NLCS preview: Cubs vs. Mets
National League Championship Series
Mets (90-72, first in East) in a best-of-seven series.
Game 6 (if necessary): Oct. 24 at New York: 1:07 p.m., or 5:07 p.m. if ALCS is over, TBS
Believe it or not, the Mets are still looking for their first win against the Cubs this year.
The Cubs went 7-0, sweeping a four-game series at Wrigley in May in which Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Matt Harvey pitched consecutively, then three at Citi Field as June turned to July.
New York’s blazing young starters were not the issue.
The Mets totaled 11 runs in the seven games at a time when David Wright was still rehabbing his back and Yoenis Céspedes was a Detroit Tiger.
The Cubs did themselves a huge favor by clinching their Division Series two days ahead of the Mets, providing an advantage in pitching alignment.
Manager Joe Maddon has his two best, Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta, starting the first two games.
How can anyone peel his eyes away from Chicago’s Kyle Schwarber when he hits.
Goodness, his Game 4 homer against Kevin Siegrist landed on top of a giant new video board above the right-field bleachers at Wrigley and stuck there.
Cubs shortstop Javier Baez will be in the spotlight offensively and defensively as he replaces an injured Addison Russell.