The NY Mets and Chicago Cubs are playing in the NLCS to see who will represent the National League in the World Series after winning over the Dodgers and the Cardinals. Here are some things to know heading into the series:
The Mets pitching is filled with young stars
Matt Harvey will get the ball in Game 1 and he will face off against Jon Lester for the Cubs. Harvey is part of a rotation that includes Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz and that gives the Mets some major depth. DeGrom had a great series against the Dodgers and he could be key in the NLCS for New York.
The Cubs young stars have arrived
Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Jorge Soler, Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez have all played key roles in the postseason and youth movement could get the Cubs to the World Series. Addison Russell will miss the series with a hamstring injury and that is tough for the Cubs, but the team showed in the last round that their youth has not been an issue. Schwarber has been playing well and had a home run for the ages in the last round.
The managers will make an impact
Joe Maddon has pushed all the right buttons this year and he has the Cubs one step away from the World Series. Maddon has always been hailed as one of the best managers in the league and he has shown why this year. Terry Collins was itching for the playoffs and finally made it and he has made some great decisions this postseason as well. The pitching rotation decisions have worked and Collins has also used the bullpen effectively and it helped win the Dodgers series.
The Cubs can mash
The Cubs have been hitting home runs at a high rate over the last month of the season and the postseason and that could power the team to the World Series. Schwarber hit a homerun that hasn't landed yet and his homer that hit the Wrigley Field scoreboard is in glass and not going anywhere. Rizzo and Bryant have big bats and Soler has also shown some power.
There will be new blood in the NL
The Cardinals, Giants and Dodgers have been in the playoffs quite a bit the past few years and both the Cards and the Giants have made it to the World Series. The Mets haven't been in the World Series for over a decade and haven't won one in even longer, while the Cubs, well, that is one of the longest streaks of all-time. The Cubs haven't been to the World Series since 1945 and haven't won one in over 100 years. One of these teams will get the chance to win another one.
