Cubs Vs. Nationals: When And How To Watch Game 1, 2017 NL Division Series

It's October, and the Chicago Cubs get to do something they haven't done in more than a century: defend a World Series title. The North Siders take that first postseason step as they face the Washington Nationals in the National League Division Series. The best-of-five series begins Friday, Oct. 6.

Can the Cubs make it back to the World Series this season? Will the 2017 postseason join last year as part of a Chicago dynasty of multiple championships? Patch gets you ready for each playoff game with all the info you need to know before you enjoy the action on the field.

Also, check out the tentative postseason schedule for the Cubs if they advance to future rounds. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Lake View and Chicago — or other neighborhoods. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

2017 NL Division Series: Cubs vs. Nationals

Best-of-five series

GAME 1

First Pitch: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6

Where: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.

TV | Radio | Streaming: TBS | 670 the Score (WSCR-AM), ESPNRadio 1000 (WMVP-AM) | MLB.com

Pitching Matchup: Kyle Hendricks (7-5, 3.03 ERA) vs. Stephen Strasburg (15-4, 2.52 ERA)

2017 Regular Season Head-To-Head Record

Cubs won the series this year, 3-4.

Watch Away Games At Home

Can't make it to D.C. for Games 1 and 2? Fans can watch those matchups in Chicago on the giant video screen at the Park at Wrigley, just outside the ballpark. Gates will open an hour before the start of the game, and the cost is $10.

RELATED: Park At Wrigley Hosting Cubs Away Game Viewing Parties

Check out Patch's full story on the event for more details.

Repeating Is The Hardest Part

No matter what the sport, pro athletes have become fond of saying that it's not easy to repeat as champions. And while cynical fans might think that's just a bunch of million-dollar players trying to justify their big paychecks when they don't continue winning titles season after season, history says otherwise in Major League Baseball.

This year, the Cubs are hoping to become the first back-to-back World Series champions since the New York Yankees — a team they could potentially meet in the Fall Classic — won three consecutive titles from 1998 to 2000. Chicago already has broken the four-year drought of World Series champs not making the playoffs the following year since the St. Louis Cardinals earned a Wild Card spot in 2012 after capturing the title in 2011.

But the Cubs even one-upped the Cards' accomplishment by winning their division to get back to the playoffs. That hadn't happened since the 2009 Philadelphia Phillies and the 2002 Arizona Diamondbacks before that.

What Are The Odds?

History might say the Cubs winning consecutive World Series is a tough accomplishment but what about the oddsmakers? Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook has their latest betting lines on who will win this year's title, and as of Thursday, it gives the best odds to the Los Angeles Dodgers at 5-2, followed by the Cleveland Indians at 13-5, according to ESPN.

As for the Cubs, they share 10-1 odds of winning with the Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Other Murray

Joel Murray might not be the most famous — and arguably, the most popular — Cubs fan with that last name, but that doesn't mean he gets the cold shoulder from the team. The "Mad Men" actor and Bill's brother shared a photo of the "care package" he received from the Cubs ahead of Friday night's game:

Wonder if Joel shared his gift with his older brother.

2016 NLDS, Game 1 (Oct. 7)

The Cubs began last year's postseason run by beating the San Francisco Giants, 1-0. Jon Lester was the winning starter, outpitching Johnny Cueto (0-1).

Chicago Cubs' Kyle Hendricks (left) will face the Washington Nationals' Stephen Strasburg in Game 1 of the National League Division Series. (Hendricks photo by Jim Young | Associated Press; Strasburg photo by Wilfredo Lee | Associated Press)

Like What You're Reading? Stay Patched In!

• Like our Crime page on Facebook
• Check out the Events Calendar for what’s going on