2015 Season MLB Baseball Past Picks

The pressure is building on the Cubs, down 0-1. And wouldn't it build on you, if you hadn't won a World Series since 1908? New York limited Chicago to five hits in the opener and received solo homers from the red-hot Daniel Murphy and Travis d'Arnaud en route to a 4-2 victory. Chicago goes with ace Jake Arrieta, who allowed four runs and five hits in just 5+ innings his last start. He said he noticed a difference during the postseason starts in terms of the pressure and expectations being ratcheted up a notch. "The physical toll really hasn't bothered me at all, but I think that the mental side of it, and all the energy you burn leading up to the game does have a little bit of effect," Arrieta said. The Cubs are 4-11 in their last 15 playoff games, including 2-6 on the road. New York is a home dog, but has a strong arm going in Noah Syndergaard (3.24 ERA), who is 7-2 with a 2.46 ERA at home. The Mets have plenty of veteran hitters in the lineup, including Curtis Granderson, who notched two RBIs in Game 1 and has recorded seven this postseason. The Mets are also 13-5 against a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15, plus 7-2 in Syndergaard's last nine home starts. Play the New York Mets in Game 2.