It’s survival time for the Chicago Cubs as they enter tonight’s National League Championship game three match up with the New York Mets at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
The Cubs come in down 0-2 and have to win. There’s no way around it. Scroll on down for the live blog or keep reading for some preview information.
Here’s your betting info on the game.
The Mets are a -130 favorite and the Cubs are at +120.
Here are the starting line ups:
New York Mets
Curtis Granderson, RF
David Wright, 3B
Daniel Murphy, 2B
Yoenis Cespedes, CF
Lucas Duda, 1B
Travis d’Arnaud, C
Michael Conforto, LF
Wilmer Flores, SS
Jacob deGrom, RHP
Chicago Cubs
Dexter Fowler, CF
Kyle Schwarber, LF
Kris Bryant, 3B
Anthony Rizzo, 1B
Starlin Castro, 2B
Jorge Soler, RF
Miguel Montero, C
Kyle Hendricks, RHP
Javier Baez, SS
And here’s some of the preview from ESPN.com
WHO’S UP: Hendricks is a cool customer with a Dartmouth mind. He won’t let the moment get to him, but he’ll need to keep the ball down on the Mets and away from hot slugger Daniel Murphy. Hendricks can’t be 50 percent; he needs his best stuff, which means movement on his changeup, and his sinker needs to sink, or it could be a long night. Even when Hendricks gives up an early run or two, he usually keeps his team in the game long enough for the bats to make a difference. That’s all the Cubs are asking for Tuesday.
The Cubs will face deGrom, whom they’ve hit well twice this season, collecting 12 hits in 10 1/3 innings. But that was before the Mets’ famed makeover, as deGrom has been solid for much of the season. Patience is part of the Cubs’ DNA, but so is power. Jumping on some early strikes might make deGrom think twice about his strategy, which worked so well for the Mets in New York.
WHO’S HOT: It’s not like a batch of hot hitters came home from the Big Apple, but Kris Bryant’s first two road hits of the postseason might be the spark he needs. Last time at home he homered against the Cardinals, and now he’s feeling a little more confident. And his home exploits are well documented, as his OPS at Wrigley Field was third best of any National League player in his home park.
WHO’S NOT: Anthony Rizzo managed a gift infield hit in Game 2 and drew a walk Saturday, but his swings don’t look like the MVP candidate Rizzo. He’s hitting .167 in the postseason with eight strikeouts, an usually high total for him.
WHAT’S AT STAKE: It’s pretty obvious. If the Cubs go down 3-0, there’s little chance of rebounding, even though a Theo Epstein-led team did just that in 2004. But it’s the only such comeback in baseball history, so the Cubs need a win Tuesday or desperation sets in. Until then, it’s business as usual, as Joe Maddon will not let his team give in to the pressure.
The game is on TBS at 8:07. Let’s watch it together.
