Chicago Cubs: Kyle Hendricks’ postseason starts in review

Chicago Cubs v. Los Angeles Dodgers – NLCS Game 6

With the Cubs up 3-2 in the series, the pitching match-up reverted back to Game 2, meaning Kershaw and Hendricks would face-off again. This time, the Cubs’ bats came alive and jumped all over Kershaw. After scoring two runs in the first, Chicago scored again in the second and again in the fourth and fifth innings. With a five-run lead, Hendricks went to work.

The young right-hander tossed 7 1/3 innings of two-hit baseball, striking out six batters and walking no one. Hendricks needed just 88 pitches to get the job done, yielding to Aroldis Chapman in the eighth.

During this game, Hendricks relied heavily on his fourseasm fastball, throwing it 46 percent of the time. That is by far the most Hendricks has thrown his fastball in any of his postseason starts. In addition to his fastball, Hendricks threw his change-up 30 percent of the time, followed by his sinker (15 percent) and curveball (9 percent).

Hendricks tallied nine whiffs in Game 6, five on his fastball and four on his change-up.

With his masterful Game 6 performance, Hendricks propelled the Cubs into the World Series.