using your best relievers (including your closer) early in extra innings on the road instead of saving them for save situations that may never come is an easy thing smart teams can do to gain an advantage over dumb teams. the cubs are one of the dumb teams in this regard.
I was thinking more like prime Helton a couple days ago, but then I looked at Helton's # and holy crap... I forgot just how good his #s were the first 6-8 years. the difference between 2000 coors and 2015 wrigley is enormous