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By Noah Camras
Contributing Sports Writer
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Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell revealed on Friday that only one pitcher is unavailable for Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers: Matthew Boyd.
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While Counsell declined to name a starting pitcher, he revealed it will be all hands on deck as Chicago looks to come back from a 2-0 deficit to take down the top-seeded Brewers in the NLDS.
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"This is a game where we're gonna have everybody available, with the exception of Matt Boyd," Counsell said on Friday. "We've got 11 pitchers to figure out how to get 27 outs. And that's how we're treating it."
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The Brewers took a quick 2-0 lead in the series after winning both games in Milwaukee and seemed well on their way to a dominant NLDS victory. However, the Cubs battled back at Wrigley Field in Games 3 and 4, including a statement win on Thursday in which they shut the Brewers out, 6-0.
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Boyd pitched a bulk of Thursday's game, throwing 4.2 innings and 67 pitches. Thus, he won't be available on Saturday — but everyone else will.
It seems likely the Cubs will heavily lean on their bullpen, something they've done all postseason long.
Chicago relievers have thrown a league-high 39.2 innings this postseason, over nine more than the second-place Detroit Tigers. In those games, the relievers have allowed just 10 earned runs, good for a 2.27 ERA, which is second to only the Brewers among the teams still standing in the postseason.
While Counsell declined to name a starter, he said Cade Horton won't be ready to come off the injured list on Saturday and pitch in the elimination game. The rookie right-hander went 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA across 118 innings this season, but suffered a rib injury that has kept him out of postseason play thus far.
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