NY Mets (2-0) at Chicago Cubs (0-2)
When: Tuesday, October 20th, 2015
Where: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: TBS
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The National League Championship Series shifts to Chicago Tuesday as the New York Mets look to take a commanding 3-0 lead over the Cubs. Daniel Murphy hit his 5th playoff homerun and rookie Noah Syndergaard outpitched Chicago Cubs ace Jake Arrieta, sending the Mets to a 4-1 victory Sunday night and a 2-0 lead in the NLCS. Mets outfielder Curtis Granderson robbed Chris Coghlan of a homer, stole two bases and scored twice. Murphy became the first player since Tampa Bay slugger Evan Longoria in 2008 to homer in four consecutive postseason games. Arrieta gave up hits to his first three batters and was pulled after five innings – matching his shortest start of the year. Slumping star David Wright put the Mets in front with a hit-and-run double in the first. Murphy followed with a two-run shot.
The Mets will throw another hard-throwing righty at the Cubs in Jacob deGrom. He struck out 20 in 13 total innings over a pair of NLDS starts and won them both, including the Game 5 clincher. deGrom has allowed a total of 3 runs in his last 4 outings with 36 strikeouts in 23 innings during that span. The hard-throwing righty has never beaten Chicago, going 0-2 while allowing a total of 11 earned runs and 17 hits in 15 1/3 innings over three career starts. The Cubs will counter with Kyle Hendricks to try and get the Cubs back in this series. Hendricks gets the start over Jason Hammel for Game 3 and will try to bounce back after surrendering three solo home runs among 4 hits in 4 2/3 innings at St. Louis during the NLDS. He scattered three hits and no runs in 12 innings over his final two turns in the regular season and has issued a total of two walks in his five outings. Hendricks is 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA in two career starts against New York.
The Mets have the much better pitcher and momentum for this Game 3. I think the Mets will put the Cubs on the brink of elimination tonight. Henricks will not fare well tonight.
Pick: Mets -125
