Both the NLCS and ALCS seemed to have the same storylines before the series began. Could the dominating pitching staff control the power hitting offense?
In both leagues, the hometown team with the top tier staff controlled the first two games of the series with both Kansas City and New York going up 2-0. However, if Cubs fans are looking for hope, Monday night’s Toronto win should do the job.
Returning to Toronto, the previously dormant Blue Jays offense woke up in a big way. Toronto hung 11 runs on Kansas City, including eight on starter Johnny Cueto who didn’t make it out of the third inning.
.@BringerOfRain20 might have put a hole in the roof. #OwnOctoberhttps://t.co/M3INeqTsAp
— MLB (@MLB) October 20, 2015
Of course, it doesn’t actually do anything for the Cubs’ chances against the Mets. But it’s a welcome sight for fans already fearing the worst.
As the Cubs come home, they seem relaxed and ready to turn the series around. With warmer weather, the Cubs hope their bats will wake up the way Toronto’s did. The Cubs have only scratched across three runs so far this series. With Kyle Hendricks on the mound, they will likely need at least three runs Tuesday night to feel comfortable.
Hendricks has pitched against the Mets once already this year, beating the Mets 1-0 and going six innings. Tuesday’s expected Mets starter Jacob deGrom has faced the Cubs twice this year, losing both games and giving up four runs in each game.