Cubs at Cardinals NLDS Preview

Chicago Cubs -110 vs St. Louis Cardinals -110

You could hear it in Jake Arrietas’ voice post game. “ I am exhausted” he started his speech, which makes sense in what was arguably the most impressive individual game in post-season history. Arrieta then went on to describe the atmosphere in which he pitched in, and how much energy it took out of him, and it really hit me what he just did. He beat the best team in baseball, in an away sell out, hungry crowd, and he did it in dominating fashion. A win like that was exhausting for Arrieta, but it seemed the rest of the team went into cruise control when a 3rd inning home run by Kyle Schwarber put the game at 3-0 and out of the Pirates' reach that night. Arrieta will get his rest, and will more than likely pitch game two, or three, and he will be more prepared to face a Cardinal lineup that has a number of banged up players. Yadier Molina, the teams back bone in my opinion is questionable for the entire series with a thumb injury. Stephen Piscotty is fresh off of a concussion in what was such a brutal injury as well as names like Randal Grichuck, Matt Holliday and Jason Heyward who all have seemed to have dealt with something, or are dealing with a nagging injury currently.

Aside from the lineup, the rotation of the Cardinals has taken a major hit. Carlos Martinez is injured and out for the season, and in his rookie season, he was the statistical ace, and the Cardinals are 25-8 when he started in 2015. Aside from that, the guy they were relying to be their number two Michael Wacha is in a downfall. They were 21-9 in Wacha starts and that includes 2-3 in his last month. That last month his averages come to 4.2 innings, 5 hits, 4 earned runs, and that includes a 19:18 K:BB ratio in those 24 innings. To be fair, his career high in innings thrown was 107, and he now sits at 181 this season, but you now are more than likely not starting two guys who took you to 46-17 in the standings. John Lakcey, and Jaime Garcia are pitching fine, and Lackey has deep October experience, but the Cubs are hitting .304 with a .390 OBP against Lance Lynn this season, and the debate between him and Wacha will be interesting. Arrietta now comes in with another win, giving him 23 in a stat that he can only control so much. He is pitching historically causing people to forget that Jon Lester historically is the best post-season pitcher ever according to era per innings pitched. When Lackey won his last World Series ring, it was Lester, who he will be facing in game 1, that was the star of that post season run for the Boston Red Sox. There isn’t much of a third wheel to arguably historys’ most dominant pair, but I see the two getting their wins in their outings, and I see the Cubs being able to out hit the Cardinals over the course of this series. You cannot mention enough the Cubs are healthy and have lineup versatility whether in the outfield, infield and behind the plate, and have one of the best in the game constructing who plays where and when. How can I not mention Kris Bryant, playing left and third and being one of the best hitters in the game, being able to protect Anthony Rizzo, who is a touch better than Bryant at the plate. The national media may have underrated outdueling the Pirates, but giving this series, in which St. Louis has the home field advantage and a better record toss up odds shows that the Cubs are just the better team right now. I am going with the better team here, in what could be a historic post season in Chi Town.

CHICAGO CUBS TO WIN THE NLDS -110