NLCS preview: How the Mets and Cubs match up

Cubs ace Jake Arrieta has been the best pitcher in the majors since the All-Star break.

Oct. 16, 2015 6:15 PM PT

A look at the American League Championship Series between the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs:

Keys to the series

High above Wrigley Field, encased in plastic, Kyle Schwarber’s monster 419-foot home run sits atop the Cubs’ video board. He hit it in the NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals, and it’s a warning: these fearless Cubs kids can mash. Chicago has hit 12 home runs in five postseason games.

That noted, the Mets probably aren’t losing sleep. Their young rotation features four flamethrowers. What should concern New York is that the Cubs won the season series, 7-0. Will young hitting win? Or young pitching? The calculation isn’t so simple. The Mets’ Daniel Murphy was a one-man wrecking crew against the Dodgers.

And as good as the Mets pitchers are, Chicago’s Jake Arrieta is probably the series’ best pitcher.

Pick: Cubs in seven.

Schedule

Game 1: Today, 5 p.m.

Chicago (Lester, 11-12, 3:34)

at New York (Harvey, 13-8, 2.71)

Game 2: Sunday, 5 p.m.

Chicago (Arrieta, 22-6, 1.77) at New York (Syndergaard, 9-7, 3.24)

Game 3: Tuesday, 5 p.m.

New York (deGrom, 14-8, 2.54) at Chicago (Hendricks, 8-7, 3.95)

Game 4: Wednesday, 5 p.m.

New York (Matz, 4-0, 2.27) at Chicago (Hammel, 10-7, 3.74)