Some news and notes for this year's postseason

Baseball's postseason has arrived. The over-riding theme is that every team is short of pitching, except the Chicago Cubs, winners of the National League Central and World Series favorites.

They have the deepest rotation going in.

Jon Lester and Kyle Hendricks are NL Cy Young contenders. Jake Arrieta, though inconsistent since late June, is a force, and John Lackey, with a strong slider, is a big-game pitcher in October. Lackey and Lester are former Red Sox teammates that helped Boston beat St. Louis in the 2013 World Series. And, Lackey pitched for the Angels in their 2002 World Series championship over the Giants.

Lester has a 1.34 ERA since the All-Star break while Lackey is at 2.34 in his last nine starts. Hendricks has a 1.36 ERA at Wrigley Field. It's a deep rotation when Arrieta is the biggest question in the rotation. The Cubs' fifth starter is Jason Hammel. Not bad.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon has been giving his starters extra rest - cutting innings here and there - since midseason.

"It's important given the length of the postseason to keep everybody strong,'' Maddon said.

The Nationals, of course, are without Stephen Strasburg (forearm) and Cleveland is missing three starters because of injury, Danny Salazar, Carlos Carrasco and Corey Kluber, although Kluber is likely going to return from a mild quadriceps strain.

The Dodgers aren't sure about their No. 4 starter, and Texas' rotation has slumped in September. The Blue Jays are dealing with innings limits for Aaron Sanchez, Marco Estrada's creaky back and Marcus Stroman's inconsistent performances.

Here's a primer for October baseball:

Q: The Cubs have 103 victories, most of any postseason team, and the first time since 1935 that the Cubs have had triple-digit wins. What does that mean?

A: Not much. The Cubs lost to Detroit in the 1935 World Series. And, having the best record in the last 25 years doesn't guarantee a World Series title. Since 1990, only four teams with the best record have won it all - the '98 and '09 Yankees and the '07 and '13 Red Sox. Apparently, baseball likes unpredictability.

Q: This is the postseason where chances are good that some long-suffering franchise is going to win a World Series.

A: That's true. The Cubs haven't won a World Series since winning consecutive titles in 1907 and 1908. Washington hasn't won a World Series since 1924, although the team lost in the 1933 World Series. Texas has never won a World Series, although the Rangers lost to San Francisco in the 2010 World Series and St. Louis the following October. Cleveland lost the World Series in 1995 and 1954, but the Indians haven't won since 1948.

Q: Who is the American League favorite?

A: Boston. The Red Sox struggled early in the season, but, after two last-place finishes in previous seasons, they won the AL East, thanks to an 11-game winning streak during September against division opponents. David Price and Rick Porcello lead the rotation. AL MVP candidates Mookie Betts and David Ortiz lead the offense, although there is also Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley Jr., Dustin Pedroia and Hanley Ramirez. And, the Red Sox's bullpen has been strong at the finish.

Q: Who has the best chance to beat the Red Sox?

A: Even though the Red Sox manhandled the Orioles in a four-game September sweep in Camden Yards, the Orioles have the best chance to knock off Boston. The Orioles are jelling at the right time. Their pitching was strong in September and their hitting, although fighting a second-half struggle, was more contact-oriented in the final days.

Q: What about the Blue Jays in the wild card game?

A: While the Orioles are surging, the Blue Jays are slumping. They are lucky to be in the wild card game, winning two of three in Boston to get in. Last year, after mid-season trades for Troy Tulowitzki and David Price, the Blue Jays cruised with a 40-18 record in their final 58 games. This year, the Blue Jays went 11-16 in September after leading the AL East by two games going into the final month. The Blue Jays' offense is cold and their closer, Roberto Osuna, is struggling. The Orioles should win this game, even in Toronto where they don't play well.

Q: If the Cubs are favored to win it all, which team has the best chance to beat them in the NL playoffs?

A: San Francisco. The Giants, who had the best record in the NL during the first half and the worst during the second, survived nine blown saves during September. But, if they can make it out of the wild-card game, look out for their rotation: Madison Bumgarner is legendary in October. Johnny Cueto has a 1.78 ERA during September while Jeff Samardzija is at 2.95. And, lefty Matt Moore is a solid No. 4. Throw in an air-tight defense and the know-how to win, and the Giants could go deep.

Q: What about the Mets?

A: The Mets, who lost the World Series to Kansas City last year, are just the opposite of the Giants. They didn't catch fire until mid-August, but they've had the best record in baseball in the last five weeks. They have been the models of perseverance, losing a list of key players: David Wright, Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Neil Walker. They win with a strong bullpen and offense led by Yoenis Cespedes. Cespedes came off the disabled list Aug. 19 and hit two home runs in a win against the Giants and the Mets started their playoff push. The closer is Jeurys Familia and manager Terry Collins has Addison Reed and Fernando Salas in setup roles. If the playoffs are keeping games close until the bullpen takes over, the Mets might have a chance.

Will Clayton Kershaw be healthy enough to lead the Dodgers?

A: It appears that Kershaw is back at full strength after missing more than three months with a back injury. Kershaw had six consecutive starts with at least 10 strikeouts while compiling 150 strikeouts compared nine walks before going on the disabled list in June. He has excellent command of his fastball and his curveball is his signature pitch. And, if September is an indication, he's strong: Kershaw had 23 strikeouts and one walk with 0.86 ERA during September.

Q: So, it will be Kershaw versus the Nationals' Max Scherzer in Game 1 of the Division Series Friday at Nationals Park?

A: That's going to be a good one, the battle between two durable strikeout machines. The Dodgers will follow with another lefty, Rich Hill, and then Kenta Maeda. The Dodgers' rotation is thin after that and the Game 4 starter could be teenager 20-year-old Julio Urias or 24-year-old prospect Jose De Leon. Kershaw pitching on three days of rest would be a gamble.

Q: Can the Nationals expect rookie Trea Turner to perform in the postseason as he did in August and September?

A: Turner has been unbelievable for the Nationals as their leadoff batter. But, the Dodgers have been scouting him for weeks - as have the other NL teams - and the thinking here is that it isn't going to be as easy against playoff pitchers such as Kershaw. They know that shutting down Turner is a key to beating Washington.

Q: What is the Nationals' biggest question?

A: Aside from scoring runs, the Nationals' biggest question is the back of the rotation, meaning Gio Gonzalez, the Game 3 starter, and Joe Ross. Gonzalez has been inconsistent, but he is left-handed and the Dodgers have trouble with left-handed pitchers. Ross is coming back after missing nearly three months with a shoulder injury.

Q: How is Cleveland going to survive the loss of three starters?

A: The Indians won because of their rotation, becoming the first team since the 2014 Dodgers to go through the season without having a four-game losing streak. They had seven three-game losing streaks. That speaks volumes about their strong rotation. It appears they will go with a three-man rotation with Trevor Bauer pitching Game 1, Kluber Game 2 - the Indians think he'll be ready - and Josh Tomlin in Game 3. Bauer is expected to pitch Game 4 on three days of rest.

Q: Texas overcame Cleveland for the top seed in the American League. What is the Rangers' biggest question?

A: The Rangers need to pitch better in October than they did in September. Yu Darvish, who pitched the 2012 wild-card game against the Orioles, had the best ERA on the staff in September at 4.40 and that was after a 0.64 in his last two starts. Cole Hamels Colby Lewis, Derek Holland and A.J. Griffin have all stumbled in September, but the good news for the Rangers is that their bullpen finished with 28 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings.