Preview: Dodgers at Cubs

[October 17, 2017]  Gracenote

The Los Angeles Dodgers have yet to lose in the postseason and are two wins from reaching their first World Series since 1988. The defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs have three straight home games beginning Tuesday to try to prevent them from getting any closer.

The Cubs have had the Dodgers' number at Wrigley Field recently, winning two of three there during last year's NLCS and taking two of three when the Dodgers visited in April. Los Angeles' pitchers have dominated this series, though, allowing only three runs through two games as the bullpen has combined for eight scoreless frames and allowed one baserunner and no hits. "I think up to this point we've done everything we can to put ourselves in a good position, but there is a long way to go," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters. "It's definitely noted how resilient that club is over there. They're going to do everything they can to win a game, and we're going to do the same." To get back into the series, the Cubs will have to get the big bats in the middle of their lineup going as Chicago is hitting .117 in the series and stars Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo are a combined 1-for-14 with six strikeouts.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, TBS

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Yu Darvish (1-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (1-0, 3.27)

Darvish won his only start in the NLDS, allowing one run and two hits while striking out seven over five innings to beat Arizona for his first win in three postseason starts. The 31-year-old went 4-3 with a 3.44 ERA in nine regular-season starts after the Dodgers acquired him from Texas, and has allowed only two earned runs over his last four starts dating to the regular season. Darvish faced the Cubs last season while with the Rangers and allowed two runs over 4 1/3 innings in a loss at Wrigley Field.

 

Hendricks is 2-1 with a 2.60 ERA in nine postseason starts, but wasn't at his best in Game 5 of the NLDS against Washington, allowing four runs --and two homers -- over four innings. The 27-year-old helped the Cubs clinch last year's NLCS by throwing 7 1/3 scoreless innings against the Dodgers a year ago. Hendricks is 2-1 with a 3.15 ERA in three regular-season meetings against Los Angeles.

WALK-OFFS

1. Since the LCS expanded to a best-of-seven format in 1985, only three of the 28 teams who lost the first two games have come back to win the series.

2. Dodgers 3B Justin Turner, whose three-run homer ended Game 2, is 9-for-21 with two homers and 10 RBIs in five games this postseason.

3. Chicago 2B Javier Baez is 0-for-19 with eight strikeouts this postseason.

PREDICTION: Cubs 3, Dodgers 2

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