Mets vs. Cubs: Keys for Each Team to Win NLCS Game 4

The New York Mets are one win away from advancing to World Series for the first time since 2000, and in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series the squad will be calling on yet another rising ace.

After the trio of Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom hammered the Chicago Cubs in the first three games of the set, Steven Matz will be looking to slam the door on the NL wild-card winners.

With the season on the line, the Cubs will call on Jason Hammel, who didn't even make it through the fourth frame in his lone outing during the NL Division Series.

As the Mets aim to punch their ticket to October and the Cubs attempt to avoid the broom, here are each side's biggest keys to success.

Key No. 1 for the Mets: A Strong Showing from Steven Matz Despite His Inaction

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

The Mets starting arms have been filthy in the opening games of the NLCS. In the first three contests against the Cubs, Harvey, Syndergaard and deGrom combined to allow just five earned runs.

As Matz aims to keep that trend going, the lefty will not only be battling against a high-powered Cubs lineup, but he will also be doing so while pitching on seven days' rest.

As of late, the 24-year-old has been doing a lot of resting.

Matz's Game 4 outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS was the only time he's taken the mound since his final start of the regular season way back on Sept. 24. Matz insisted that his infrequent workload won't be a problem with the biggest start of his brief big league career looming.

"Really it hasn't been too challenging," Matz told Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News. "I'm still able to get my work in in between starts."

According to Ackert, Matz got that work in by throwing a pair of bullpens since his last start against the Dodgers back on Oct. 13.

The talented rookie doesn't view his lack of recent game action as an obstacle, but it will be worth watching to see just how sharp Matz is when he does take the mound at Wrigley. After all, his outing against the Cubs, which could potentially send the Mets to the World Series, will be just his second in approximately a month.

Key No. 1 for the Cubs: A Little Help for Kyle Schwarber

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

For a guy who was drafted last June, Kyle Schwarber is having one unbelievable October.

The 22-year-old masher has already clocked five home runs, which is the second-most homers that any rookie has ever hit in the postseason, according to ESPN Stats & Info. That output is also the best for any Cubs player in franchise history, according to Carrie Muskat of MLB.com.

But if Schwarber and the Cubs are going to keep their season from coming to an abrupt halt, the first-year star is going to need some help from his friends.

Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Starlin Castro are at the top of the list of Cubs who have been missing in action during the NLCS. Those three players have combined to go 6-for-33 (.182 average) with just two RBI in the first three games against New York, per Patrick Mooney of CSNChicago.com.

Key No. 2 for the Mets: Another Banner Night for Daniel Murphy

David Goldman/Associated Press

Even Daniel Murphy doesn't know what's led to his monster October run.

"I wish I could explain it," Murphy told Bleacher Report's Scott Miller. "I would have done it like six years ago."

In eight postseason games, the second baseman has smashed six home runs and driven in nine for the Mets. His home run outburst means the 30-year-old veteran has now hit more home runs in a single postseason than any Mets player in franchise history, per SportsCenter.

Considering how locked in at the plate Murphy has been, it would only be fitting if the lefty hitter connected on yet another long ball in Game 4 to clinch New York's trip to the Fall Classic.

Key No. 2 for the Cubs: A Quick Hook in Case Jason Hammel Falters

Paul Beaty/Associated Press

The first inning has not been kind to Jason Hammel in 2015.

During the regular season, the right-hander ran up a 4.98 ERA in the opening frame. With the Cubs one loss away from the offseason, the squad doesn't have the luxury of letting Hammel ease into this must-win matchup. If Hammel begins to wobble early on, Maddon can't be afraid to hook his starter.

According to Scott Miller of Bleacher Report, Maddon decided not to start Jon Lester on three days' rest because the Cubs need to win four games—not just Game 4.

Maddon's right. But he's also wrong.

If the Cubs don't top the Mets in Game 4, there won't be any other games to worry about. Chicago needs to go all in on Wednesday's contest. And for that reason, Lester should be the first arm in from the pen if Hammel struggles.

Note: All Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and MLB.com.

If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck.