In the current four-game showdown between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs, pitching rules supreme. On Tuesday, it was the Dodgers’ turn to win via shutout and even up the series at one game apiece.
This was to be expected from two of the National League’s best ball clubs, but who will prevail with another victory in the third bout of the four-game set this Wednesday night? Let’s find out more about this stunning matchup from Wrigley Field below.
To sate your fix for even more hard-hitting baseball betting action, head on over here for our preview of tomorrow’s contest between the Chicago White Sox and the New York Mets.
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Dodgers vs. Cubs Preview
Where: Wrigley Field, Chicago
When: Wednesday, June 1, 8:05 PM ET
Line: Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago Cubs – view all MLB lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN, CSN
Betting on the Los Angeles Dodgers (27-25)
After being blanked by the Chicago Cubs on Monday, the Los Angeles Dodgers responded with a 5-0 shutout of their own this Tuesday to win the second game of a four-game series against the best team in the majors this season.
Shortstop Corey Seager continues to provide great numbers for the Dodgers. He went 3-for-5 on Tuesday with a three-run homer in the ninth inning to give him nine hits and five runs over the last five games. Slugger Adrian Gonzalez also knocked in two hits and an RBI that night, bringing him up to 10 hits over his last five outings.
With the offense seemingly back on the right track, the Dodgers need another solid effort from their pitchers this Wednesday. However, they may not get a good return from Wednesday’s probable starter, Mike Bolsinger (1-1, 4.50 ERA).
Even though Bolsinger is coming off eight days rest, his first couple of starts this season since coming back from a strained oblique injury in spring training were average to say the least. The 28-year-old righty has yet to reach six full innings of work per start, and has surrendered a home run in each of those two outings for a total of five runs allowed.
Betting on the Chicago Cubs (35-14)
It’s bad enough that the Chicago Cubs snapped a six-game winning streak given the recent loss to the Dodgers, and it hurts even more after the fact that they squandered a gem of an outing from their bona fide ace, Jake Arrieta.
The defending NL Cy Young Award-winner threw seven scoreless innings to go with eight K’s in Tuesday’s game, but Chicago’s bullpen did a terrible job of protecting Arietta’s great head start. In turn, the Cubs lost their first game this season with Arrieta as their starter.
Perhaps Chicago’s pitching unit can turn things around this Wednesday with Jon Lester (5-3, 2.48 ERA). Lester appeared to have found his groove back from his last start against the Phillies in May 27 wherein he gave up just six hits and two runs to go with seven strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work.
However, the three-time All-Star’s 3.29 ERA from May is still a far cry from his superb form in April (1.83). The odds that Lester will lower his earned-run average this Wednesday is quite bleak, though, as he’s just 1-2 with a 5.19 ERA in three career starts against the Dodgers.
Then again, the Cubs just need to get their high-octane offense going again and brush Tuesday’s shutout aside. Luckily for them, this series against the Dodgers is still being held in the Windy City, where they have won six of their last eight contests with an average of six runs scored.
Look for centerfielder Dexter Fowler to stay hot and get his team going again from the lead-off spot tomorrow evening. Fowler owns a seven-game hit streak entering the contest to go with four runs and three runs batted-in.
Writer’s Prediction
Chicago’s offense comes back to life as the Cubs win, 7-3.
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