We've all heard the story of the "Back to the Future." The Chicago Cubs were supposed to win the World Series according to the movie, and they were supposed to do it on October 21, 2015.
Unfortunately for the Cubbies, a loss on this day, and that famed day will turn into the end of their once-promising 2015 season at the hands of the New York Mets.
ODDS ANALYSIS
No line is yet to be released for this Game 4 do-or-die tilt for the Cubs, but you have to imagine it will be close to a pick ‘em as good as the Mets have looked in building a commanding 3-0 lead.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Joe Maddon swears there's no discussion of Jon Lester throwing on three days of rest, and if that stays the case, veteran Jason Hammel will start Game 4. Hammel has pitched in one game since October 1, that being three short innings against the Cardinals on October 13.
It's virtually impossible to see any way Hammel gets through more than five innings in this game, knowing that he hasn't done so since September 8.
The Mets don't have to win this game, and that's going to take the pressure off of Steven Matz, who’s also only pitched once in the postseason.
Matz's job is to throw four or five good frames to get it to the bullpen for sure, but he could be surprisingly effective thanks to his big arm, one which struck out 34 batters in 35.2 innings in the regular season.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"In general, they've played really well. They've done little things well. They've taken advantage of us in different moments. We've not been able to overcome that because we're not hitting the ball the way we normally can." – Cubs manager Joe Maddon on why his team is in an 0-3 hole in the NLCS
SITUATIONAL BETTING
Jeurys Familia has locked down saves in each of the first three games of this series, and he's largely been unhittable throughout the postseason. If you include the regular season, Familia now has 48 saves in 53 chances. Here in the playoffs, his WHIP is a ridiculously low 0.35, and for our money, he's only had one ball hit hard against him.
If this game gets to the ninth with New York ahead, it's as good as over.
PROP TALK
Yes, Kyle Schwarber has five home runs here in the postseason, but we don't like his prospects in this one. We have to think that Maddon is going to find a place for him, even against a left-hander, and that might not play well for him. Schwarber had just eight hits in 56 at bats against lefties in the regular season with just three extra base hits.
Parlay all of that with his gaffe in the outfield on Tuesday night, and we wonder if Schwarber is in for one of those 0-for-4 three strikeouts nights.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
And with that, the Cubbies will be finished. These Mets have just played so darn well over the course of the last several days, and the Cubs can't seem to hit their way out of a paper bag.
If the middle of that New York bullpen becomes a necessity in this game, something that seems probable with Matz on the mound, maybe Maddon can pull enough strings to get some runs on the board. In the end though, his bullpen is just too overused at the moment and won't hold up when Hammel falls down.
The Mets are on their way to the World Series.
New York 7, Chicago 5
The baseball betting odds for this Wednesday game will first be available at BookMaker Sportsbook. BookMaker is going to have multiple betting options available for this televised baseball matchup. Live wagering during commercials offers an 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 4 of the NLCS between the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs will start at 8:07 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 21, 2015 at Wrigley Field. You can watch the contest live on TBS.
