What Chicago Cubs can expect from Giants as NLDS looms

The Chicago Cubs (103-58) won the most games in the major leagues this season, so they've earned the right to fear no opponent in the playoffs.

While they're very good in all areas and they'll head into Game 1 of the National League division series Friday night at Wrigley Field as overwhelming favorites, the Cubs know the game changes in October.

The intensity rises, the pitching gets sharper, and routine mistakes frequently made from April through September tend to prove costly on major-league baseball's biggest stage.

The Cubs are going to be ready, manager Joe Maddon will see to that. But the same can be said for the San Francisco Giants in the NLDS.

The Cubs have reasons to be leery of the Giants:

One set of numbers say San Francisco is going to win the World Series this season.

The Giants won it all in 2010, 2012 and 2014, so the math is pretty simple.

The other set of numbers say San Francisco is going to be overmatched in a potential NLDS with the Cubs.

The Giants are back in the playoffs, but they were among the worst teams in baseball after the all-star break with a 30-42 record.

San Francisco has some offensive issues, and star catcher Buster Posey didn't get the bat going until late in the season.

Pitching is critical in the postseason, and that's where the Giants are dangerous.

True, Madison Bumgarner won't be available for the first two games of the NLDS because he's starting against the Mets on Wednesday.

Johnny Cueto will be available in Game 1 against the Cubs, and he's not a bad fallback starter.

Former Cubs and White Sox pitcher Jeff Samardzija would get the ball for Game 2 at Wrigley and while inconsistent for much of the season the big right-hander had a sub-3.00 ERA over the last two months.

San Francisco was 3-4 vs. the Cubs this season (1-3 at Wrigley Field).

• Follow Scot's baseball reports on Twitter @sgregor.