Saturday, October 17, 2015

Citi Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Jon Lester (11-12) vs. Matt Harvey (13-8)

The New York Mets host the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field on Saturday in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series. The starters are Jon Lester for the Cubs and Matt Harvey for the Mets. The opening line for this matchup has Chicago at +106 and New York at -116. The over/under was set at 7.5. The Cubs have a 74-83 over/under record and a 85-82 run line mark, meaning they cover 51% of the time. The Mets have a 86-75 over/under record and a 86-80 run line mark, which means they are covering the spread 52% of the time.

The Cubs show up with a 101-66 record, including 50-34 on the road. Jon Lester has a 11-12 record on the season, an earned run average of 3.34 and a 1.12 WHIP. In his starts, the Cubs are 15-14 over his 205 innings pitched this season while giving up 183 hits during those innings. Their record against the over/under when he starts is 14-15. He is getting 5.1 runs from the team when he takes the mound. The bullpen has an earned run average of 3.38 and they have given up 450 base hits on the year. Opposing teams are hitting .230 against the Cubs bullpen while walking 183 times and striking out 511 times. Chicago is averaging 8.91 strikeouts per game while getting 7.83 hits per nine innings as a team. They rank 3rd in baseball in team earned run average at 3.37.

As a team, Chicago is batting .244, good for 28th in the league while putting together a .249 average away from home. The Cubs hold a .401 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .321 which is good for 12th in baseball. Anthony Rizzo leads the team in hits with 166 while the team ranks 28th in baseball with 8.25 hits per game.

New York is 50-33 at home while holding a 93-74 overall record on the season. Matt Harvey has a record of 13-8 while sporting an earned run average of 2.71 on the year with a 1.02 WHIP. In his starts, the Mets are 15-10 and he has allowed 156 hits over 189.1 innings pitched this season. Their record against the over/under when he starts is 13-12. He is getting 4.7 runs from the team when he takes the mound. The bullpen has an earned run average of 3.48 and they have given up 398 base hits on the year. Opposing teams are hitting .230 against the Mets bullpen while walking 170 times and striking out 446 times. New York is averaging 8.31 strikeouts per game while getting 8.25 hits per nine innings as a team. They rank 4th in the league in team earned run average at 3.45.

As a team, they are batting .243, good for 29th in the league while putting together a .234 average at home. The Mets hold a .399 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .311 which is good for 21st in baseball. Curtis Granderson leads the team in hits with 156 while the team ranks 27th in baseball with 8.29 hits a game.

Chicago has a team fielding percentage of .982 after having committed 111 errors with 1,669 assists and 4,384 put outs for the season. The Mets have committed 88 errors on the season with 1,599 assists and 4,388 put outs leading to a team fielding percentage of .986 on the year.

Chicago Cubs Betting Trends

The Chicago Cubs are 74-83 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago Cubs are 85-82 against the run line so far this season

New York Mets Betting Trends

The New York Mets are 86-75 against the over/under so far this season

The New York Mets are 86-80 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Chicago Cubs

10/15/15 SS Addison Russell Hamstring is downgraded to expected to miss NLCS
08/25/15 P Jason Motte Shoulder Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (8/24)
07/29/15 P Neil Ramirez Abdominal Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/29)
04/06/15 P Jacob Turner Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/27)

New York Mets

10/11/15 3B Ruben Tejada Knee out for season
10/02/15 P Steven Matz Back out indefinitely
09/26/15 3B Juan Uribe Chest out indefinitely
08/05/15 P Rafael Montero Rotator Cuff Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (4/30)
07/29/15 P Jenrry Mejia Suspension out for season
06/04/15 RF Cesar Puello Back Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/6)
05/14/15 P Buddy Carlyle Back Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (5/12)
04/06/15 P Joshua Edgin Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/27), out for season
04/06/15 P Zack Wheeler Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/27), out for season

Josh's Pick: Take the Cubs

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