Cubs-Mets: 3 keys to Game 1 of the NLCS

The Chicago Cubs have tackled the two teams with the best regular season records and will now set their sights on the National League Central champion New York Mets in the NLCS.

It's the first time these two storied franchises will meet in the postseason despite sharing the NL since 1962, and the first time either organization has reached the NLCS since the Mets did so in 2006.

Here are three keys to Game 1:

LESTER INVADES GOTHAM

Jon Lester's polished postseason resume was one of the reasons the Cubs handed the left-hander $155 million in December. The 10-year veteran is 6-5 with 2.66 ERA across 15 postseason appearances and is coming off a solid outing in the NLDS in which he scattered three runs across 7 1/3 innings against the St. Louis Cardinals, striking out nine.

The Mets will counter with Matt Harvey, as the right-hander has been frothing at the bit to make his second-career playoff spot. Harvey said he was disappointed with his postseason debut despite allowing two earned runs off seven hits in five innings. Pitching at Citi Field has been kind to the 26-year-old, who went 8-3 with a 2.23 ERA at home this season.

CUBS POWER PUNCH

Chicago leads the postseason with 12 home runs through five games and manufactured more than half its runs by way of the longball. They've received contributions up and down the lineup, with seven different players going deep at least once, and four with multi-homer efforts. Harvey has allowed 11 home runs in 113 innings at home this season and hasn't been taken deep at Citi Field in his last three starts. The Cubs were 4-0 in games in which they hit at least one home run and 0-1 without.

MORE WITH MURPH

If for the Cubs are to be successful they'll have to limit the middle of the order. Daniel Murphy and Yoenis Cespedes propelled the Mets past the Dodgers following an excellent NLDS in which the duo combined to hit five home runs and drive in nine of their 22 runs. Lester has had no problem with the pair in his career, limiting them to 3-for-19 (.157) without an extra-base hit. The pair were 8-for-26 (.307) in the Mets three wins and 4-for-15 (.266) in their two losses.