For many, the MLB postseason is just beginning, now that the American League and National League Wild Card games have wrapped. The Chicago Cubs are still among the leading favorites to win the World Series—for the first time in more than a hundred years—and their playoffs begin on Friday, October 7th at 9:00 p.m ET.
A decisive 3-0 victory over the New York Mets Wednesday night has also left postseason possibilities open for the San Francisco Giants.
The Mets’ 2016 season was ended in the National League Wild Card elimination game, despite strong performances from all-star pitcher Noah Syndergaard, who pitched seven innings without giving up a single run. Through eight innings, Syndergaard (and Addison Reed) matched zeroes with Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner, regarded by many as “the best playoff pitcher of his era.”
But it wasn’t enough. In the ninth inning, Giants third baseman Conor Gillaspie hit a three-run homer, leading to a victory for San Francisco and the end of the road for the Mets.
After being “written off” many times during the season due to injuries, the Mets were lucky enough to make it to the Wild Card game. As manager Terry Collins said after his team’s loss, “were disappointed, but we’ll be able to get healthy, and we’ll be back.”
Despite the stinging loss, baseball fans can now turn their attention to what is sure to be an eventful postseason matchup: the Cubs v. the Giants.
Bumgarner, who lowered his postseason ERA to 1.94 Wednesday night– and his postseason road ERA to an ridiculous 0.50– will be at the bullseye of Cubs manager Joe Maddon’s dart board; but luckily for Chicago fans, Bumgarner will likely lay low until Game 3, after he’s had some rest.
With Bumgarner most likely out of the picture for Game 1, Giants’ right fielder Jay Bruce is confident but apprehensive about his team’s postseason opponent.
“It’s going to be tough,” he said, noting that “the thing that sets the Cubs apart is that they have sluggers, but those sluggers also get on base a lot… The Cubs get on base and they slug. And their pitching is very good. They’re obviously the team to beat.”
Having won the World Series in 2010, 2012, and 2014, the Giants are slated for another big win this year if history means anything. Can the Cubs hold them off? Watch to find out.
Here’s how to watch the Cubs–Giants postseason games:
The National League Division Series begins Friday, October 7th at 9:00 p.m. ET with Game 1 Chicago Cubs v. San Francisco Giants.
The action continues the next night with Game 2. The Giants are away again, playing in Chicago on Saturday, October 8th at 8:00 p.m. ET.
In order to watch the games online, fans can use the Fox Sports GO website (or app for mobile viewing), but access requires a valid login through a cable provider. Games are also available for streaming on TBS Sports and you can even more ways to watch without a cable login from Cut Cable Today.
You can also find the full postseason schedule, along with the latest baseball news at MLB.com.
And, just a reminder, the first game of the 2016 World Series is set for October 25th.