Chicago Cubs: Kyle Hendricks’ postseason starts in review

Chicago Cubs v. St. Louis Cardinals – NLDS Game 2

Hendricks made his postseason debut on Oct. 10, 2015 against the St. Louis Cardinals. Hendricks was tabbed with starting Game 2 after Jon Lester and John Lackey had a pitcher’s duel in Game 1. Ultimately, Lackey got the better of Lester, tossing 7 1/3 innings of two-hit baseball in a 4-0 Cardinals’ win.

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With the Cubs down 0-1 in the series, Hendricks took the ball facing Jaime Garcia. After allowing a lead-off home run to Matt Carpenter, Hendricks settled in, finishing the day after 4 2/3 innings. In total, Hendricks allowed four hits and three earned runs. Those three runs all came via solo home runs, two of which chased Hendricks from the game in the fifth.

Despite allowing three long balls, Hendricks struck out seven batters and used 66 pitches to record 14 outs. Of those 66 pitches, three were fourseam fastballs, 31 were sinkers, 26 were change-ups, three were curveballs and three were cutters. Hendricks was able to induce 13 swings and misses, ten with the change-up and three with his sinker.

In the end, the Cubs took Game 2 by a score of 6-3 and eventually win the series three games-to-one.