Is a Cubs World Series curse to blame for the Yankees' 2-0 deficit to the Dodgers?

If you ask Northwestern alum and longtime sportswriter Ron Berler, too many former Chicago Cubs on one team is a recipe for disappointment. His self-dubbed Ex-Cub Factor theory states that 'any team with three or more ex-Cubs is doomed to lose the World Series'.

Since Chicago won it all back in 2016, the Ex-Cub Factor came into play in 2019, with the Houston Astros losing in the Fall Classic to the Washington Nationals and in 2022, when the Philadelphia Phillies came up short against the Astros.

This year, the Yankees have put themselves in the position to join that growing list, going down two games to one with the series shifting back to New York for Game 3 on Monday night. A historic walk-off grand slam (paired with some way out there bullpen thinking from manager Aaron Boone) spelled doom in Game 1, with Los Angeles holding on late to close out a 4-2 win in Game 2.

On this AL pennant-winning club, the first in the Bronx since 2009, you'll find a trio of former Cubs players: Anthony Rizzo, Marcus Stroman and Mark Leiter Jr. If you want to stretch the 'theory' a little further, infielder Gleyber Torres was a top Cubs prospect, as well, going to the Yankees in the trade that netted Aroldis Chapman back in 2016.

As fun as it is to call it a 'curse' given the Cubs' decades-long quest to vanquish one that ended less than a decade ago - these three (four, maybe) aren't to blame for where New York finds itself. The Game 1 loss lands solely on the shoulders of Boone, who opted to go with Nestor Cortes in the tenth, despite the left-hander not pitching in 37 days.

Game 2 was a well-played game, but the Yankees offense looked abysmal, heading into the ninth with just one hit on the night and going 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position. Aaron Judge's well-documented postseason woes continued, leaving a chasm in the middle of the order that, unless filled by a turnaround in the rest of the series, could be the team's undoing.

Rizzo has been solid in both the ALCS and the World Series, getting on at a .556 clip in the first two games of the series in Los Angeles. Stroman hasn't appeared in a game, so there's no blame to be given to him and Leiter Jr. tossed a clean eighth to give the bats a chance to rally late on Saturday.

Ex-Cub Theory? It might be a thing - but it's safe to say these three have done little to hurt the Yankees' chances of bringing home World Series title #28 this year.