Game 1 starter Quintana's wife suffered irregular heartbeat on flight to L.A.

Chicago Cubs left-hander Jose Quintana will start Game 1 of the NLCS despite having a harrowing journey cross-country.

The Cubs' flight from Washington to Los Angeles, following their Division Series-clinching win over the Nationals on Thursday, had to be diverted to Albuquerque, NM on Friday morning due to a medical issue aboard the flight. On Saturday, Melvin Roman - Quintana's agent - told Bob Nightengale of USA Today that it was his 28-year-old client's wife, Michel, who required medical attention aboard the plane.

"It was nothing major," Roman told Nightengale about Michel's health. "She's OK. It was just an irregular heartbeat. She is fine."

The plane was able to continue on to Los Angeles after a five-hour delay in New Mexico. Part of the delay was due to the need for a new pilot to complete the journey.

Quintana left the team in Albuquerque and accompanied his wife to a local hospital, according to Nightengale. He flew to Los Angeles on his own later Friday.

In addition to the medical emergency, Quintana will be starting against the Dodgers in Game 1 on just a single day's rest. He was called upon in relief during the seventh inning of Game 5 and ultimately threw 12 pitches over his two-thirds of an inning to record a hold in the Cubs' wild 9-8 victory.