When the cameras panned to Cubs president Theo Epstein late Tuesday night in Game 4 of the National League Division Series, he looked like all Cubs fans felt: Worried. Anxious. Scared.

Yes, Epstein looked like a real Wrigleyville Average Theo. All he needed was a Michigan State business degree and a story about the time he ran into Kyle Farnsworth at Tai’s Til 4.

Some people thought he looked angry, but you could see something deeper in his eyes.

This is Theo Epstein agonizing near the end of Game 4 as the Cubs trailed 5-2 going into the ninth inning. They scored four in the ninth to win the series. (Screenshot via the FS1 broadcast)

“I was just concerned,” Epstein said Friday at the Cubs’ workout at Wrigley Field. “I would never get mad at our guys. I was just waiting for us to show up and it happened in a hurry.”

The Cubs scored four runs in the ninth to beat the Giants 6-5 and win the NLDS and the cameras captured Epstein, general manager Jed Hoyer and vice president of scouting and player development Jason McLeod celebrating in their seats. In the post-game reverie, Epstein was front and center, hugging and drinking in a party that continued through the night on the plane ride home.

Via text message, Epstein got plenty of documentation of his playoff face. It was just an authentic reaction to a scary situation. Can you imagine if after a 103-win season and all the build-up, all the magazine covers, all the breathless profiles, if the Cubs lost in the first round of the playoffs to an 87-win Giants team? Epstein could and he didn’t like the feeling.

“I was trying to think why I was so pissed in the first eight innings of that game and it kind of reminded me of the feeling in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS, when we were losing,” he said. “At that moment it looked like there was a chance we were going to get swept by the Yankees and it was the feeling of tremendous potential not capitalized on. I knew that team was great and I knew we’d win the World Series. All of a sudden it looked like we might get swept by the Yankees and it was a feeling of missed opportunity.

“And our team, I think, has a chance to win the World Series and deserves the opportunity to go play for it. It just looked like, for a second there, that unless we wake up quick we’re going to have to go to an elimination game where anything can happen. It started to remind me of that and it wasn’t a pleasant feeling.”

That unpleasant feeling is when you know Johnny Cueto is coming and Madison Bumgarner isn’t far behind. When the Cubs trailed 5-2 going into the top of the ninth, did he question whether his team would still be alive by the weekend?

“You never doubt them,” he said. “But if you play a series 100 times, you could have 100 different outcomes. You want one that’s representative of your club.”

As Epstein likes to remind us, the journey isn’t always easy. All is right in the Cubs’ world now. They’re still the overwhelming favorite to win the World Series. The National League Championship Series begins at 7:08 p.m. Saturday at Wrigley Field.

For this club, the only acceptable outcome is winning the World Series. The Cubs won’t take a backseat to any of the other three teams left in the playoffs, but no one is laying down for the Cubs.

In this series, matchups like the Cubs’ left-handed pitchers against the Dodgers hitters could be the difference. I like Cleveland to win the American League pennant — It started off with a 2-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night. — and that team isn’t going to be an easy out.

Can the Cubs wear down the Dodgers pitchers, who had a heavy workload in their five-game series over Washington? Will Anthony Rizzo have disciplined at-bats? Can Addison Russell get those RBI chances again with runners on? Will Joe Maddon’s mixing and matching work?

On paper, the Cubs are headed for the Fall Classic. But there are always surprises along the way.

The Cubs faced their own mortality at the end of Game 4, but they found themselves quickly in one magical inning. Can that mentality carry over to this series?

“I think it can a little bit,” Epstein said. “There’s no doubt I think we increased our focus level and the quality of our at-bats in the ninth inning, to great results. I think that can stay with you a little bit. If we’re able to bring that from the first pitch in a certain game, I think it can.”

Epstein talked to a lot of reporters Friday, but he told me he wasn’t in a “deep thinking mood.” While he talked, he stared out onto the field at the hive of activity. It was the same workout — batting practice, guys shagging flies and working on infield fundamentals — he’s watched a million times before. The baseball doesn’t change in October, but the stakes do.

And once the games begin, all Epstein can do is watch, suffer and celebrate along with everyone else.