uncharacteristically impatient at the plate. In Game 4, the Cubs' stellar first baseman had a pair of walks around a single. DODGERS Clayton Kershaw If you woke up late Thursday night, turned on the marathon Dodgers-Nationals NLDS Game 5 and thought you saw Kershaw come out of the bullpen and close out Washington in the ninth inning, it wasn't a dream. In full-blown desperation mode, L.A. turned to Kershaw, and the ace left-hander came through. As the NLCS opens, can Kershaw come back on short rest and start Game 2 on Sunday night at Wrigley? It's looking that way. The Dodgers' rotation has been a mess due to injuries for most of the season and it desperately needs Kershaw, who also made 2 starts in the NLDS. Justin Turner Still a bit of an unknown outside of Los Angeles, Turner is making a name for himself in the playoffs. After establishing career highs with 27 home runs and 90 RBI during the regular season, the 31-year-old third baseman was 6-for-15 with a homer and 5 RBI in the NLDS. Corey Seager There are talented young shortstops everywhere you look in the major leagues, and Seager's name is near the top of the list. Favored to win NL Rookie of the Year honors after posting a.308/.365/.512 hitting line with 26 home runs and 72 RBI during the regular season, the 22-year-old Seager disappeared in the NLCS, going 3-for-23 while striking out six times. Daily Herald Chicago Cubs set sights on Dodgers starter Maeda in Game 1 By Scot Gregor The Chicago Cubs can wonder about Clayton Kershaw's availability for Game 2 of the National League championship series all they want as soon as Game 1 is in the books. In Saturday night's playoff opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field, right-hander Kenta Maeda gets the ball opposite Cubs lefty Jon Lester.

9 If the Cubs are even thinking about the possibility of facing Kershaw in Game 2, manager Joe Maddon is going to make sure the focus stays on Maeda, a 28-year-old rookie from Japan who was with a 3.48 ERA during the regular season. "Let's play Saturday's game," Maddon said. "That's all I'm concerned about. "That's how I operate. That's how I want our group to operate. The moment you start getting ahead of yourself a little bit, it can bite you quickly. So, that's it. "Kershaw is outstanding, there's no question. He's one of the best in the last 50 years or whatever. But that's just one pitcher. We have to worry about tomorrow's pitcher." Maeda, who did not face the Cubs during the regular season, started against the Washington Nationals in Game 3 of the NLDS. It did not go well. The right-hander lasted just 3 innings and gave up 4 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks. "It was my first time pitching in a postseason and it was an experience that I never experienced before," Maeda said through a translator. "This time around, since it is my second time around, I think I'll be able to imagine better what it's going to feel like. "Last time around I couldn't really pitch the way I wanted to. With that in mind, I want to definitely pitch well and hopefully contribute to a win for the team." Maeda is up against a Cubs team that still should be riding high from an impressive ninth-inning rally that eliminated the San Francisco Giants from the NL division series in four games. "They're a very good lineup, from what I know," Maeda said. "They came up, they won the regular season with a pretty good record. They won the division series and they're on pretty good momentum. So what I'm going to try to do is to stop the momentum." Not only is Maeda facing a lineup that is heating up at the right time, he has to try matching Lester, who pitched 8 shutout innings against the Giants in Game 1 of the NLDS after making 15 quality starts in as many tries at Wrigley during the regular season. "The first one against the Giants, that was a spectacular game," Maddon said of Lester. "Right now, Jonny, having this experience definitely matters, especially as a starting pitcher. He's going to walk out there, he's going to be very comfortable in that moment, actually, inspired by that, I believe. "He's good. And right now he's at the top of his game. I mean, from what I've seen, he's had a couple hiccups, which everybody does. But, man, he's been pretty much right on the last couple months, including the first game of the playoffs." Daily Herald Bernfield: Dodgers' year continues after Scully By Jordan Bernfield "It's time for Dodger Baseball!" Vin Scully's season may be over, but the Dodgers' year continues. After beating Max Scherzer and the Nationals Thursday night, Los Angeles advanced to the National League championship series for the first time since The Dodgers exhausted their pitching staff to get here. First-year manager Dave Roberts used ace Clayton Kershaw three times in five games. Kershaw started games one and four, and came out of the bullpen to record his first career save in game five.

10 Rich Hill threw twice in the NLDS, including game five. Closer Kenley Jansen fired 51 pitches in 2.1 innings Thursday to hold the lead for Kershaw's save. Twenty-year-old starter Julio Urias even tossed a pair of innings in relief to get the Dodgers into the NLCS. Los Angeles' starting pitchers posted a 7.29 ERA in the series, yet still advanced. A franchise historically known for great pitching, the Dodgers surmounted injuries and staff inconsistencies this season in their quest to reach the World Series for the first time since The Dodgers overcame a lack of quality starting pitching depth with trial by fire, using 11 different pitchers in at least five starts, and still managed to post the fifth best staff ERA (3.70) in baseball. L.A. began the season with Kershaw atop its rotation, followed by free agent signings Scott Kazmir and Kenta Maeda, lefthander Alex Wood and youngster Ross Stripling. Kazmir suffered a thoracic spine injury, Wood had an arthroscopic debridement of his pitching elbow, and Stripling who had Tommy John Surgery in 2014 has been held back by shaky performance. The Dodgers called up Urias and acquired Hill at the trade deadline from Oakland to plug the holes. Their biggest setback came when a herniated disk sidelined Kershaw following his start on June 26th for more than two months. The Dodgers were eight games behind the Giants in the National League West. But without their ace, they made up 12 games in the standings and held a four-game lead on the night he returned in early September before winning the division title. Los Angeles went during that stretch, posting winning months of July and August, and finished with a redhot month of September. Just as the Dodgers pieced together their rotation all season, they'll have to get even more creative heading into the NLCS. Los Angeles starts Maeda in game one. Kershaw could start game two, but given his workload in the prior series, he may be limited against the Cubs. Hill pitched on three days' rest in Game 5 on Thursday, leaving Roberts with the unenviable task of carefully managing his tired pitchers against a Cubs offense that when at its best wears down opponents with a patient approach at the plate. The Cubs are getting the Dodgers at the right time when their pitching staff is worn down from a hard-fought series against Washington. If they can take advantage, they'll have a good chance of reaching the Fall Classic for the first time since Jordan Bernfield is an anchor and co-host of "Inside The Clubhouse" on WSCR 670-AM The Score. He also works as a play-by-play broadcaster for ESPN. Follow him on Twitter@JordanBernfield. Daily Herald Rozner: How much does Kershaw have left for Cubs? By Barry Rozner As Clayton Kershaw was working his way back into the lineup, some actually wondered if the Dodgers were better off without him. After all, they became the hottest team in the second half with Kershaw on the disabled list because of a bad back. It was absurd considering Kershaw was the best pitcher in baseball when he got hurt.

11 Fast forward to Kershaw taking the mound three times in the NLDS against the Washington Nationals. The Dodgers won his 2 starts and he got the save in a deciding Game 5. Three appearances, 3 victories. Needless to say, as Kershaw goes, so go the Dodgers. So now you have to wonder how much he can do for L.A. in the NLCS against the Cubs, having thrown 110 pitches on three days' rest in Game 4 of the NLDS, before taking one day off, throwing a full bullpen and getting the final two outs of Game 5. There's no way Kershaw can start Game 1, so he's expected to start Game 2 with four days off since his last start, but only two days since the performance in Game 5. Kershaw's in line for 2 starts in this series and potentially more late relief, but he's coming off a heavy workload after a return from injury. Just how far can the Dodgers push their $215 million ace? He did miss two months with a back problem before coming back late in the season, and his postseason track record ain't all that hot anyway. It does bring back memories, however, of one of the greatest pitching performances in postseason history, and it was another Dodgers ace who led his team to a World Series victory. In 1988, Orel Hershiser went 23-8 in the regular season with a 2.26 ERA, 15 complete games, 8 shutouts, 267 innings pitched and a record 59-inning scoreless streak to end the season. He was, appropriately, the unanimous Cy Young Award winner. In the NLCS there was no NLDS then Hershiser was brilliant in Game 1 against the Mets and Dwight Gooden, but Jay Howell blew the save and Los Angeles lost Game 1. Hershiser started Game 3 on three days' rest and was great again, but the L.A. bullpen again blew the save and the Dodgers trailed 2-1 in the series. The very next day Hershiser came in to save the game in the bottom of the 12th at Shea Stadium as the Dodgers tied the series at 2-2. With two days to recuperate, Hershiser then pitched a 5-hit shutout and closed out the Mets in Game 7 to win the NLCS, capturing LCS MVP honors. On three days' rest, he started World Series Game 2 the day after the "Kirk Gibson Game" and tossed a shutout, this time a 3-hitter as the Dodgers took a 2-0 lead in the Fall Classic. Again with three days off, Hershiser pitched another complete game in the fifth game of the series and finished off Oakland with a 5-2 victory and took home the MVP award. Of course, Hershiser was never the same after that magical 1988 season and horrific workload, and 18 months later he was on an operating table. It's easy, at times like this, to think of Madison Bumgarner two years ago against Kansas City, starting Games 1 and 5 of the World Series and then saving Game 7, throwing 5 innings of relief and 68 more pitches. My lasting memory of the 2005 World Series is of Mark Buehrle walking to the bullpen before the top of the 14th inning of Game 3, a few minutes before Geoff Blum hit his home run.

12 Once the ball left the yard, Buehrle started getting hot, and when Damaso Marte got in trouble because of an error in the bottom of the 14th, in came Buehrle with a man on and two outs, even though he had thrown 7 innings only two days before. Buehrle, the 17th pitcher of the night, volunteered, and Ozzie Guillen was happy he did. Buehrle recorded his first pro save since 1999 at Class-A Burlington. Few in Houston noticed Buehrle walk to the pen that night, but Nats fans were well aware when Kershaw made the trek Thursday night, a visible "oh no" response before Kershaw recorded his first pro save since rookie ball 10 years ago. It seems, however, that Kershaw will have to be superhuman to lead his Dodgers past the Cubs, and he admitted Thursday night to total exhaustion. It remains to be seen just how much he has left to give. Cubs.com Cubs once again rely on Lester to set tone By Jenifer Langosch CHICAGO With their come-from-behind victory to finish off the Giants in San Francisco, the Cubs not only earned themselves a three-day period to recharge, but they also avoided having to roll over their rotation. And so, instead of starting a win-or-go-home game Thursday, Jon Lester rested and waited and readied for another Game 1 assignment to add to his already extensive postseason resume. This one will come Saturday, when the Cubs and Dodgers open the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field (8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT). "Obviously for me, it's a great honor, especially with the staff that we have," Lester said of drawing the start opposite Los Angeles righty Kenta Maeda. "It's a huge honor, especially for an organization like this, to get the ball again and try to go out and give us a good start, like last time, and give us a chance to win." The left-hander has become well-acquainted with the October stage over his 11-year career and thrived on it. Since his first playoff appearance in 2007, Lester leads all pitchers with 106 postseason innings. Over that stretch, he ranks third with 15 starts, third with seven wins and sixth with a 2.63 ERA (min. 40 innings). And this particular spot is one that Lester knows remarkably well. Over the past four years, he has started the first game of a postseason series six times. Add in the American League Wild Card Game start he drew with Oakland in 2014 and his contributions in Boston's '08 and '09 playoff runs, and Lester has been tapped for a series-opening start nine times. It's a resume that adds to the confidence the Cubs have in sending their regular-season ace to the mound to set the tone for the best-of-seven series. "Having this experience definitely matters, especially as a starting pitcher," manager Joe Maddon said. "He's going to walk out there, [and] he's going to be very comfortable in that moment, actually inspired by that, I believe. And I want to believe that the rest of the group grasped a little bit of courage from that fearless nature that he demonstrates as a starting pitcher in the playoffs." The Cubs utilized Lester's performance in Game 1 of the NLDS as a springboard in that series. Lester scattered five hits without allowing a run over eight innings to buy time for Javier Baez's game-winning home run. The Dodgers understand well the challenge Lester will present. In a June start against them at Wrigley Field, Lester threw a four-hit complete game in which he struck out 10 and walked none. He then went to Dodger Stadium in August and twirled six shutout innings.

13 This matchup looks just as lopsided on paper, as the Dodgers ranked last in the Majors with a.214 average,.291 on-base percentage and.333 slugging percentage against left-handed pitchers during the regular season. As for Lester, he has recorded a quality start in all 16 of his home appearances (including the postseason) this year. "We'll see what they do and we'll make adjustments off that as we go," Lester said. "Like I keep saying, it's that fine cat-and-mouse game of being a pitcher. We know this is going to be a long series, so hopefully we can get it going in the right direction [Saturday]." Cubs.com Hendricks cleared for NLCS Game 2 start By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks passed all the tests and will start Game 2 of the National League Championship Series for the Cubs on Sunday (8:08 p.m. ET/7:08 p.m. CT, FS1). Jon Lester will open the best-ofseven series on Saturday at Wrigley Field (8:08 p.m. ET/7:08 p.m. CT, FS1), and be followed by Hendricks, Jake Arrieta and John Lackey, which was the same order the Cubs used in the NL Division Series. Hendricks was the only question mark after taking a line drive off his right arm in Game 2 of the NLDS. He did not play catch until Tuesday in San Francisco. "I made it clear to them I'm ready," Hendricks said Friday after a side session at Wrigley. "It was clear a couple days ago. Once I was able to get back on my normal throwing program, I was good to go.... There's no discomfort. I'm good to go." The Cubs preferred to have Hendricks start at home to take advantage of his comfort level there. He finished the regular season leading the Major Leagues with a 1.32 ERA at home in 15 games (14 starts). Lester was third with a 10-2 record and 1.74 ERA in 15 games at home. The Cubs will announce the NLCS roster Saturday, and were still debating whether to carry 11 or 12 pitchers. Rookie Rob Zastryzny was hoping he was added. In his third big league outing, the lefty threw 3 2/3 innings in relief at Dodger Stadium. "I've thrown against them before," Zastryzny said. "It's them making adjustments, me making adjustments." He did stay up to watch the Dodgers and Nationals battle in Game 5 of their NLDS. "I wasn't rooting for anybody it's not about me, it's about the team," he said. "If they give me the chance I'll be more than ready." The Cubs' rotation has gotten most of the attention this season, and finished on top of the Majors with a 2.96 ERA. But the bullpen ranked sixth in the NL with a 3.56 ERA, and so far this postseason, has combined for a 3.12 ERA, giving up six earned runs over 17 1/3 innings. "I'm never worried about the game, whether we're ahead or behind, with this bullpen," reliever Justin Grimm said Friday. "There's a lot of confidence in each of these guys. Once thing I've noticed in the playoffs and one thing I learned in the last series is you can't get caught up in things you can only worry about what you can control. You see [Dodgers closer] Kenley Jansen get taken out [of Game 5 of the NLDS], and realize it's all about what are we going to do to win right here at this moment. You may be hurt but you move on to the next one." The Cubs will counter with closer Aroldis Chapman, who was 3-for-4 in save opportunities in the NLDS. "He comes in, and he's throwing 100 [mph]-plus and he has a track record of closing ballgames and making it look easier than others," Grimm said. "He's the anchor. Just get the ball to him. I think that's how he changes [the game] and he allows us more options throughout the game."

14 Javier Baez was the star of the NLDS for the Cubs, and is trying to take all the attention in stride. "I've got a job to do," Baez said Friday. "I'm not surprised [by what I've done]. I know what I can do, and I know what this team can do. I'm just having fun right now and trying to win." At the beginning of the year, Baez did not have a regular position with the Cubs. In the postseason, he's bumped Ben Zobrist to the outfield and taken over at second base. "That's something I fought for, and with everything that I did on the field, I'm getting my starts now," Baez said. Baez went to Zobrist for advice about how to play different positions during the season, and the veteran has helped the young infielder make the adjustment. He's played all of the infield positions this year. What's his best one? "For me, right now, it's second base," Baez said. "I haven't done much at short. I've played short all my life. I have a lot of fun playing shortstop." Watch Baez in batting practice. He's been using a turquoise-colored glove that has his sister's name, Noely, stitched on one side. She was born with spina bifida, and died in April 2015 at the age of 21. Cubs.com Cubs need Bryzzo to produce for trip to World Series By Phil Rogers CHICAGO Bryzzo is more than just marketing. It's shorthand for the best combination of young hitters in the Major Leagues. Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo are the guys who make the Cubs go. They're going to be right in the middle of things if the Cubs win the World Series this fall. But they haven't been leading men in any of their team's postseason victories over the last two seasons. And because baseball isn't basketball, here are the Cubs, still favored to beat the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, which begins on Saturday (8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT, FS1), and then to knock off the Indians or Blue Jays to win the World Series that has eluded the franchise since Rizzo, in particular, was out of sorts in the NL Division Series. He endured his first 0-for-6 since 2013 in Game 3 against the Giants and went 0-for-13 until a single off Matt Moore in the Tuesday clincher. But Javier Baez delivered all the heroics the Cubs needed, just like Kyle Schwarber and Jorge Soler did last October. "I think that says a lot about our team,'' said Jon Lester, who faces the Dodgers' Kenta Maeda in Game 1. "One of our big horses isn't swinging the bat well, and we got guys ahead of him and below him that are picking him up. Javy had an unbelievable series both offensively and defensively and really almost carried us. "K.B., I think, swung the bat pretty quiet as far as the media attention. I thought he had a lot of good at-bats and had the one big homer for us. I think there're a lot of guys in our lineup that haven't hit their stride yet, which is good, hopefully they do it. And if some of those other guys drop off a little bit, we'll have some other guys to pick them up.'' Bryant's ninth-inning home run off Sergio Romo extended Game 3. It was one of three hits he collected in the 13- inning loss, and it helped him finish the series 6-for-16. That was a major step in the right direction for the Bryzzo boys, who combined to hit.182 with four home runs and 20 strikeouts in nine postseason games last year. Shutting down Bryant and Rizzo was a key for the Mets in sweeping the Cubs in the 2016 NLDS, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts sees a bigger picture.

15 "Those are two very good players, but you look at all the teams that we have played all year long, and the team that we just played this past series had some good players as well,'' Roberts said, referring to the Nationals. "I think it's a little bit more complex than Bryant and Rizzo. But, yeah, those are two good players.'' Roberts is right about the challenge of facing the Cubs being "more complex'' than merely pitching to Bryant and Rizzo. But the Cubs are at their best when Rizzo and Bryant are making an impact at the plate. They both hit.292 this season Bryant from the right side, Rizzo from the left side. Bryant, who is a strong favorite for NL Most Valuable Player, delivered 39 home runs and 102 RBIs while leading the league with 121 runs scored. Rizzo notched 32 homers, 109 RBIs and 43 doubles. The Cubs went when Bryant drove in a run and when Rizzo drove in a run. When Rizzo and Bryant both produced an RBI in the same game, they were almost unbeatable. A 5-3 loss to the Cardinals on April 20 accounted for the only blemish in a 20-1 record on those occasions. That's how dangerous they can be to opponents, and after two seasons together, they know it. Manager Joe Maddon hits Rizzo behind Bryant to make pitchers challenge him. He said the Giants pitched around Rizzo in the NLDS, causing him to expand his strike zone at times. San Francisco pitchers went to two-ball counts against Rizzo only twice in the first three games. He was more patient in the Game 4 clincher. It was a Bryant single and Rizzo walk that started the game-winning rally in the ninth inning. "Just keep playing,'' Bryant said. "All it takes is one pitch. Guys had great at-bats, battling, taking walks. That's something we preach. One pitch at a time. That last inning was perfect." Bryant and Rizzo pose a huge challenge for the Dodgers' rotation, which got two starts from Clayton Kershaw in the NLDS and still had a 7.29 ERA. Sooner or later, they're going to start feeding off each other again. You'll know it by the noise coming from the corner of Clark and Addison. Cubs.com 3 keys for Cubs to reach World Series By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO In the National League Championship Series last year, Mets pitchers stifled the Cubs and swept the series. Now that the Cubs have ousted the Giants in the NL Division Series, they need to regroup for the next round, which starts Saturday vs. the Dodgers (8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on FS1). The Cubs will likely hear more talk about the franchise's long drought since the last World Series championship 1908, in case you didn't know. They'll just shrug it off. "I think the biggest thing is nobody really cares in there about a curse or a goat or anything else," Cubs pitcher Jon Lester said. "If we make a mistake, we're not going to blame it on a curse or anything else like that. We're going to blame it on ourselves and be accountable for it and move on to the next play or the next moment. "Plus, I think we've got too many young guys in there that don't even know what that stuff is," Lester said. "It's almost better to play naive and just go out and worry about us, worry about the Cubs, and not anything else in the past or, like I said, any animals." The Cubs finished with a franchise-record 57 wins at Wrigley during the regular season. The crowd dances to each player's walk-up music. There are "W" flags all over town. In Spring Training, there was talk about how they

16 wanted to win this for catcher David Ross, 39, who is retiring at season's end. They hope his retirement party never ends. What do the Cubs need to do to advance to their first World Series since 1945? Here are three things to consider: 1. Keep Javier Baez in the lineup Baez, who began the season without a starting job, started at second base in all four games of the NLDS, primarily for his glove. He has contributed at the plate, batting.375 with two RBIs, including a go-ahead RBI single in the ninth inning of the 6-5 win Tuesday in Game 4. The Cubs need to catch the ball, and Baez will likely provide more web gems in the next series. 2. Let's get some runs Pitchers drove in six of the Cubs' 17 runs in the NLDS. They will need to find offense somewhere else. Anthony Rizzo and Addison Russell each went 1-for-15 in the four games. Maddon pinch-hit for Russell for the first time this season in the ninth of Game 4. Maddon was encouraged by Rizzo's at-bats on Tuesday, because the first baseman was more patient and walked twice. But pitcher Jake Arrieta is tied with Kris Bryant for the most RBIs in the postseason (three). The position players need to step it up. 3. Pitching, pitching and more pitching Cubs starters had the best ERA (2.96) in the Majors this year, and they need to continue that trend. Lester will be happy to start Game 1 of the NLCS at Wrigley, where he was 10-2 with a 1.74 ERA. The lefty had the best outing so far among the starters, throwing eight scoreless innings in Game 1 against the Giants. If he gets the go ahead, Kyle Hendricks could start Game 2 at home, which would also be a good thing. Hendricks was struck on the right forearm by a line drive in Game 2 of the NLDS, knocking him out after 3 2/3 innings. He posted a 1.32 ERA at home. Arrieta delivered at the plate, smacking a three-run homer in Game 3, and he held the Giants to two runs over six innings. The difference for the Cubs this season is the addition of Aroldis Chapman. Mets closer Jeurys Familia overwhelmed the Cubs in last year's NLCS. Chapman pitched in all four NLDS games, and he struck out the side in the ninth inning of Game 4 for his third save. Cubs.com Heyward making impact despite down year at plate By Jenifer Langosch CHICAGO For some, Jason Heyward's production will always be distorted by the eight-year, $184 million contract he signed last December. A financial commitment of that magnitude yields grand expectations and Heyward would be the first to admit that, as a first-year Cub, he did not live up them. Heyward's slash line of.230/.306/.325 during the regular season was uninspiring, and his.631 OPS was the lowest such mark in a seven-year career that had previously taken him through Atlanta and St. Louis. But to define Heyward's value solely by the numbers printed on the back of his baseball card would be unfair and incomplete. His contributions are more complex, and his presence among a crop of young position players critical to the cohesiveness that has developed within the clubhouse walls. "I think J-Hey is probably one of the most if not more professional guys I've ever played with," said Jon Lester, who will start Game 1 of the National League Championship Series for the Cubs against the Dodgers on Saturday (8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT, FS1). "J-Hey grinded his butt off this whole season. For whatever reason, he squared up a lot of balls this year that were hit at people, and you never saw him pout, never saw him give up. If anything, he almost worked too hard this year to make it better."

17 A chance to be on the team that ended the Cubs' championship drought was among the reasons Heyward declined offseason overtures from the Cardinals and Nationals to instead sign with Chicago. Four times he had been on a team that had qualified for the postseason. Four times that team fell short of reaching the NLCS. That changed on Tuesday, when Heyward scored the go-ahead run in a 6-5 win over the Giants in the NL Division Series that set off what the Cubs hope will be the second of four champagne celebrations this fall. "There is a lot of irony in it because the regular season didn't go exactly the way I wanted it to go," Heyward said. "But there were a lot of good things that happened for me personally just to help the team get to this point. Here I am with not the best regular season, but I'm going on to the NLCS for the first time in my career. It's something I don't take for granted." Coming off the most complete offensive season of his career, Heyward opened this year as the team's two-hole hitter. He remained there for most of the first half before his continued offensive struggles prompted manager Joe Maddon to drop Heyward down in the order. Heyward fit in the lineup's sixth spot in the NLDS and finished 1-for-12 against the Giants. Yet, Heyward sparked the team's three-run second inning in a 5-2 Game 2 victory, and he forced a rushed throw from shortstop Brandon Crawford that helped him reach base in the ninth inning of Game 4. "Again, we get caught up on batting averages," Maddon said. "And, of course, there's more in the tank for him with that, with his offensive numbers. But everything else he's done this year has been superlative. And I really appreciate good baseball. I don't think it's any coincidence that he's played on a 100-win team the last couple years." Mike Matheny, who managed Heyward in St. Louis last season, once described him as a player best appreciated when watched regularly. It was Matheny's way of pointing out how often Heyward had his fingerprints on a team's success, even if in more non-descript ways. This year, Heyward held up his reputation as a superb defensive player and is likely weeks away from collecting his fourth NL Gold Glove Award. Among all NL outfielders, he ranked first with 18 Defensive Runs Saved and first with an Ultimate Zone Rating of Heyward has also established himself as an above-average baserunner, ranking above league average in number of times advancing from second to home on a single and first to home on a double. "He's just an old-school, come-to-play-every-day type of player," Matheny said when the Cardinals visited Wrigley Field in late September. "I thought he had some of the intangibles that old-school thinking of how the game should look and how the clubhouse should operate. You could see that he was always thinking about this club and not himself." After shying away from a return to St. Louis partially because he didn't want to be the centerpiece of an offense, Heyward has assimilated exceptionally well to his third team in as many years. At 27 years old, he's able to relate to the organization's young core while also bringing seven seasons of Major League experience to the bunch. The effusive praise offered by Heyward's teammates is evidence of an impact. "He's the best," said catcher David Ross, who was also teammates with Heyward in Atlanta ( ). "This guy is maybe one of the most professional guys I've ever been around. I think he brings a lot to this young group. I can't say enough about Jason Heyward. This guy's amazing." Cubs.com Year after moonshot, Schwarber a spectator By Carrie Muskat