Think back to that Opening Day series in Japan against the Los Angeles, how many of you would have guessed that left-handed reliever Drew Pomeranz would be named the Game 5 starter in the NLDS for the Chicago Cubs? The answer is zero because the 36-year-old pitcher wasn't even in the Cubs organization until the Seattle Mariners traded him to Chicago on April 21.
Now, in a win or go home game in Milwaukee Cubs' manager Craig Counsell is handing the ball over to Pomeranz, who had not pitched in the majors prior to this season since 2021. The left-handed pitcher has been perfect in the postseason, tossing five shutout innings. Pomeranz has struck five batters, while not allowing a single hitter to reach base.
Pomeranz will be tasked to shut down the Brewers in the first inning Saturday night. Milwaukee scored 10 runs in the first inning combined through the first three games of the NLDS, including six in Game 1 and three in Game 2.
On Friday, ESPN 1000's Marc Silverman speculated that the Cubs were thinking about not using Shōta Imanaga whatsoever in Game 5 against the Brewers, citing his struggles and loss of confidence. We'll see who follows Pomeranz, but Counsell has already promised that everyone except for Matthew Boyd will be available to use.
