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Why Cubs fans should root for Washington to reach the NLCS

Jake Arrieta is still right. It doesn’t really matter who the Cubs play in the NLCS. They’re in, they have more days to prepare than their opponent does and they can’t control whoever survives the Dodgers-Nationals series anyway.

However, when we’re talking about Cubs fans, there are at least seven reasons to give a [bleep] about whom the team plays next.

Rooting for Washington on Thursday in Game 5 of the NLDS (7 p.m., Fox Sports 1) is the only way to go.

Good karma

The Dodgers have won six World Series, the most recent coming in 1988. That’s a substantial drought, but at least most fans of that team who are alive have seen their team win the whole thing. The Nationals, meanwhile, have never been to a World Series—not even when they were the Montreal Expos. Rooting for the fan base that suffers most similarly would be good for the soul.

Easier travel

Just talking math here. If you were entertaining thoughts of seeing a road game or three in this series, the plane tickets will be cheaper going to D.C. Or you can probably drive the 700 miles to the nation’s capital. On the other hand, no one’s taking a 2,000-mile road trip to L.A.

Beards of glory

It seems like every MLB team has a player or two who’s a sure candidate for the shampoo commercial hall of fame. The Giants had Hunter Pence, and the Nationals have the resplendent Jayson Werth. The look is a perfect fit for October, seeing as the Blackhawks’ season is under way.

Hey, we remember you!

It would be nice to have Davey Lopes’ familiar face around for a while, if only just to catch up. You can bet the Nationals’ first-base coach would be in demand for interviews because he played for the 1984 Cubs team that lost to San Diego in the NLCS.

We haven’t forgotten you, either

Remember when Cubs fans were all about “Dustiny” during the 2003 playoffs? Dusty Baker mastered the cool-dude manager persona in Chicago long before Joe Maddon arrived, and he might not have gotten enough credit for bringing the Cubs as far as he did. It’s almost like when you were in Little League and your team had to beat the one coached by your uncle to win the championship. Part of you hates that it came to this, but you know he’s happy for you deep down.

Daniel Murphy must be stopped

The Cubs don’t run from difficult situations, they confront them head on. Case in point: The ninth inning against San Francisco on Tuesday.

Daniel Murphy, the Nationals’ second baseman, was the ultimate pain in the neck while playing for the Mets against the Cubs in last year’s NLCS. He went an unbelievable 9-for-17 with four home runs, six runs scored and six RBIs in New York’s sweep in 2015. No use waiting to confront those demons.

Bryce Harper, baby

First off, he’s the reigning National League MVP and is just plain fun to watch. Second, it would be interesting to see how many times the Cubs walk him after they issued him 13 bases on balls in a May series at Wrigley, a record for a four-game set.

The Cubs also would be catching him at a good time, as he’s hitting just .214 in the NLDS against the Dodgers and batted a meh .243 in the regular season.

Most important, he has the unpredictability factor. Earlier this season, he was suspended for pointing and cursing at an umpire after a game from which he had been ejected only moments beforehand. And he was in the dugout when the umpire tossed him! Harper is a loose cannon, to be sure, and there’s a mountain of entertainment value in that.

NLCS SCHEDULE

Cubs vs. Nationals-Dodgers winner

Game 1: at Cubs, Saturday, Fox/Fox Sports 1 (Time TBA)

Game 2: at Cubs, Sunday, Fox/Fox Sports 1 (Time TBA)

Game 3: at Nationals/Dodgers, Tuesday, Fox/Fox Sports 1 (Time TBA)

Game 4: at Nationals/Dodgers, Wednesday, Fox/Fox Sports 1 (Time TBA)

Game 5*: at Nationals/Dodgers, Oct. 20, Fox/Fox Sports 1 (Time TBA)

Game 6*: at Cubs, Oct. 22, Fox/Fox Sports 1 (Time TBA)

Game 7*: at Cubs, Oct. 23, Fox/Fox Sports 1 (Time TBA)

*If necessary

@redeyesportschi | chsosa@redeyechicago.com