3 reasons the Cubs can still upset Dodgers in NLCS

3. Bullish bullpen

The Cubs bullpen hasn’t had much by way of rest since the end of the season. After Cubs manager Joe Maddon had to dig deep to pull off the win in the NLDS, the bullpen came into the NLCS worn out. This isn’t a new spot for the Cubs, as it’s exactly where they were at the end of the 2016 season: Tired and spread thin. But in 2016 the Cubs made it all the way to a World Series win, so there’s nothing to say that the bullpen can’t pull it together once again.

We have already seen the starting rotation do a solid job holding the first few innings scoreless in Game 1 and Game 2. As a whole, the Cubs pitching staff allowed 13 hits and 9 earned runs in the first two games, which looks bad until you consider that the Cubs’ rotation held the Dodgers scoreless through the 4th inning in Game 1 and the 5th inning in Game 2. The problem, then, comes later in the game. The Cubs are getting squashed by the Dodgers bullpen late in the game while the Cubs’ bullpen has been giving up game-winning runs to the Dodgers. Chicago has been first to get on the board in both NLCS games, so now the relievers need to step it up and shut down the Dodgers’ bats.