Chicago Cubs get motivation ahead of do-or-die NLDS Game 3 versus Brewers

The Chicago Cubs’ season may be over on Wednesday afternoon. The North Siders are down 0-2 in the best-of-five NLDS against the division rival Milwaukee Brewers and will be taking the field at Wrigley facing the harsh reality that their season is over if they can’t come up with a win.

Judging by how the first two games played out, the Cubs have an uphill battle ahead of them.

In games one and two of the series, the Brewers out-played, out-fought, and out-executed Chicago in just about every area. At times, the Cubs simply looked overmatched.

A rebound in this series will not only buck historical precedence (only 10 teams have come back from a 0-2 deficit to win a 5-game Division Series in 90 series since the revised playoff format in 1995), but also fly in the face of what everyone has seen of both teams so far this postseason.

Chicago Cubs establishing the right mindset

But the game will go ahead and the Cubs need to find the motivation and the strategy to stay alive.

“Part of being great at this is responding to the bad stuff and running towards it, man,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said during Tuesday’s team workout at Wrigley Field. “That’s part of this. And you can’t be afraid of it. You got to look forward to it.

“It happens sometimes. We put ourselves in a hole this series, no question about it. We get to decide how the story ends.”

Taillon takes the mound

Jameson Taillon will be taking the mound for this crucial game and will be looking to turn in the same kind of masterful performance he delivered last Thursday when the Cubs were also facing elimination in Game Three of the Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres. In that do-or-die outing, the veteran right-hander delivered 4 scoreless innings with four strikeouts.

Taillon understands the importance of this game, but is assuming the ‘let’s take this game-by-game’ mental approach of Counsell and the team as a whole.

“Games 1 and 2 didn’t go the way we wanted,” Taillon told media on Tuesday. “That being said, all we can focus on is tomorrow. If we want to make a run at this thing and try to come back, we have to win tomorrow. You can’t look too far ahead…It starts tomorrow and obviously being a starting pitcher, hopefully I can do my job and set the tone. And see where that can take us.”

Taillon is 11-7 with a 3.68 ERA in a season affected by two separate stints on the IL, although he’s been brilliant since his September return to the roster. Against the Brewers this season, he’s notched a 4.50 ERA in three starts, with two excellent performances and one disastrous outing.

The Brewers’ Game Three starter, Quinn Priester, meanwhile, has a 6.28 ERA in three starts versus the Cubs, also boasting two excellent starts against one terrible showing.

Taillon’s challenge will be one of several in Wednesday’s game as the team also looks to re-energize a stagnant offense and stave off general frustrations.

Counsell counts on Wrigley Field energy

Counsell is hoping that the raucous Wrigley atmosphere, bolstered by the emotion of rabid Cubs fans, will provide the right jolt.

“Wrigley is a special place,” Counsell said. “Your moments here are remembered, and that’s the biggest thing. What I’ve learned is that this place — when you think it can’t provide more, it provides more.

“I think it did it for us last week…But I think it’s just the place. The place has a wonderful way of doing it.”

If Chicago does manage to win on Wednesday, the uphill battle of staying afloat will continue on Thursday as they face a huge issue regarding the game’s starter. A taxed and flat Matthew Boyd, who was battered in Saturday’s series opener and pulled after just two-thirds of an inning, will be the only option.

But that’s a worry for another day. For the Cubs, right now, there’s only today.

Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-nlds-counsell-brewers