In looking at the rotations for the NLCS, I find it very interesting that the top two starters on each club are not facing each other. Beckett and Willis pitch on Tuesday and Saturday; Prior and Wood pitch on Wednesday and Friday. I don't quite understand Willis starting on Saturday. You would think the Marlins would want to start him on Friday so they can bring him back for game 7 on full rest. Also, the Cubs are weak against lefties but there appears to be no way to get four starts by lefties against the Cubs. Given that, however, wouldn't you want your better lefty to start game 7? We'll see if McKeon switches Willis and Redman later in the week.

But this rotation, as set now, gives the Cubs a huge advantage. Proir and Wood look pretty unbeatable right now, so your only chance is to shut down the Cubs offense and wear down those two starters. I think you have a better chance of that with Willis and Beckett than with Redman and Penny. The current set up seems to give the Cubs four wins when Prior and Wood pitch.

Home field advantage helps the Cubs as well. The Cubs were third in the league in ERA this year, the Marlins 7th. But if you look at them on the road (no home park influence), the Cubs were 5th and the Marlins 12th. (Cubs 3.83 overall, 3.89 on the road. The Marlins were 4.04 overall, 4.97 on the road.)

The offenses are pretty even. The Marlins have better averages, but scored only about 25 more runs than Chicago. Defensively they are even with the Cubs a being a little better. I really think it comes down to the pitching rotation, with Prior and Wood easily beating Penny and Redman.