The Mets added runs on a Travis d’Arnaud homer in the sixth inning and on a Granderson sac fly in the seventh inning.
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The Mets have as many as six frontline starting pitchers (well five, Zach Wheeler is hurt). Will it be enough to outlast the Mets? The great Cubs collapse of 1969 is often linked to superstition and the black cat that walked in front of the Cubs dugout at New York’s Shea Stadium during a game.
This season, Maddon got the best of his old friend as the Cubs won all seven meetings by a combined score of 27-11.
Both Championship Series are in action, with the AL’s Blue Jays and Royals playing Game 2 in Kansas City at 4:07 p.m. EDT and the NL’s Cubs and Mets beginning their series in New York at 8:07 p.m. EDT. Four names that should strike fear into the fearless, including the powerful Cubs. Game 2 will be played on Sunday, and it will also be at 7:30pm and aired on TBS.
The Dodgers are the new Yankees, at least financially, though they have a deep commitment to player development and won’t part with their young stars-to-be. Clichés are usually lazy, until you actually see something that’s perfectly described by one. Schwarber wasn’t as prominently featured in this one, as he’s in the second row this time. It’ll be fascinating to see if they dominate in this round, too.
Berry replaces rookie shortstop Addison Russell, who strained his left hamstring during Game 3 of the NL Division Series against St. Louis.
Jake Arrieta, the ace Chicago didn’t even know it had? He pitched a complete-game shutout in the wild-card win over Pittsburgh and gave up four runs in 5 2/3 innings without getting a decision against the Cardinals on Monday. Arrieta will be taking the mound for the Cubs tonight for Game One. Mets’ ace deGrom started the decisive Game 5 against the Dodgers, with fellow starter Syndergaard also working an inning in relief. The closer retired all 16 batters he faced in the series. The Mets won the series and advanced to their first National League Championship Series since 2006.
Which bullpen will make the biggest difference? When the teams last met on July 2, Darrell Ceciliani started in center field for the Mets and Eric Campbell started in left field, while Johnny Monell was the catcher. He stranded a runner in scoring position in each of the first five innings.
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Excluding Game 3 of the Los Angeles-New York NLDS, offense was rather tough to come by, and against a phenomenal pitching staff in the Dodgers, the Mets were able to get the timely contributions they needed. Mets third baseman Wright missed 19 weeks with spinal stenosis that at one stage of the season seemed to be career-threatening.
