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Cubs Heroes and Goats: NLDS Game 2

There were plenty of contributions in Game 2 -- including a couple of big ones from the Cardinals' defense -- with Jorge Soler's big day at the plate earning him the Superhero for Saturday's game.

Dude's got a serious chain working there.
Dude's got a serious chain working there.
Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

I'd say that the big goal for the first two games was accomplished: Get out of Busch Stadium with a split. Now the series shifts back home to Wrigley Field, and I can't even begin to imagine just how much of a madhouse it's going to be the next couple of days at Clark and Addison.

Graphs for NLDS Game 2 (courtesy of Fangraphs):

Game 165 Chart 2015

Stats for NLDS Game 2:

Pitcher

IP

H

HR

ER

BB

SO

pLI

WPA

T Wood

2.1

1

0

0

0

2

0.62

.103

T Cahill

1

0

0

0

0

2

0.58

.043

H Rondon

1

1

0

0

0

0

0.67

.034

K Hendricks

4.2

4

3

3

0

7

0.47

-.055

Total

9

6

3

3

0

11

0.54

.124

Batter

AB

R

H

HR

RBI

BB

SO

pLI

WPA

J Soler

2

1

2

1

2

2

0

0.42

.202

K Hendricks

1

1

0

0

1

0

1

1.24

.125

D Fowler

5

1

2

0

1

0

0

0.53

.088

S Castro

4

0

2

0

0

0

0

0.56

.056

M Montero

3

1

0

0

1

1

1

0.71

.026

C Denorfia

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

0.06

-.001

A Russell

3

0

0

0

1

0

0

0.55

-.002

K Schwarber

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

0.11

-.003

T Wood

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

0.27

-.006

A Jackson

4

1

0

0

0

0

2

0.78

-.017

A Rizzo

3

1

0

0

0

1

1

0.59

-.046

K Bryant

4

0

0

0

0

0

1

0.55

-.047

Total

32

6

6

1

6

4

9

0.59

.376

Writer's Note: The daily selections of the three Heroes and three Goats are based solely on the top three and bottom three WPA scores for the game. The selections are not based on my subjective opinion.

THE THREE HEROES: There's a bump on the Hero podium as Kyle Hendricks' +.125 hitting -- or more appropriately Jaime Garcia's fielding -- is moved out.

  • Superhero - Jorge Soler (.202). Now that's what you call a really good day: four trips to the plate, four times on base and one monster homer just to the right of dead-center field.
  • Hero - Travis Wood (.103). And this is why I love this guy in the long relief role.
  • Sidekick - Dexter Fowler (.088). Run-scoring singles can take all shapes and sizes. The high-choppers score just the same as any others.

THE THREE GOATS:

  • Billy Goat - Kyle Hendricks (-.055). So was I the only one who thought "Oh, [expletive of choice]" after Matt Carpenter's lead-off homer?  Thankfully he gave up nothing but solo shots.
  • Goat - Kris Bryant (-.047). Think about this: The Cubs are tied with the Cardinals one game apiece in the NLDS after having won the Wild Card game against the Pirates, all with Bryant on the Goat podium three times...
  • Kid - Anthony Rizzo (-.046). ...and Rizzo on the Goat podium twice. Whoda thunk it?
Now it's time for Game 3, with Jake Arrieta against Michael Wacha. Here's hoping that the Cubs don't have to see Busch Stadium again this season.