The curse for the Boston Red Sox ended after they fell behind the New York Yankees 3-0 in the ALCS. Can the curse of the Chicago Cubs also end after falling way behind another team from the Big Apple, the New York Mets? It's really tough to make that argument heading into Tuesday night's Game 2.
PITCHING MATCHUP
There really isn't a night off when you're dealing with the Mets at this point, and the fact that they've already won against Chicago's two best bullets in the gun suggests they should be on their way to the Fall Classic.
What really makes Tuesday night special is the fact that Jacob deGrom is going to be on the hill again. deGrom has been lights out here in the playoffs, allowing just two runs against the Dodgers in two starts, and he'd be the first to tell you that he really didn't have his best stuff in Game 5 of that series.
That said, live bettors have to take solace in the fact that deGrom is a warrior. He isn't coming out of this game until he throws over 100 pitches, and even then, he might have more in the tank. He's going to get his strikeouts, which we'll talk more about in a moment, and he's going to pitch his way out of bad spots.
The best part for deGrom? We really don't see him struggling at all with the Game 3 starter for Chicago, Kyle Hendricks. At this point, Joe Maddon really just has to hope that Hendricks can get him through four or five innings, and we don't see how he's doing that after he allowed three solo homers in 4.2 against the Cardinals.
The Mets have been playing long ball all postseason long with the middle of that lineup, and if Hendricks can't keep the ball down (or if the wind is blowing out at Wrigley), look the heck out if you're a Cubs backer in live betting.
ADVANCED STATS
The strikeouts. They're killing the Cubs in this series and in this postseason. Chicago's batters have stranded four of the six men they've had on base with two outs, and that's why they just aren't getting the job done.
Chicago has struck out 20 times in two games already here against the Mets, and it has fanned at least nine times in every game it has played in this postseason. As a team, the Cubs are striking out on 29.4 percent of their plate appearances, and if that's going to keep up against deGrom, a man who already has 20 strikeouts in 13 innings in the playoffs, scoring will be incredibly tough.
TALKING BULLPENS
The big question we have for Maddon and Terry Collins is what's going to happen with these arms when the going gets tough. Would Maddon really call upon Jon Lester in relief, knowing that he is likely going to be asked to come back and pitch on short rest in Game 4 regardless of what happens here? Could Jake Arrieta be asked to toss an inning?
One thing is for sure, and that's that we aren't confident, especially in a tight game. Hector Rondon might not have a blown save, but he's allowed two runs in three innings and wasn't exactly the most dependable closer in the regular season either. Maddon has a history of allowing multiple guys get save chances this time of year, but live bettors can't like the spot in a tight game late on regardless.
The baseball betting odds for Game 3 of the NLCS were first available at BookMaker Sportsbook. The New York Mets were favored at -130. BookMaker is going to have multiple betting options available for this baseball matchup. Live wagering during commercials offers and adjusted moneyline, individual inning run totals and next hitter results. Log in, and start gambling during the game now!
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! Game 3 of the NLCS between the New York Mets and the Chicago Cubs will start at 8:07 p.m. ET on Tuesday, October 20, 2015 at Wrigley Field. The matchup will be televised nationally on TBS.
