The marquee series of the weekend and one of the biggest ones of the season is an NLCS rematch between the Cubs and Dodgers in Los Angeles. Oddsmakers expect those two to play in another NLCS this October. The Dodgers are coming off a 3 game series against the St. Louis Cardinals, winning the series at 2-1. The Cubs pretty much swept the San Francisco Giants, ending it at 3-1 . The Dodgers will be slight MLB betting favorites for Saturday’s Game 2.
Chicago Cubs at LA Dodgers MLB Betting Analysis & TV Info
Stay classy. pic.twitter.com/TE4FC2kSiZ
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 26, 2017
When: Saturday, May 27, 7:15 PM ET
Where: Dodger Stadium, LA
Probable pitchers (away/home): John Lackey/Brandon McCarthy
TV: Fox
Stream: MLB.tv
Radio: Chicago / Los Angeles
Opening MLB Lines: Dodgers favored by TBA
Why Bet On Chicago?
The Cubs are starting to play to expectations as they enter this series having won three straight and seven of nine after falling a game under .500. In Thursday’s 5-1 win over the Giants, Jason Heyward went deep for the second time in three games and has a five-game hitting streak since a sprained finger in his right hand caused him to miss 12 games. Ben Zobrist added a homer two singles as the Cubs took three of four games from the Giants and finished a 7-2 homestand. Zobrist reached base for the 22nd straight game, one shy of his career high set with Tampa Bay in 2011.
Kyle Schwarber struck out all four times up before being removed for defense Thursday against the Giants. That’s 55 strikeouts in 42 games for Schwarber. He’s still drawing walks and hitting solo homers once per week, but he’s one of the big reasons the Cubs have disappointed thus far. The Cubs are 11-10 on the road and 5-4 against the NL West.
It’s John Lackey (4-4, 4.82) for Game 2. Lackey was the losing pitcher in Monday’s game against the Giants. He allowed seven hits, two walks and five runs (all earned) over five innings. He struck out six. It was another mediocre outing for Lackey, who failed to get into the sixth inning for the second straight start. The six strikeouts are nice, but Lackey gave up two home runs for the second game in a row, and he also hit two batters. Lackey has faced three consecutive rough situations — pitching in Colorado, then back-to- back starts at Wrigley Field with the wind blowing out.
On April 12, Lackey pitched well vs. the Dodgers but lost. Lackey held the Dodgers to a run and four hits over six innings. The veteran right-hander struck out 10 and walked three. He threw 106 pitches — 32 in the first inning, when he escaped a bases-loaded jam.
Why Bet On Los Angeles?
The Dodgers got back second baseman Logan Forsythe from the DL this week but have put center fielder Joc Pederson on the seven-day concussion DL. In his first game back Wednesday, Forsythe smacked a liner to right field that bounced off the wall and got past Stephen Piscotty, allowing Enrique Hernandez to score all the way from first and give the Dodgers a 2-1 win over the Cardinals in the 13th inning.
Not bad for a his first game back off the disabled list, and one that started with four strikeouts in his first four at-bats. “He told me he was ready,” manager Dave Roberts joked. “You don’t expect Logan to punch four times, but if there is a guy you want with the game on the line, I still trust him.” Forsythe also walked in the 11th inning. The Dodgers improved to 3-2 in extra-inning games.
Pederson was involved in a nasty collision with right fielder Yasiel Puig on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. He was diagnosed with a strained neck and did not play Wednesday. Pederson has been hitting .200 with two homers and 11 RBI on the season.
Brandon McCarthy (4-1, 3.76) takes the mound for L.A. McCarthy pitched well in last Sunday’s win over the Marlins, surrendering one run on three hits over six innings. McCarthy gave up an RBI single to A.J. Ellis in the fifth inning, but otherwise kept the Marlins off the scoreboard over his six frames of work. He struck out five and walked one on the afternoon.
McCarthy was opposite Lackey on April 12 and was brilliant. He pitched four-hit ball over six innings, struck out four and walked three. He gave up long flies to Willson Contreras and Anthony Rizzo on a night when the wind was keeping balls in the park, and was helped by three double plays.
“They came in big situations,” McCarthy said. “Keeping the ball on the ground is a positive for me and something I set out to do. Ball stays on the ground, you get a better chance at double plays.”
Chicago Cubs at LA Dodgers MLB Betting Pick: LA Dodgers
McCarthy is 2-0 with a 3.68 ERA at home and has handled the Cubs once.
