The Cubs will give veteran Jason Hammel the ball for the pivotal Game 4 of their NL Division Series against the Cardinals.
Joe Maddon had indicated before the series that Hammel likely would get the assignment, and the Cubs manager made it official before Monday's Game 3.
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Hammel, 33, has made four postseason appearances, three of them starts, for three different teams. Most notably, he allowed four earned runs in 11 1/3 innings over two ALDS starts against the Yankees for the Orioles in 2012. Hammel also made playoff appearances for the A's and Rockies, and was with Maddon's Rays for their 2008 run to the World Series, though he didn't pitch that October.
The well-traveled right-hander was 10-7 with a 3.74 ERA in 31 starts for the Cubs during the regular season, but his effectiveness diminished as the season wore on. Hammel posted a 2.86 ERA in 17 starts before the All-Star break but has a 5.10 ERA in 14 starts since as he has dealt with hamstring problems throughout the second half.
He did throw five shutout innings against the Reds in his last outing Oct. 1, though, and he doesn't expect to have any trouble handling the big stage at Wrigley Field on Tuesday.
"I feel like pressure is what you make of it," Hammel told reporters Monday. "Honestly, yeah, it could be a big game, but I've done this a few times now in the postseason, and I understand that it's just another ballgame. Have to approach it that way, and I know the guys in the clubhouse will be, too. I've been preparing for this game since my last outing in Cincinnati, so I've had a little bit of time to think about it, and, honestly, I'll be ready to go."
