Hold onto your seats, folks! It’s going to be an explosive Friday night in the MLB, as the Chicago Cubs (73-53) pay the No. 1 team in the NL West, the Los Angeles Dodgers (70-56), a visit for the first encounter of their three-game set at Dodger Stadium. Expect both clubs to give all they’ve got in this crucial matchup especially with the race for the postseason intensifies.
Read on further for a comprehensive breakdown of this National League showdown. And while you’re at it, check out as well our preview of the Cardinals and Giants clash. Enjoy.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Preview
Where: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
When: Friday, August 28, 10:10 PM ET
Line: Chicago Cubs (+170) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (-200); Total: 6.0 — View all MLB Lines
Betting on the Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs have been fun to watch this season. They are currently on track to reach the postseason for the first time since 2009. The Cubs hold a 5.5-game edge over San Francisco for the final wild card spot in the National League. But with a lot of regular season action left, they’ll need to continue gaining as many wins as they can to widen their advantage further. A victory in tonight’s series opener opposite the Los Angeles Dodgers would do just that.
[sc:MLB240banner ]The pressure is on Jason Hammel (7-5, 3.35 ERA) to showcase his pitching prowess as he gets the nod for the Cubs later. Hammel is coming off his longest outing since July 3 in his most recent start, where he yielded only two runs and struck out eight through 6 1/3 innings to pick up the resounding 9-3 triumph versus the Braves Wednesday night. The 32-year-old righty will hope for the same result at Dodger Stadium. Hammel has a 5-3 record with a 3.17 ERA and 1.09 WHIP across 11 road starts this year.
Chicago’s success, though, will also be greatly determined by how efficient its offense is going to be. The pair of Kris Bryant and Starlin Castro has been leading the charge at the plate. Bryant is in the midst of a seven-game hitting streak, during which he’s 10-for-27 (.370) along with three homers and nine RBIs to his name. Castro, meanwhile, is 6-for-16 (.375) over his previous five games but is only a career 2-for-20 off the Dodgers’ ace Clayton Kershaw.
The Cubs are 4-1 in Hammel’s last five turns.
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Betting on the Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are definitely in high spirits after completing a three-game sweep of the Reds yesterday. They’ll be looking to stretch their unbeaten run further and continue fending off the Giants, who trail the Dodgers by 2.5 games for first place in the National League West standings, when they play host to the Chicago Cubs for the first meeting of their three-game series.
Things are likely bound to go Los Angeles’ way with their ace hurler Clayton Kershaw (10-6, 2.29 ERA) toeing the rubber later this evening. He pitched magnificently during his most recent start, firing eight innings of one-run ball while striking out eight despite the sorry 3-2 defeat in the hands of the Astros on August 23. Kershaw was really not happy about this wasted effort, as he challenged his teammates to start playing with a sense of urgency.
Furthermore, the 27-year-old lefty will also be out to avenge their previous meeting last June 22, wherein the Cubs managed to collect three runs on four hits over seven frames off the reigning NL MVP for the eventual 4-2 Chicago win at Wrigley Field. Kershaw boasts a 7-2 record, a 1.49 ERA and .181 opponents’ batting average in over 11 starts at Dodger Stadium this year.
Moving on to offense, the Dodgers are expected to lean on Yasiel Puig to lead the charge at the plate. Puig is currently on a 10-game hitting streak, where he is 13-for-38 (.342) along with two homers and four RBIs. But his status remains questionable after re-aggravating a left hamstring injury in Thursday’s game against the Reds.
If Puig fails to suit up, expect Adrian Gonzalez to step up and fill in this void. Gonzalez (.286) has gone hitless only once in his previous five contests. He also leads the team with 24 homers, 74 RBIs and 130 hits this season.
Los Angeles is 5-5 in its past 10 games with Kershaw starting.
Writer’s Prediction:
The Dodgers (-200) win, 6-3, to extend their winning streak to four.
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