The Chicago Cubs snapped a seven-game NLCS losing streak, downing the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-4 in Game 1 on Saturday night. It's the first time the Cubs have won Game 1 of a best-of-seven series since the 1945 World Series against the Tigers.
So how much does a Game 1 win mean for their chances to advance to the Fall Classic for the first time in 71 years?
What the numbers say
Teams that win Game 1 of a best-of-seven postseason series go on to win the series 64.1 percent of the time (107-60).
If the Cubs win Game 2, their chances to advance increase even more. Home teams that win the first 2 games of a best-of-seven postseason series go on to win the series 81.8 percent of the time (43-10).
Can the Cubs break through?
This is the first time the Cubs have won Game 1 of a best-of-seven series since the 1945 World Series against the Tigers. They ended up losing that series in seven games. Before that, they led the 1938 World Series 1-0 before losing in six games.
The last time the Cubs won Game 1 of a best-of-seven series and went on to win the series was in the 1908 World Series, their last World Series title.
As for the Dodgers, they have lost nine straight postseason series after losing Game 1, including three straight in best-of-seven series. They last overcame a 1-0 deficit in a postseason series in the 1988 NLCS against the Mets.
