Arrieta faces Bumgarner as Cubs look to sweep
Ace, fresh after Cubs' early clinch, has shown dominance vs. Giants
CHICAGO -- The Giants head home facing elimination in this best-of-five National League Division Series on Monday, but they have the luxury of sending out one of the most dominant postseason performers in recent history for Game 3. And yet, the Cubs are confident with their counter.
That, of course, is Jake Arrieta, who will oppose Giants ace Madison Bumgarner as the series shifts to San Francisco (9:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. CT on FS1). Arrieta will take the mound with an opportunity to pitch the Cubs back into the NL Championship Series. To do so, he and his teammates will have to find a way snap the Giants' streak of nine straight postseason wins in elimination games.
| Game | Date | Time | Matchup | TV/Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gm 1 | Oct. 7 | CHC 1, SF 0 |  | |
| Gm 2 | Oct. 8 | CHC 5, SF 2 | | |
| Gm 3 | Oct. 10 | 9:30 p.m. | CHC @ SF | FS1 |
| *Gm 4 | Oct. 11 | 8 or 8:30 p.m. | CHC @ SF | FS1 |
| *Gm 5 | Oct. 13 | 8 or 8:30 p.m. | SF @ CHC | FS1 |
• Division Series start time scenarios
• Giants vs. Cubs NLDS coverage
Shop for postseason gear: Cubs | Giants "They're a dangerous team this time of year," Arrieta said. "They've had really good success the last four, five years. We've got our work cut out for us."
But history says Arrieta is on the right side, as clubs that have taken a 2-0 lead in the NLDS went on to advance 23 of 25 times.
Bumgarner and Arrieta have opposed each other three times already this season, first in a Cactus League game and most recently during San Francisco's September visit to Wrigley Field. On that day, Arrieta allowed three runs (two earned) over six innings in a 3-2 loss.
That performance, however, was an outlier. In his other three outings against San Francisco since the start of his NL Cy Young Award-winning season, Arrieta has gone undefeated with one run allowed over 20 2/3 innings. His ERA at AT&T Park over that stretch registers at 0.69.
In fact, he's been at his best in California, where Arrieta allowed one earned run and struck out 24 over 30 innings while tallying road victories against the Angels, Giants, Athletics and Padres.
"I'm looking forward to that matchup," catcher David Ross said. "I think it's getting a lot of attention, because Bum's so good and Jake's the reigning Cy Young Award winner. [Arrieta] may have a bad inning here or there, but he's getting back to that consistent guy that we rely on. And he's another guy, too, that I'll take him any day of the week. I know his character. I know what he's thinking and what kind of guts he has. And I really like our chances when he's on the mound."
And while Arrieta may not enter the postseason as dominant as he did last year's, he finds himself fresher. With his final three starts coming after the Cubs had already clinched the National League Central title, Arrieta cruised into October by using his late September outings more as tuneups than tests. He'll be making this start on 11 days' rest.
The results of his last performance -- seven runs allowed on 10 hits over five innings -- were uncharacteristic. But the work, he and manager Joe Maddon said afterward, was nevertheless fruitful. Arrieta finished the season with a 3.10 ERA, and with a cautionary word of warning.
"Whoever I face [in the NLDS]," Arrieta said after throwing his final regular-season pitch on Sept. 28, "will be in trouble."
Jenifer Langosch has been a reporter for MLB.com since 2007. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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