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During spring training, few would have predicted Brad Keller would be closing a playoff game for the Cubs.
But there was Keller in the ninth inning, three outs away from securing the Cubs’ first postseason victory since 2017. He needed 11 pitches to get the first two outs before freezing Xander Bogaerts with a sinker down and in for the last out of the Cubs’ 3-1 victory against the Padres in Game 1 of their National League wild-card series.
‘‘I told [manager Craig Counsell during spring training], ‘I just want to be on the team, whatever it’s going to take,’ ’’ Keller said.