Chicago Cubs: Miguel Montero’s bat needs to come to life at Wrigley

With the Chicago Cubs hosting the National League Championship Series for the first time since 2003, all bats on deck are going to need to step it up if they want to avoid elimination.

Sure, the Cubs are only in a 0-2 hole in this best-of-seven series, but these next three games at Wrigley Field are must wins for this club who exceeded all expectations this year.

More from Chicago Cubs News

• Cubs: Adrian Sampson is forcing his way into the conversation
• Projecting the Chicago Cubs bullpen to open the 2023 season
• Cubs fans are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel
• Justin Steele has evolved into a frontline starter for the Cubs
• The future of first base is murky right now for the Cubs

While it’s great that they’re four wins away from clinching their first N.L. Pennant since 1945, going home right after eliminating the St. Louis Cardinals would leave a sour taste in everyone’s mouth.

If the wind just so happens to be blowing out later on this evening, guys like Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber, Javier Baez, and even Starlin Castro should have no problem driving the ball deep.

The fact that thought has even crossed my mind shows how reliable we’ve become on the long ball. I mean, it’s kind of hard to not think that way considering all the home run’s they’ve hit dating back to the N.L. Wild Card in Pittsburgh.

Despite only scoring three runs over the course of the first two games in New York this past weekend, no one should count out this powerful lineup that is due to explode during this NLCS.

One man who is due for a lights out performance in the batter’s box is none other than veteran catcher, Miguel Montero.

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs: Adrian Sampson is forcing his way into the conversation
• Projecting the Chicago Cubs bullpen to open the 2023 season
• Cubs fans are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel
• Justin Steele has evolved into a frontline starter for the Cubs
• The future of first base is murky right now for the Cubs

Heading into tonight’s contest, Montero’s bat has been awfully quiet as he’s currently 2-for-17 with one RBI, three walks and eight strikeouts behind a weak batting line of .118/.250/.118 this postseason.

Those are stats of a guy who had 15 homers, 53 RBI, 11 doubles, 49 walks and 103 strikeouts while hitting .248/.345/.409 during the regular season.

Chicago’s 32-year-old lefty is no stranger to participating in October baseball with a handful of rookies on a roster. He’s made a run through the playoffs with several young Arizona Diamondback’s during the 2007 campaign which helped sweep our Cubs 3-0 in the NLDS.

Their ride was cut short thanks to Dexter Fowler and the Colorado Rockies who swept the D’backs 4-0 during that season’s NLCS which ended on Oct. 15.

Hopefully, history of that 2007 NLCS won’t repeat itself since both men are playing together on the North Side of Chicago.

Next: Bullpen to play key role in next two games