Washington Nationals: Storylines to watch in Game 1 of NLDS

How does Joe Maddon pitch to Harper?

The proverbial million dollar question in this series is how the Cubs decide to pitch to Bryce Harper. In 2016, Maddon wanted no part of Harper as he decided to walk him 13 times in a four game series at Wrigley Field. However, with Harper only a week removed from coming back from injury, do the Cubs keep that same strategy?

Harper was hitting second over the last week, but it would be a surprise if the Washington Nationals kept him in that number two spot. Personally, that spot should go to Jayson Werth for his ability to take pitches and allow Trea Turner to wreak havoc on the bases (we will get to that).

This season, Harper had good numbers against the Cubs. Despite striking out ten times, he went 10-for-30 at the plate with a pair of doubles, a home run, and three RBI’s. He also homered against Kyle Hendricks back in May 2015 at Wrigley (4-for-13 lifetime).

While Harper only went 3-for-18 last week, his two hits in the season finale might be a sign of things to come for his timing. If that’s the case and Dusty Baker does decide to go left-right-left-right with the lineup, Ryan Zimmerman will be hitting cleanup.

If Zimmerman hits cleanup, expect the Cubs not to intentionally walk Harper, but to pitch carefully around him. Zimmerman has not hit Cubs pitching well the last two years and is 0-for-9 against the Cubs right-hander with a couple of strikeouts.

In the early stages of the game, Harper will be pitched carefully and then expect the team to use any left-hander to go up against him in the late innings.