Talented young rotation the key to New York Mets success
Not that they needed any help, but the Chicago Cubs did catch a break in the National League Division Series.
While they dispatched the 100-win Cardinals in 4 games, St. Louis was at far less than 100 percent.
The Cardinals never made any excuses, but catcher Yadier Molina, left fielder Matt Holliday and first baseman Stephen Piscotty were not fully healthy, and the rotation was missing Adam Wainwright and Carlos Martinez.
As the Cubs move on to the NL Championship Series, the New York Mets are much more physically fit, but don't overlook the fatigue factor.
While the Cubs have been off since Tuesday, the Mets beat the Dodgers at Los Angeles in the deciding Game 5 Thursday night and had to fly back across the country to New York.
"We're tired," Mets manager Terry Collins told reporters at Citi Field Friday afternoon. "I mean, I put my head on the pillow this morning at 9:30, so that's hard. But we've got a night off, and this place is going to be fueled with a lot of energy (Saturday) night. I think we'll be able to use that as a little medicine to find some extra adrenaline, for sure."
To counter the Cubs' potent young offense, the Mets will roll out a talented young starting rotation.
Matt Harvey gets the ball for New York in Game 1.
The object of widespread criticism in early September after saying he'd like to limit his innings pitched to 180 after having Tommy John surgery in 2014, Harvey did skip a start in the middle of the month but has since taken his regular turn.
Heading into Game 1 of the NLCS, Harvey has logged 194.1 innings but be told Collins he was available to pitch in relief in Game 5 against the Dodgers if needed.
"I think everybody kind of had enough talk and discussion about that whole ordeal," Harvey said. "I'll be the last person to ever bring that one up again."
The Mets might start Noah Syndergaard in Game 2 Sunday night even though he pitched 1 inning of relief against Los Angeles in Game 5.
"I'm certainly well aware that I got him up four times (Thursday) night," Collins said. "You could almost say he got ready four times. That could have almost been five innings of work because I knew he threw over 100 pitches warming up. So if he's still tender (Saturday), he's probably not going to be Game 2 guy. That's why I say I don't have one at the moment."
If Syndergaard is held back for Game 3 at Wrigley Field Tuesday night, the Mets are likely to go with Steven Matz.
New York could then come back with the talented duo of 2014 Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom and Syndergaard and in Games 3-4 at Wrigley.
• Follow Scot's reports throughout the playoffs @scotgregor.