Cubs-Nationals series could be preview of NLCS

The Nationals and Cubs, two of the best teams in baseball, finished playing their seventh and final game of the regular season Wednesday at Nationals Park.

So, what happens now? Will they see each other again? If so, that means they'll meet with the pennant on the line. And, what did each team learn about the other?

Nationals manager Dusty Baker says the Cubs will change by late in the season, but there are still nuggets that can be stored, just in case. Baker keeps notes and says he's gotten to see how Cubs manager Joe Maddon manages. He's also got an idea when Cubs pitchers throw sliders and which batter swings at first-pitch strikes with runners in scoring position.

The Cubs say the same thing.

"There are a lot of things you can learn,'' Cubs pitcher Jon Lester said before Wednesday's game. "Batters make adjustments. I'm a visual guy. Watching them take swings and seeing how they react to certain pitches will help down the road.''

Each team is different from last year. The Nationals, who lost in the first round of the playoffs in 2012 and 2014, are healthy and for the most part, have been relying on their strong rotation to build a first-place cushion. But, lately, the offense has taken off, so it's not just Daniel Murphy and Wilson Ramos any more.

Murphy, a second baseman, and outfielder Ben Revere have given the Nationals' lineup more left-handed balance and fewer strikeouts. Murphy could be the first Nationals player with 200 hits in a season. And bringing in Baker has made the clubhouse a relaxing place for the players.

Who doesn't like when Baker does a little dance outside the dugout when the Nationals are winning?

Except for injured closer Jonathan Papelbon's replacement on the upcoming 10-game trip to San Diego, Los Angeles and Milwaukee, the Nationals are in good shape.

"The West Coast has always been tough on players,'' Baker said. "There are a lot of distractions out there. I've seen the West Coast destroy teams. It's no joke.''

Considering the New York Mets' slumping and injured offense, the Nationals should have no trouble winning the division. In the NL Central, the Pirates don't have the pitching and the Cardinals are too inconsistent to catch the Cubs. The San Francisco Giants also look like a near- certain playoff team in the NL West, especially if they find a right-fielder to replace their injured sparkplug, Hunter Pence. The Giants have an air-tight defense and Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija are pitching well behind Madison Bumgarner in the rotation.

The Cubs haven't won the World Series since 1908. From 1910 to 1945, they went to the World Series seven times and lost every time. So, it's easy to see why the Cubs' running away with the NL Central makes them all the rage. Last year was a rebuilding year, but they made the postseason anyway, and were beaten by the Mets in the National League Championship Series.

The Cubs' bullpen is loaded with former starters, including Travis Wood, Trevor Cahill and Clayton Richard. But, what makes them unique is that generally they are doing well in reverse splits: For example, Pedro Strop, a right-handed pitcher, is holding left-handed batters to a .087 average while right-handed batters hit him at a .203 clip. That's something an unconventional manager such as Maddon can exploit.

"It's an oddity for bullpens,'' Cubs pitching coach Chris Bosio said.

Like the Nationals, the Cubs' new players - Jason Heyward, Ben Zobrist and John Lackey - have been key. Heyward plays incredible defense. Zobrist is raking as an every-day second baseman. Each has given the Cubs excellent base running, an extra dimension to the lineup that has an absurd run differential. Lackey has won World Series for the 2002 Angels and 2013 Red Sox. At 37, he brings a 3.11 ERA in 23 postseason appearances - 20 of them starts - in 127 1/3 innings.

"John Lackey takes us to another level with knowledge, passion and intensity,'' Bosio said. "They all compete, but Lackey out-wills and out-competes everybody on the staff. It is infectious.''

Last year, a worn-out rotation did the Cubs in during October. Arrieta beat Pittsburgh in the wild-card game with a five-hit shutout, but then couldn't get through six in his next two starts against the Cardinals and Mets. Arrieta was gassed.

So, Maddon is careful not to over-work his starters. Given what happened last year in October, it is an "easy sell'' to cut their workload, he says.

"We are keeping on eye on it,'' Maddon said.

And, for that matter, he's watching the Nationals as well.