Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers MLB Predictions, Picks and Preview – National League Championship Series Game Five – October 20, 2016

Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Preview

Where: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

When: Thursday, October 20, 2016, 8:00 PM ET

Line: Chicago Cubs (TBA) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (TBA); total: TBA – view all MLB lines

TV Broadcast: Fox Sports 1

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Betting on the Chicago Cubs

The Cubs’ bats are back in business—particularly that of Anthony Rizzo’s and Addison Russell’s

After a prolonged slump, Rizzo went 3-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs Wednesday to help Chicago beat LA, 10-2, and tie the series at 2-2. Russell, on the other hand, was also 3-for-5 with a home run and two runs driven in.

With their bats finally breathing fire, the Cubs will look to back Jon Lester with an ample amount of runs when the lefty takes the mound again. Lester is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in two starts this postseason, including the opener of this series in which he threw for six innings, allowing just one earned run on four hits while striking out three in an 8-4 home victory.

For most of his career, Lester has tamed those in the Dodgers’ active roster, which currently has a collective batting average of .184 against him.

The Cubs are 5-2 in Lester’s last seven starts away from Wrigley Field.

Betting on the Los Angeles Dodgers

There will be no Clayton Kershaw starting tonight for the Dodgers. Instead, they will have Kenta Maeda taking the hill to face the Cubs in the pivotal Game 5 of the NLCS.

Maeda is still searching for form this postseason after failing to record a win in each of his previous two starts. So far this postseason, Maeda is just 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA across seven innings of action. He was a no-decision in the aforementioned series-opening loss to the Cubs, wherein he allowed three earned runs on four hits in four innings of mound duty.

Despite that rough outing, Maeda remains a formidable pitcher, especially at home, as evidenced by his 7-5 record and 3.22 ERA in 15 starts at Dodger Stadium back in the regular season.

It would be easier for Maeda to do his job if his teammates will provide him some run cushion, however.

Corey Seager is looking to bounce back after going 0-for-3 at the plate last night. Seager is 4-for-14 thus far in this series. Adrian Gonzalez, meanwhile, is 4-for-15 with a homer and three RBI’s.

Writer’s Prediction

Chicago wins, 6-3.

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