Mets playoffs: Lineups for NLCS Game 4 vs. Chicago Cubs

The Mets are one win away from the World Series. Up 3-0 in the NLCS, they can eliminate the Cubs behind rookie southpaw Steven Matz. Terry Collins has no need to tinker with his lineup against right-handed starter Jason Hammel, who has a 5.67 ERA over his last 10 outings. The Mets will send out the same eight position players in the same order, with Daniel "Babe Ruth" Murphy seeking his seventh postseason home run.

Despite facing their first lefty starter of the series, the Cubs will stick with Kyle Schwarber in left field. After hitting .143/.213/.268 with 27 strikeouts in 61 appearances against lefties this year, the rookie sat against southpaw Jaime Garcia during the NLDS. Yet Cubs manager Joe Maddon will overlook those alarming splits—and his troubling defense in left field—to keep his bat in the lineup. Schwarber has already hit five home runs this postseason and two in this series.

Instead of batting second, though, he moves down to sixth, while Jorge Soler ascends to the second spot. David Ross, typically used as Jon Lester's personal catcher, will start and bat ninth behind Hammel.