Chicago Cubs: Potential NL Wild Card game heroes

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Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports

You’ll have to forgive us here at Cubbies Crib. Normally about this time we’re talking about who will or won’t make the Chicago Cubs team next year, who will battle for a spot in the rotation, etc. Instead, we’re talking playoffs. We may be a little rusty, but you can be sure we’re embracing this opportunity. So onto baseball in October.

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Heroes are born every October in baseball. It can be anyone. Some years it’s a pitcher, others are born from performances at the plate. From Reggie Jackson to Madison Bumgarner, which Cubs’ player could add his name to the list? Some may be more obvious than others, and it isn’t restricted to this list, but I think our hero in tomorrow’s game comes from one of these five. So who steps up in the “winner take all” matchup with the Pirates?

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Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Jake Arrieta

So this is where I get to the “some are more obvious than others” point. Arrieta has been flat-out dominant. He’s been an unstoppable force, and hopefully the voters recognize this and honor him with the NL Cy Young. Whoever takes second place can make the case they got shafted, but while I admit Zack Greinke has been good, Arrieta has been better.

When he made his scheduled start against the Pirates on Sept. 27, many wondered why Joe Maddon would throw him and give the team they would see in the Wild Card another look at him. The Bucs’ Andrew McCutchen echoed that prior to that game.

“We’ve faced him more than once, so regardless of tonight, it’s an advantage because we’ve faced him so much, It can be more of an advantage as opposed to a team outside our division so, yeah, that helps.”

But the outing may have had the opposite effect, as Arrieta threw seven innings of one-hit baseball and possibly made the Pirates think a little bit more about just how big an advantage they think it would be to see him again. Their numbers against him on the year? A .151 average with a .368 OPS–zero home runs. Arrieta himself hit .152 this season with two home runs. Advantage Arrieta.

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Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Starlin Castro

I’ve been a staunch supporter of Castro. On here to a very dangerous defense of him within Cubs social groups. There came a point when I very well though I would be eating crow the rest of the year when Maddon made the decision not only to move him from shortstop but bench him altogether. Maddon will be the first to admit that it wasn’t to light a fire under Castro. It’s because he wasn’t helping the team win.

Well, maybe Maddon is just that good.

The fire was indeed lit, intentional or not. It wasn’t an immediate turnaround. Castro had to adjust to his new position at second base while trying to figure out what went wrong at the plate. But as the Cubs made their final push in the month of September, there may not have been a more valuable guy than Castro. He batted .426 for the month with five home runs, five doubles, and 20 runs knocked in with an OPS of 1.202. No more weak rollers. Castro was tuned in and letting it go. Maddon’s assessment? “If he carries this for the rest of his career, I’m telling you it’s going to be a good one.”

So for a career that once appeared over–at least as a Cubs–he enters the playoffs as one of the hottest hitters for one of the hottest teams. Castro has endured his career on nothing but losing teams. Don’t for one second believe he isn’t embracing the opportunity to show that he was more than the best player on a bad team.

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Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Coghlan

After a slow start, Coghlan once again turned in a fine second half even though it became more of a platoon situation once Kyle Schwarber started playing more outfield. Coghlan would occasionally move to right field as well, but the versatility he showed made him more and more valuable. His defense–no matter where Maddon put him–was reliable and he could be counted on.

In PNC Park, Coghlan may be the most ideal to get the start over Schwarber in left field. There is plenty of ground to cover, and while Schwarber has performed adequately, he would be a step down on defense. And at the plate Coghlan has held his own. A career-high 16 home runs have made him more than an offense to defense platoon guy.

A rough stretch to finish the season that had many wondering if Coghlan would get a start in the Wild Card game over Schwarber. He collected four hits in his final two games and appears to be getting back on track. He’s been a critical piece to the success of the Cubs and deserves the opportunity to start in the game on Wednesday.

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Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Addison Russell

His numbers haven’t been as head-turning as another Cubs’ rookie, but don’t let that deceive you on how good Russell has been this year. His .242 average won’t make you excited, but Russell hit 13 home runs and knocked in 54 runs–while spending most of the season batting in the nine spot. That’s a credit to the Cubs for hitting well from top to bottom, but his offense is simply the icing. It’s Russell’s defense that will turn heads, make you look twice, rewind and more.

Chicago Cubs: Five potential heroes in the NL Wild Card game

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