Chicago Cubs are down – but they’re far from out in this NLCS showdown

Cold bats spelling doom for Cubs’ repeat hopes

As a team, Chicago went 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position in Game 2. That’s right. Over the course of nine innings, this offense managed just two situations in which they had a runner in scoring position. Even worse, they struck out 12 times and walked just one time. In the first two games of the NLCS, the Cubs have a grand total of three runs – coming on two home runs.

Outside of that, the bats have been dead-silent.

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Kris Bryant, Javier Baez and Willson Contreras looked downright-awful in Game 2. Bryant, the reigning National League MVP, didn’t appear to pick up a single pitch well all night.

Rich Hill, far from a power arm, was blowing 91 mph heaters past him with ease. Once he squared off against the Dodgers’ relievers, things only got worse for Bryant.

Chicago’s two-through-five hitters were brutally disappointing Sunday. They combined to go 0-for-15 with eight strikeouts. The only one of them to reach was Anthony Rizzo, who was hit by a pitch late. Other than that, they did not reach one time.