Cubs postseason FAQ: What comes next?

Here's a look at some postseason-focused questions surrounding the Cubs, updated as of their clinching of the National League Central title on Saturday night.

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What could the playoff roster look like?

Here's one guess:

C: Willson Contreras
1B: Anthony Rizzo
2B: Jason Kipnis
SS: Javier Báez
3B: Kris Bryant
DH: Victor Caratini
LF: Kyle Schwarber
CF: Ian Happ
RF: Jason Heyward

Bench: David Bote, Nico Hoerner, Billy Hamilton, Cameron Maybin, Ildemaro Vargas

Starters: Yu Darvish, Kyle Hendricks, Jon Lester

Bullpen: Jason Adam, Adbert Alzolay, Andrew Chafin, Jeremy Jeffress, Craig Kimbrel, Alec Mills, José Quintana, Kyle Ryan, Ryan Tepera, Duane Underwood Jr., Dan Winkler

What would the Cubs' rotation look like for the Wild Card Series?

Darvish and Hendricks have helped carry the Cubs this season and that won't change in October. Expect Chicago to have them atop the rotation for the best-of-three Wild Card Series. If a Game 3 is necessary, the decision would be between Lester and Mills. While manager David Ross will surely weigh matchups, he also places an extremely high value on Lester's postseason experience and track record. That gives Lester the edge.

What could change on that projected roster?

Vargas is currently on the 10-day injured list (right hamstring), and it's also unclear whether he will be ready in time for the playoffs. DH José Martínez was recently optioned back to the Minors and utility man Patrick Wisdom was added to the MLB squad to enhance the infield depth. The Cubs will keep monitoring Vargas' recovery as they map out their bench plans for the first round. It's possible someone like outfielder Albert Almora Jr. would be considered for the bench, too.

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The Game 3 starter situation would have a potential ripple effect on the bullpen, as well as the recent return of Quintana. As the projected roster shows, there could be room to carry Quintana and an extra starter, but their presence could also lead to some tweaks in the relief corps.

When must the Cubs set their roster?

Postseason rosters, like the regular season, will be comprised of 28 players. Each team must set its roster on the morning each round begins.

Do the Cubs have any other relevant injury issues?

Rowan Wick is on the 10-day IL with a left oblique strain and there is no timetable for his return. Tyler Chatwood (right forearm) is also on the 10-day IL and is not expected to impact the Cubs, unless the team makes a deep October run. Bryant recently returned from a right oblique issue, and Bote has been dealing with a minor undisclosed injury issue that has contributed to sporadic playing time of late.

The Cubs have not gone with a strict closer this season. Will that change in October?

Ross had been leaning on Jeffress, Kimbrel and Wick as the three main arms for save chances. With Wick out, expect Jeffress and Kimbrel to continue on as the main ninth-inning weapons. For setup roles, Ross' circle of trust has included Tepera, Winkler, Adam, Underwood and Ryan at various points. Chafin returned recently from the IL, but expect him to be leveraged against lefties.

Does winning the National League Central mean something?

It means the Cubs will host a Wild Card Series at Wrigley Field, so that definitely counts for something. Beyond that, there is pride involved in hoisting another division flag. The Cubs missed the playoffs entirely last season, lost in the NL Wild Card Game in 2018 and last won the Central in '17. Winning the division is meaningful for this Cubs core group.

What is the Wild Card Series schedule?

Game 1 is set for Wednesday, with Games 2 and 3 (if necessary) on Thursday and Friday. There are no days off in this round.

Who will the Cubs face in the first round?

The Dodgers and Braves have clinched the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds, respectively. That locks the Cubs into the No. 3 spot, meaning they will face the No. 6 seed. That could be the Cardinals, Marlins or Reds, for example. This year's postseason format will have the three second-place teams in the Nos. 4-6 slots. The teams with the two best records behind that group will then be slotted in the Nos. 7-8 spots.

Who could be a surprise hero?

Two players who stand out here would be Kipnis and Bote.

Kipnis has 24 career postseason games under his belt, so the October stage is nothing new. That includes facing the Cubs in the 2016 World Series while with Cleveland. Kipnis has also delivered this year in key moments for Chicago. Entering Saturday, the second baseman had an .887 OPS with runners in scoring position and a .891 OPS with two outs.

Bote has earned a reputation as being a clutch performer for the Cubs. That was the most apparent on Aug. 12, 2018, when he hit a pinch-hit walk-off grand slam against the Nationals. This year, Bote carried a 1.214 OPS with RISP into Saturday's action and was second on the Cubs in RBIs, thanks to a stellar showing with two outs (18 RBIs and a 1.007 OPS).

Here's the big question: Can the Cubs win it all?

The one thing you can say about this Cubs team is that it has found ways to win, even with a wide array of issues. When the bullpen labored out of the gate, the rotation and lineup clicked. When the lineup struggled mightily in September, the pitching and defense shored things up. That is the mark of a good team.

So, yes, anything is possible, and the Cubs can win the World Series. The dose of reality here is that Chicago needs its stars to start hitting like stars, and the team can ill afford to have its early-season bullpen troubles resurface. The depth will be tested, but the core of this group won it all in 2016, so they have that experience to lean on.