Chicago Cubs: How the Cubs stack up against NL contenders

The National League playoff picture is coming into focus. With the Chicago Cubs earning home field advantage, how do they stack up against the rest of the contenders?

The goals for the Chicago Cubs season were simple: embrace the target and try not to suck. Pitching and defense have been fantastic. The offense scored ranks third in the Major Leagues. Consider it mission accomplished for the regular season. But, that is not the ultimate goal. Winning the World Series.

Eleven wins. Eleven wins are all that truly stands between the Cubs and the ending of the 108-year drought. Or the end of the world if you ask many fans. That is all. And it will be the hardest eleven wins the team will even attempt to accomplish. And, while the field is not completely set, the contenders are talented.

The question then becomes how the Cubs stack up against the other playoff teams? We know you are talking about it, worrying about which team the Cubs could face in which round and wondering what will happen. We want you to be well-informed “water cooler” talk participants. Here is the tale-of-the-tape.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Record (as of Sept. 27): 90-66, NL West Champion

Home Record: 53-28

Away Record: 37-38

One Run Games: 22-19

Versus Cubs: 3-4

Team ERA: 3.62 (4th in NL)

Batting Average Against: .230 (2nd in NL)

The Los Angeles Dodgers can pitch. Even with pitching ace Clayton Kershaw missing a significant portion of the season, the Dodgers are still the fourth best staff in the National League.

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They started 15 different pitchers during the entire season, including an impressive rookie Julio Urias. What is most concerning for teams in the playoffs is that the Dodgers boasts arguably the best bullpen in the NL.

The offense of the Dodgers is just as impressive. Four players have hit 24 or more home runs. Corey Seager could and should be the NL Rookie of the Year. However, seven regular position players strikeout at a high rate, with 90 or more strikeouts on the year.

In the games against the Cubs, the Dodgers were outscored 16-19. The Cubs won three of the four games at Wrigley in May and June, but lost two of three in Los Angeles. The wild card for the Dodgers if they face the Cubs? Clayton Kershaw has not faced the Cubs this year.

Washington Nationals

Record (as of Sept. 27): 91-65, NL East Champion

Home Record: 46-29

Away Record: 45-36

One Run Games: 25-19

Versus Cubs: 2-5

Team ERA: 3.44 (2nd in NL)

Batting Average Against: .233 (3rd in NL)

The Washington Nationals are constantly talk about as being “the” team to beat during off-season speculation. The mix of young talent and solid pitching provides created that narrative, but the team has yet to live up to the hype. The team is making its second playoff appearance since moving to Washington.

The Cubs were highly successful against the Nationals this season. They were able to neutralize Bryce Harper while in Wrigley Field, and other players were not able to step-up. Max Scherzer and Gio Gonzalez both struggled at Wrigley. Scherzer got the best of the Cubs in Washington. Stephen Strasburg performed well versus the Cubs, allowing only one run in seven innings. However, the bullpen for the Nationals is 1-3 against the Cubs.

The biggest concern for the Cubs when speaking of the Nationals is keeping the offense in check. Sure, they did that during the regular season, but the Nationals scored more runs in August than in any other month of the season. The two teams have not played each other since June 15.

New York Mets

Record (as of Sept. 27): 83-74

Home Record: 44-37

Away Record: 39-37

One Run Games: 25-22

Versus Cubs: 5-2

Team ERA: 3.59 (3rd in NL)

Batting Average Against: .254 (6th in NL)

The 2016 season series for the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets was just like the 2015 postseason. The Mets dominated. Not only did they win five of seven, they outscored the Cubs 37-23. Ouch. It was a season series that could have boosted the Cubs’ morale during the season. Now, these games were played in the middle of the season, partly during the major slum the Cubs experienced in June.

The Mets were thought to have the best starting pitching staff in the MLB before the season. Only Noah Syndergaard and Bartolo Colon remain, as the rest of experienced season-ending injuries.

The offense for the Mets has improved over the second half of the season. Their runs per month are up in August and September over the rest of the season. But the Cubs defense and pitching can prevent runs from scoring better than any other team. With the health and success of the Cubs since their last meeting, the Mets’ hands will be full in a short series.

The Mets have scored the least amount of runs of all playoff teams.

San Francisco Giants

Record (as of Sept. 27): 82-74

Home Record: 40-35

Away Record: 42-39

One Run Games: 28-27

Versus Cubs: 3-4

Team ERA: 3.72 (5th in NL)

Batting Average Against: .244 (4th in NL)

It is an even year. The San Francisco Giants win the World Series in even years. You can not count them out. In a short series, facing Madison Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto will be difficult. But, the rest of the rotation is shaky. Every other starter has an ERA above 3.83, including trade acquisition Matt Moore.

The offense is average. No player has more than 16 home runs, but seven have more than 10. Two players have more than 88 strikeouts. Hunter Pense, the spark-plug of Giants has been held in check in five games versus the Cubs this season. So has Buster Posey. The Cubs will need to continue limiting the Giants’ from getting on base. They are eighth in the NL in stolen bases, and are a station-to-station team.