Cubs Have Time, Options In Setting Up NLCS Pitching Rotation
(CBS) In clinching the NLDS against the Cardinals in Game 4 at Wrigley Field on Tuesday evening, the Cubs didn't just give their fans a reason to celebrate a historic win.
They also gave themselves time and the opportunity to set up their pitching rotation for the NLCS that will be contested against the winner of the Mets-Dodgers series, which will be decided Thursday night with a Game 5 in Los Angeles.
As it sat in the NLDS, left-hander Jon Lester was next in line for Chicago, had there been a Game 5. Because the Cubs clinched sooner, they'll now have the option of starting Lester or ace right-hander Jake Arrieta on full rest in Game 1 of the NLCS, which will come Saturday. The other one figures to get the Game 2 call Sunday.
If Lester gets the nod in Game 1, he'd be working on seven days of rest. Arrieta would be working on his normal four after starting Monday's Game 3 win against St. Louis.
Amid the celebration of taking the NLDS, manager Joe Maddon didn't yet make an indication of whether he'll turn to Lester or Arrieta to open the NLCS.
The Cubs swept the season series from the Mets, 7-0. They were 3-4 against the Dodgers.
Arrieta made two starts against the Mets this season, going 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 16 innings. Arrieta's lone start against the Dodgers was historic, as he fired a no-hitter on Aug. 30 at Dodger Stadium.
Lester made a pair of starts against the Mets too, going 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 13 innings. Lester made two starts against the Dodgers and struggled, going 0-2 with a 8.10 in 10 innings.
While the Cubs line up their rotation to their choosing, the Mets-Dodgers winner will have far less flexibility, as they both trot out aces Thursday when New York turns to right-hander Jacob deGrom and Los Angeles gives the ball to right-hander Zack Greinke. That would almost certainly prevent either of those players from pitching until Game 3.
If the Dodgers advance, they'd likely have to turn to their third starter -- it was Brett Anderson on Monday in Game 3 of the NLDS, though he was rocked -- in Game 1 of the NLCS. That spot is a weakness for Los Angeles. In a potential Game 2 of the NLCS on Sunday, the Dodgers would almost assuredly give the ball to ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw, who could pitch on four days of rest.
If the Mets advance, they could turn to rookie right-hander Noah Syndergaard or right-hander Matt Harvey to open the NLCS. Syndergaard may be available out of the bullpen in Game 5 if needed, while manager Terry Collins has said that Harvey has been shut down for the rest of the series.
The well-documented controversy and worry over Harvey's workload may push the Mets toward using him in Game 3, should they advance, so that he might only have to pitch once in the NLCS instead of twice.
