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Joe Maddon 'Not Kidding' About Jake Arrieta's 'Infinity' Pitch Count

(CBS) The Cubs will ride ace Jake Arrieta against the Cardinals in Monday evening's Game 3 of the NLDS as long as they need to.

Manger Joe Maddon mentioned ahead of last Wednesday's wild-card game that Arrieta's pitch count limit was "infinity," and he made clear in Monday's pregame media session that he'll ride Arrieta as far into the game as is needed, so long as his rhythm is there.

Maddon's answer came in response to a question about how to avoid a Grady Little-Pedro Martinez moment, a reference to the Red Sox manager staying with his ace a few batters too long in a heartbreaking loss to the Yankees in Game 7 of the ALCS in 2003.

"The thing with him is he's so good, I was not kidding the other day when I said his pitch count was infinity in Pittsburgh," Maddon said of Arrieta. "You pretty much want to stay with that as long as you can. I think, hopefully from this side if you do need to something differently, there's going to be some kind of indicator for that. But believe me, man, for me he needs to be out there for as long as he can be out there, as long as the game's trending in the right direction, as long as I don't think he's tired or coming out of his delivery badly. Those are normally my indicators to take somebody out of the game. But a guy like him, you want to ride him as long as you possibly can."

After a 22-6 regular season in which he compiled a 1.77 ERA and the best second half of any pitcher in MLB history, Arrieta followed that up with a four-hit shutout of the Pirates in last Wednesday's wild-card game.

Maddon also reiterated that right-hander Jason Hammel will be the Game 4 starter for Chicago on Tuesday, barring the need to use him in Game 3. With Arrieta on the hill and the bullpen rested following a day off, it's not expected that Hammel will be used.

"The difference may be, if we have to use him today, that may be altered tomorrow," Maddon said. "But for right now, absolutely, he's the Game 4 starter."

If Hammel is used in Game 3, it's unlikely the Cubs would bring left-hander Jon Lester back on three days rest for Game 4, Maddon said.

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