Two swings changed everything. Wrigley went from tight to electric when Seiya Suzuki tied it and Carson Kelly followed with another blast, and that jolt carried into a bullpen masterpiece—14 straight outs that turned a knife-edge game into a conviction win. We walk through what truly decided Game One: clean middle defense from Dansby and Nico, smarter sequencing that put mistake hunters in the right spots, and the quiet advantage of a deeper, steadier roster.
From there, we build the Game Two blueprint. We’re opening with Kittredge to neutralize the Padres’ righty-lefty top four and give Shota a softer on-ramp against the bottom of the order. Shota doesn’t need whiffs to win; he needs edges, deception, and early rhythm. Yesterday’s reads on Tatis and Machado—hyper‑aggressive, pull‑happy against challenge pitches—set up that plan perfectly if we control the first inning. On the other side, Dylan Cease brings explosive strikeout stuff with walk and homer volatility. The path is clear: starve the chase, foul off the fastball, and make him throw strikes. Cease cruises with big run support; without it, the pitch count spikes and the mistakes arrive.
We also revisit the calls that hit: Padres bullpen depth falls off after Mason Miller, Jerry Estrada has been sloppy, and Carson Kelly thrives when he can hunt. Add a defense‑first identity—Pete Crow‑Armstrong’s reads, Dansby’s game‑saving calm—and the Cubs’ formula sharpens: structure beats volatility in October. If we keep the zone discipline tight and the defense clean, the opener-to-Shota bridge can tilt the night our way quickly.
Roll with us as we map adjustments, matchups, and the mindset that travels from first pitch. If you’re feeling this playoff run, follow the show, leave a quick rating, and share this episode with a Cubs fan who needs a pregame plan. Your takes make this community; drop your score prediction and the one matchup that swings it.
Thanks for tuning in!
- Carl & Mahoney
