Cubs-Mets NLCS Preview

Best-of-seven National League Championship Series
Chicago Cubs at New York Mets
(Mets won all seven games)

Cubs
Team payroll: $133.2 million (11th) 

Octobers: Two World Series, 10 NL pennants, and 17 playoff appearances. 

Post-season record: 39-63-1

Last post season: Swept in 2008 NLDS by the Los Angeles Dodgers.  

Manager: Joe Maddon.   

2015 Record: 97-65.  

How they got here: Defeated NL Central champion Cards in best-of-five ALDS in five games.

Run differential: Plus 81.   

Stud Hosses in ALDS: RF Jorge Soler (.571, 2, 4, 2.341), OF Kyle Schwarber (.500, 2, 2, 1,100), 1B Anthony Rizzo (.267, zero, two, .910),

Theme: Dethroning the NL Kings was easy. 

Looking up: LHP Jon Lester (1-1, 3.68), RP Hector Rondon (0-0, 2 saves, 6.00), RP Pedro Strop (0-0, 3.38).

Looking down: CF Dexter Fowler (.188, 1, 2, .673), 3B Kris Bryant (.176, 1, 2, .647), C Miguel Montero (.000, 0, 0 .250).

Canadian content: Montreal-born Shiraz Rehman, assistant GM, Ron Tostenson, national cross checker, Kelowna, B.C, Montreal’s Tom Tango, statistical consultant, C Luke Carlin, Aylmer, Que. Triple A Iowa, LHP Rob Zastryzny, Edmonton, Double A Tennessee, INF Wes Darvill, Richmond, B.C., Tennessee, RHP Jasvir Rakkar, Brampton, Single A Myrtle Beach, 3B Jesse Hodges, Victoria, Single-A South Bend, C Justin Marra, Toronto, Single A Eugene, LHP Ryan Kellogg, Whitby, Eugene, OF Michael Foster, Pickering, Rookie Class Cubs.  

Canadian rootability rating: No. 3 (out of 10 Canadian teams). 

World Series odds: 5-2

Mets
Team payroll: Mets $114.6 million (17th)  

Octobers: Two World Series titles, four NL pennants, and eight playoff Appearances 

Post-season record: 47-32.  

Last post season: Lost 2006 NLCS to the St. Louis Cardinals in six games.   

Manager: Terry Collins. 

2014 Record: 90-72,  

How they got here: Beat Los Angeles Dodgers in ALDS in five game, four of which started by Zach Greinke (1-1, 3.29) and LHP Clayton Kershaw (1-1, 2.63).

Run differential: Plus 70.  

Stud Hosses in ALDS: 2B Daniel Murphy (batted .333, with three homers, five RBIs, .770 OPS), RF Curtis Granderson (.389, 0, 5, .976) and SS Wilmer Flores (.300, 0, 0, .817).

Theme: Will the Dark Knight own Gotham? Matt Harvey gets to be the big dawg in Game 1

Looking up: RP Jeurys Familia (0-0, 0.00, two saves, 5 1/3 innings), Jacob deGrom (2-0, 1.38, 20 strikeouts in 13 innings), RHP Noah Syndergaard (0-1, 3.68, 11 strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings), LF Yoenis Cespedes (.250, 2, 4, .800), 

Looking down: C Travis d’Arnaud (.158, 1, 4, .466), 3B David Wright (.063, 0, 2, .348), 1B Lucas Duda (.111, 0, 0, .311).

Canadian content: Scout Claude Pelletier, of Ste-Lezare, Que., Eric Langill bullpen catcher, Kirkland, Que.,  LHP Kurt Horne (Sooke, BC) Rookie Class Gulf Coast Mets.      

Canadian rootability rating: No. 7

Bodog World Series odds: 10/3.