Yes, Arrieta is set to face either Kershaw or de Grom

Kershaw will crush the Cubs lefties. Bad match-up.

I assume Maddon is setting up Arrieta to go 1/4/7 in a potential world series. Also with matching him up against Kershaw.

Russell out for NLCS.

_________________

Doesn't matter. He's not important.

Wait, he's not the manager.

_________________

Sucks about Russell. Short stop Defense is huge in the post season. Hopefully Baez is solid.

Fowler switch hitter would bat right
Bryant RH hitter
Rizzo Hits LH pitchers well
Soler RH hitter
Baez RH hitter
Castro RH hitter

Schwarber and Montero are the only real issues. Denorfia probably takes the spot in LF over Schwarber, who is relegated to PH duties.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

It sucks for him and I don't like losing his steady play on defense. But Baez has more upside on offense. Particularly where power is concerned. it could turn out to be a blessing in disguise or cost them dearly if a defensive miscue takes place at a crucial time. Good to have some depth.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

Cubs didn't touch Kershaw or Grienke this year. I believe three solo shots vs Kershaw in two games. They can hit the Mets top 3 because they're power fastball pitchers.

The Cubs will smoke the Mets but probably lose to the Dodgers.

Good thing none of those hitters have issue with strikeouts. I heard Kershaw led the league in K's with 301.

If Lester lost Game 1 vs the Dodgers, which is possible since the Cubs don't score for him, that would pretty much be the series with Kershaw and Grienke coming up.

You would probably get Harvey and Syndergaard vs the Mets in the first two. Harvey kinda sucks now and literally no one is scared of Syndergaard. Then you get Degrom at home and the Cubs beat him twice this year.

When people tell me they rather play the Dodgers I want to knock on their head like Biff and go "Hello! Hello! Anybody home?"

I remember the Cubs having a 4 game series VS the Dodgers in Chicago this year, where the Cubs won the first 2 games in the series. Those 2 games were started by Greinke and Kershaw.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

Kershaw:
7IP, 3ER, 2BB, 9K

Greinke:
6IP, 0ER, 2BB, 5K

I want no part of those 2.

So for sure if the Dodgers win they won't bring back Kershaw on 3 days rest to pitch on Saturday?

_________________
2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

Don't forget the 2nd time they faced Kershaw. 8IP 3H 14K 0ER

Doesn't fit the narrative KD.

_________________
2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

In which they didn't do really anything offensively vs either then proceeded to lose the next two vs bums. Not to mention that was during when Kershaw was still trying to find his groove.

7-0 vs Mets. Yea, they're better now offensively but so are we.

The solo shot by Rizzo didn't count as a ER?

Dodgers or Mets based on being a division winner.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

No it doesn't.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

Don't see it. Wouldn't you rather have bum vs Lester and Kershaw vs Arrieta as opposed to Kershaw vs Lester and bum vs Arrieta?

back in the bottom of the 7th inning in game 2 when the dodgers had a runner on 2nd and 0/1 out/s and the mets up 2-1 i said that my gut was telling me that the series was going to come down to whether or not the mets could escape that inning with the lead.

if the mets escape the 7th up 2-1 i had them holding on to win that game and then going up 2-0 in the series, and when that's against kershaw/greinke with harvey going in game 3 the mets sweep em out of the series (and sure enough the mets DID win the harvey start like 13-7 despite spotting the dodgers a 3-0 lead) ---- however if the dodgers came back to tie the game in the 7th they prolly go on to win it that night, tie the series, then even if they lose the harvey start they're bringing kershaw back early and the mets aren't gonna rush degrom to match that so they'd prolly take the 2nd kershaw game and then forcing a game 5 = good luck degrom.....

welp i've kind of backed off of that since i said it, especially cuz i thought matz could do better than his 5IP 3ER, even tho it was a tall order for them to go out there and beat kershaw (and ask JORR, degrom DID go out there and str8up beat kershaw. you could say he wasnt pitching against kershaw but he was and he beat him) but now even tho i rate degrom and all, greinke is way more experienced and he's one of the ~3-4 pitchers in baseball who had a better year than degrom (even tho it was 2 bad/ish starts late that took his ERA from ~2.00 to ~2.60, it wasnt like he was hanging around 2.50-2.75 all year.... he was steadily heading down to just under 2.00 before 2-3IP 6ER on like aug 25th and then 5IP 6ER on ~sept 15 tanked that ERA almost a half of a run)

sooooo yeah TLDR, as much as i wanna sit here and make up validations for the idea that the mets can win this, i think they lost the series in the 7th inning of game 2 (when utley took out/broke tejada on a would-be inning ending double play to get the mets out with the lead 2-1) cuz i think degrom is going to be a better pitcher than greinke going forward and all, but he's out there as far as he's ever gone in IP and he doesnt have as much experience at this as greinke does (tho has greinke ever pitched a game 5/7/series-decider? or even a WC/game-163? idk) ---- yeah i think the dodgers got this..... and that might be a better thing for the cubs cuz if the mets' rotation is on point i think it's the best in baseball, but then again it's comprised of young inexperienced kids (cuz dont forget that harvey broke his arm at the end of his first full season and this was effectively only his 2nd year in MLB) who don't have that experience like kershaw/greinke.

honestly i think the mets lineup is hitting better than the dodgers right now, and they have more "team of destiny" vibe about them..... esp with a good chance that cespedes has priced his way out-of/across town..... but if their pitching is on it's a deeper rotation than the dodgers, who prolly have an advantage in their top-2 starters, even tho i think degrom/syndergaard can match/beat the dodgers' top 2 SP if they're on point. *cosmic shrug*

_________________

4th inning garbage time

Russell out for NLCS. Time to see what Baez is made of.

Higher ceiling/ Lower floor

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!