Cubs: 3 takeaways from a massive series win over the Brewers

After Jameson Taillon crumbled early on in the series opener, this week's series against the first-place Brewers could have gone off the rails. Instead, the Cubs battled back to take the final two games of the series with Milwaukee's big horses on the mound and will head into Thursday's off-day just three games out in the NL Central.

3 things we learned about the Cubs this week: #3: Cody Bellinger can carry this team, even on days he doesn't dominate

If not for missing a month with a knee injury, we'd be talking about Cody Bellinger as a legitimate MVP candidate in the National League. Even so, what he's meant to this Cubs team is immeasurable (although you can bet Bellinger and his agent, Scott Boras, will look to put a number on it in free agency) - and he proved that again this week against the Brewers.

The final blow came late in Wednesday's dramatic 3-2 win, when Bellinger rocketed a ball off the leg of Milwaukee reliever Joel Payamps that rolled to third baseman Andruw Monasterio, who couldn't throw him out at first, allowing the go-ahead and what proved to be, winning, run to score. But his impact in this series went well beyond just one at-bat.

It seemed like every time Bellinger was down in the count, he fought off pitches and made Brewers pitchers work. Despite going just 2-for-12 in the series (.167), he delivered the game-winning RBI in both Cubs wins and proved to be a difference-maker, even when he wasn't putting up video game-like numbers.

3 things we learned about the Cubs this week: #2: Kyle Hendricks has quietly been very, very good since returning from surgery

When Kyle Hendricks made his long-awaited return from 2022 shoulder surgery in late May, no one really knew what to expect from the veteran right-hander and former ERA champ. But since returning, he's been vintage Professor, keeping the Cubs in games and providing much-needed consistency behind Justin Steele in the starting rotation.

On Thursday, Hendricks was at his best, masterfully keeping the Brewers hitters off-balance with a sharp change-up and pinpoint location. Although the bullpen couldn't get him the win he deserved, Hendricks still gave David Ross exactly what he needed: six innings of one-run (zero earned) ball, striking out six and lowering his ERA on the year to 3.59.

With Marcus Stroman still working his way back from his rib injury, it's not a stretch in the slightest to think Ross could go with Hendricks in Game 2 of a potential postseason series - or even the opener, depending on the matchup. His postseason resume speaks for itself and, based on what we've seen (and saw again on Thursday), Hendricks is ready to roll for another big October start.