NLDS: Cubs vs. Cardinals, pitchers, TV time

A look at the best-of-five National League Division Series between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals:

This is the first postseason meeting between the longtime Midwest rivals. The essentials:

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Series schedule/TV/Times

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Friday: Game 1 -- Cubs (Lester) at Cardinals (Lackey), 6:45 p.m. (TBS)
Saturday: Game 2 -- Cubs at Cardinals, 5:37 p.m. (TBS)
Monday: Game 3 -- Cardinals at Cubs (TBS)
Tuesday: Game 4* -- Cardinals at Cubs, 4:00 p.m. (TBS)
Oct. 15: Game 5* -- Cubs at Cardinals, 4:35 p.m. (TBS)

Season Series: Cardinals won 11-8.

Postseason appearances

• Cardinals: 29
• Cubs: 18

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Starting pitchers

Cubs

• LH Jon Lester (11-12, 3.34 ERA, 207 K)
• RH Kyle Hendricks (8-7, 3.95) RH
• Jake Arrieta (22-6, 1.77, 236 Ks, 48 BB)
• RH Jason Hammel (10-7, 3.74)

Cardinals

• RH John Lackey (13-10, 2.77)
• LH Jaime Garcia (10-6, 2.43)
• RH Michael Wacha (17-7, 3.38)
• RH Lance Lynn (12-11, 3.03)

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Projected lineups

Cubs

1. CF Dexter Fowler (.250 BA, 17 HR, 46 RBI)
2. LF Kyle Schwarber (.246 BA, 16 HR, 43 RBI)
3. 3B Kris Bryant (.275 BA, 26 HR, 99 RBI)
4. 1B Anthony Rizzo (.278 BA, 31 HR, 101 RBI)
5. 2B Starlin Castro (.265 BA, 69 RBI)
6. RF Chris Coghlan (.250 BA, 16 HR, 41 RBI)
7. C Miguel Montero (.248 BA, 15 HR, 53 RBI) or David Ross (.176 BA)
8. SS Addison Russell (.242 BA)

Cardinals 

1. 3B Matt Carpenter (.272 BA, 28 HR, 84 RBI)
2. 1B Stephen Piscotty (.305 BA, 39 RBI in 233 AB)
3. LF Matt Holliday (.279 BA, 35 RBI in 229 AB)
4. SS Jhonny Peralta (.275 BA, 17 HR, 71 RBI)
5. CF Jason Heyward (.293 BA, 13 HR, 60 RBI, 23 SB)
6. C Yadier Molina (.270 BA, RBI)
7. RF Randal Grichuk (.276 BA, 17 HR, 47 RBI)
8. 2B Kolten Wong (.262 BA, 15 SB)

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Closer

• Cubs: RH Hector Rondon (6-4, 1.67, 30/34 saves)
• Cardinals: RH Trevor Rosenthal (2-4, 2.10, 48/50 saves, 83Ks, 68 IP)

AP contributed to this report