Sept. 28--Manager Joe Maddon isn't about to let up on the accelerator Sunday as the Chicago Cubs try to avoid a three-game sweep to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Maddon said he'll watch Jake Arrieta very closely but won't harness his chances to win his 21st game and strengthen his chances at winning the National League Cy Young Award.
"I let him go (long) the last time out," Maddon said of Arrieta's 123-pitch complete game Tuesday night over Milwaukee. "I don't have a specific number out there. I try to look at the guy and the stressful innings, (whether) he's staying in his delievery, what does that all look at.
"He's in a nice little groove, and I don't want to interrupt his groove, either, by trying to be too smart."
Maddon vowed that Arrieta, who is 20-6 with a 1.88 ERA, won't throw 125 pitches.
"But I don't want to put amny kind of mental constraints on him, either," Maddon said.
The Cubs (89-65) are a longshot to earn home field advantage in the Oct. 7 NL wild card game over the Pirates (95-60), who can move to within two games of the St. Louis Cardinals (98-58)for the NL Central title with a win over the Cubs.
