Playoffs game blog: Jake Arrieta on the mound as Cubs look to even series

So much for what happened in the regular season holding much meaning now. The Chicago Cubs went 7-0 against the New York Mets during the regular season. But the Mets took the opening game of the National League Championship Series last night and host Game 2 tonight at Citi Field.

The Mets won Saturday night 4-2. Matt Harvey went 7 2/3 innings allowing four hits and two runs to get the win. Jeurys Familia got the final four outs for a save. Daniel Murphy and Travis d'Arnaud hit solo homers, and Curtis Granderson drove in the other two runs.

Murphy is batting .320 (8-for-25) with four homers and six RBIs in the postseason. He has homered in three straight playoff games. That ties the Mets' record set by Donn Clendenon in 1969 - the year he was World Series Most Valuable Player.

Tonight's pitching matchup features right-hander Jake Arrieta (22-6, 1.77 ERA) against right-hander Noah Syndergaard (9-7, 3.24 ERA).

Arrieta pitched a five-hit shutout in the NL wild card game, but in Game 3 against St. Louis, he gave up four runs over 5 2/3. That matched the total number of runs he had given up over his previous 12 starts and 91 1/3 innings. In those 13 starts since Aug. 1, he is 12-0 with an ERA of 0.74.

He led the NL this year in wins and complete games (4), and was second in ERA, innings (229) and WHIP (0.86). Arrieta's last loss was July 25 against Philadelphia. In his last four games against the Mets, he is 2-0 with a 0.98 ERA.

Syndergaard went 7-2 with a 2.46 ERA at home this year. In two playoff games, he is 0-1 with a 3.68 ERA. Over 7 1/3 innings, he has allowed five hits and three runs with five walks and 11 strikeouts.

The American League Championship Series resumes Monday night in Toronto, with Kansas City holding a 2-0 lead against the Blue Jays.