Levine: Jake Arrieta Will Be Rested, Ready For The Mets

By Bruce Levine--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The New York Mets present the next challenge for the Chicago Cubs, as the NLCS begins on Saturday evening. Chicago left-hander Jon Lester will be taking his vast playoff resume to the mound at Citi Field.

While Lester was the second-best pitcher on the Cubs this season, he's the most well-rested pitcher entering this matchup of great young players on both teams. Cy Young favorite Jake Arrieta will take the ball for the Cubs in Game 2 on Sunday, going on five days rest instead of four days.

"I feel great," Arrieta said. "We get some extra days after closing a series out before the other ones."

Arrieta seemed a bit conflicted by the extra off day. Still, it should be a positive for the 29-year-old who has logged more than 240 innings in 2015, after never throwing more than 156 2/3 innings in a season prior.

"The extra day is neither hugely good or bad thing," Arrieta said. "I got a good side (session) in (Thursday). It has been awhile since Jon has been out there. It is good for him to be out there in Game 1. I will be ready in Game 2."

Arrieta said he had a conversation with both team management and pitching coach Chris Bosio about the extra day of rest. After going 22-6 with a 1.77 ERA in the regular season, he threw a four-hit shutout in the wild-card game, then allowed four earned runs in 5 2/3 innings in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Cardinals.

"We talked about it," he said. "It is Jon's turn. I am not sure how many days he has had off. This will be a good time for him to get out there in game 1. He than can be ready in Game 5. We both plan to get a couple of starts in this series, if needed. We are eager to get going and win four games."

The well-rested Cubs will face a group of dominant young pitchers and veteran Bartolo Colon. The Mets have not been to postseason since 2006.

"Traveling just a couple of hours is better than four hours," Arrieta said earlier Thursday about whether he'd face the Mets or Dodgers. "It's nice to head northeast."

The Cubs and Mets will meet in the postseason for the first time. Good pitching against good pitching should be the theme of this fascinating matchup. The Mets boast young power pitchers, while the Cubs boast young power hitters who have been on fire lately.

It will be worth the price of admission.

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.