LDN - Sports

Preview: Cubs at Dodgers

[October 14, 2017] Gracenote

The team with the best record in the majors this season meets the defending World Series champions when the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs clash in the National League Championship Series, beginning Saturday in Los Angeles. The series is a rematch from last year when the Cubs dispatched the Dodgers in six games as second baseman Javier Baez and left-hander Jon Lester shared MVP honors.

Chicago is in the NLCS for the third straight season after prevailing over the Washington Nationals in a five-game NL Division Series while the Dodgers recorded a three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks. "I thought we caught our stride at the right part of the season, meaning August, September, it really came together for us," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said at Friday's press conference. "Right now we're playing with that same kind of mental acumen and edge that I've seen the last two years." Los Angeles is hoping ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw can get it off to a good start as the team aims to earn its first World Series berth since 1988. Kershaw's spotty postseason history is well known - he is 5-7 with a 4.63 ERA in 19 appearances (15 starts) - but he had a 3.00 ERA while splitting two decisions against the Cubs in last season's NLCS.

TV: 8:08 p.m. ET, TBS

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs TBA vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (1-0, 5.68 ERA)

Maddon indicated he was deciding between left-hander Jose Quintana and right-hander John Lackey for the Game 1 start. Quintana allowed one unearned run and three hits over 6 1/3 innings in two appearances (one start) during the NLDS, while Lackey didn't pitch in the series and last started a game on Sept. 27. The edge Quintana has is being able to neutralize the left-handed Los Angeles hitters while the 38-year-old Lackey has an extensive postseason resume that includes an 8-6 record and 3.27 ERA in 26 career appearances (23 starts).

[to top of second column]

Kershaw beat the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL Division Series but served up four solo homers while allowing five hits in 6 1/3 innings. The 29-year-old is one of the top pitchers of his era and badly wants to see the club's long Fall Classic jinx conclude. "We want to go to the World Series," Kershaw said at Friday's press conference. "We didn't get to do that last year, and the Cubs were the reason why. No doubt about it, we know that."

WALK-OFFS

1. The Dodgers went 4-2 against the Cubs in the regular season and outscored Chicago 22-11.

2. Lester will start Game 2 for Chicago, while LHP Rich Hill gets the call for the Dodgers.

3. Los Angeles SS Corey Seager (back) is expected to start Game 1 despite being held out of workouts on Thursday and Friday.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 4, Cubs 2

Back to top