Levine: Keys To Game 3 Of Cubs-Mets
By Bruce Levine--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Trailing 2-0, the Cubs host the Mets in Game 3 of the NLCS on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field. Here are the keys to a game that's crucial for Chicago.
Kyle Hendricks
The young right-hander Hendricks must put a stop to the hot bat of of Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy, who has five postseason homers, including a two-run shot off of Chicago ace Jake Arrieta in Game 2.
"He is definitely hot right now," Hendricks said. "Sometimes you look to pick your spots, see who is on base and pitch around him. Regardless when he comes up, you have to be careful."
Hendricks has been hurt by the home run ball as of late, and he allowed three solo shots in 4 2/3 innings in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Cardinals. The ideal -- and realistic -- line for Hendricks is six innings of two-run baseball. That should keep the Cubs in the game against hard-throwing right-hander Jacob deGrom and the Mets lineup, which has been fortified with hitters like Yoenis Cespedes and David Wright since New York dropped all seven of its regular-season games to Chicago.
Jacob deGrom vs. the Cubs' left-handed bats
The power from the left side must pick up for the Cubs and support what Kyle Schwarber has done. Anthony Rizzo and Miguel Montero have been silent at the plate, a big reason Chicago has only scored a combined three runs in two games. deGrom throws hard but is also a command pitcher, giving up an average of just one walk per start. The Cubs offense had the second-best walk rate in baseball, and working favorable counts will be essential in getting deGrom out of the game. Mets relief pitchers are the softer underbelly of their team. Getting into that group by the by the middle innings is a direct route to a win.
Hitting the long ball
The Cubs are a slugging percentage group. With the return to Wrigley Field and milder weather conditions, the offense needs to hit the long ball and put a crooked number up at some point.
"No question about it, any team with good power, this is a good place to play," Mts manager Terry Collins said of Wrigley Field. "They have a lot of it. We watched games where they walk up there and they are hitting balls out to the opposite field, right and left. There is no safe place in this park."
Wrigley Field crowd
The great Cubs fans will be a huge asset as they try to get back into the NLCS. Chicago has lost five straight NLCS games, dating back to 2003. The home-field advantage and last at-bat should be significant in the middle three games. The Starlin Castro walk-up music alone gets the crowd and team moving and can create some positive synergy for the team.
"That is really a lot of fun," Hendricks said. "With his walk-up song, everybody starts clapping, and I think it resonates with the crowd now. Another reason why we love these fans so much."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
