CHICAGO (670 The Score) — Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong's royal blue helmet was scuffed up Wednesday afternoon. It was slammed to the dirt behind home plate after his second-inning strikeout, thrown on the grass behind first base after his fourth-inning groundout, then heaved next to his bat after his seventh-inning strikeout.
Crow-Armstrong has flipped his bat and showcased his swagger throughout much of his breakout season. But right now, he’s a shell of his best self – and so are many of the stars and key players the Cubs are counting on. They were missing in action during a 3-0 loss to the Padres on Wednesday at Wrigley Field in Game 2 of a National League wild-card series. The best-of-three series is now tied 1-1, with the decisive Game 3 set for Thursday.
“We’re going to have to produce offense,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said.
Crow-Armstrong, designated hitter Kyle Tucker and left fielder Ian Happ were a combined 1-for-11 on Wednesday. They're 1-for-21 with 12 strikeouts in these first two games of the postseason. If those three don’t find their form Thursday, the Cubs' playoff run will likely end early.
Game 3 swung in the fifth inning with the Padres leading 1-0. With two outs and a runner on second base, Counsell elected to have left-hander Shota Imanaga pitch to Padres star third baseman Manny Machado. Counsell cited his faith in Imanaga as his reason for having him pitch to the righty Machado instead of intentionally walking him or turning to the bullpen.
Imanaga grooved a splitter middle-middle, and Machado did what a superstar does, blasting a two-run home run to the left-field bleachers. It was more than enough offense for San Diego on a day it faced elimination.
“Listen, he’s Manny Machado,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said.
The Cubs don’t have their best players thriving like Machado did in Game 2’s biggest moment.
Along with left-hander Matthew Boyd, Tucker and Crow-Armstrong were the All-Star representatives of the Cubs this season. Happ is the team’s longest-tenured player and is hitting third in their order. While the Cubs' 3-1 victory in Game 1 showcased their depth, success starts with the stars.
Crow-Armstrong entered the postseason struggling, having posted a .446 OPS in August and a .646 OPS in September. He penned a column in The Players’ Tribune prior to the series, touching on his struggles at the plate.
“I feel like I’ve been f***in’ searching for something lately,” Crow-Armstrong wrote.
He’s still searching. Crow-Armstrong's at-bats are often non-competitive and capped by flailing at pitches outside the zone.
Tucker is hitting .234 in his last 30 games, a stretch that was interrupted by a stint on the injured list for a calf ailment in September. He isn't close to full health, and the Cubs have shifted him to the designated hitter role instead of his usual spot in right field.
Tucker is under great scrutiny given his contract status. As free agency looms for him this offseason, Thursday could be his last game in a Cubs uniform. Tucker is seeking a lucrative long-term deal, and the Cubs have never signed a player for the amount of money he'll command. His poor performance down the stretch will give the Cubs more to consider as they have prospect Owen Caissie as an option to take over in right field in the years to come.
But Tucker has the chance to salvage the season – both for himself and the Cubs – with a strong postseason. This team certainly needs him.
As for Happ, he was one of the few Cubs hitters who entered the playoffs in a groove. He hit .287 with an .892 OPS in September and earned his way back into the heart of the order in the No. 3 slot.
But Happ's bat hasn't been consistent enough, and the same can be said for many Cubs hitters this season.
On Wednesday, Tucker recorded one of just four hits for the Cubs with a ninth-inning single to right field. Padres closer Robert Suarez then induced a 6-4-3 double play from slugger Seiya Suzuki — one of the Game 1 heroes — to end the game.
The Cubs hoped to pop champagne in their clubhouse Wednesday evening and celebrate advancing to the National League Division Series against the Brewers. Instead, their season will hinge on one game Thursday back at Wrigley Field.
If the Cubs have any hopes to win the decisive Game 3 and play deep into October, they'll need their stars to shine bright.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.