Kyle Hendricks (2-3, 4.28 ERA) and Mike Bolsinger (4-2, 2.87 ERA) are on the hill in the third of a four-game series between the Chicago Cubs (39-30) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (39-33) at Wrigley Field. The Cubs won the last game 1-0 and Chicago leads the series 2-0. Action begins at 8:05 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Jun. 24 and can be seen on SportsNet, CSN-CHI and ESPN2.
Hendricks pitched 5.0 innings in his most recent start, surrendering six runs (one unearned), striking out one and walking one in a 7-2 defeat to the Twins. Anthony Rizzo (.309, 42 Rs, 15 HRs, 43 RBIs, 11 SBs) went 1 for 3 yesterday with one stolen base. When pitching against the Cubs, Bolsinger is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and seven strikeouts. Adrian Gonzalez (.297, 38 Rs, 12 HRs, 45 RBIs) went 1 for 4 yesterday.
Los Angeles takes on Chicago as a -116 favorite. The Over/Under (O/U) for the matchup is currently unavailable. The Cubs have an overall money line of +503 and a record as the underdog of 15-13. Chicago has gone 3-1 in its last 10 as underdog. Chicago leads the whole NL in walks at home, earning an average of 3.5 per game. Chicago’s pitching staff has been doing better against opposing offenses during the last 10 games, only allowing an average of 2.9 runs per game, well under their season average of 3.9. The Cubs are the third-best team in the league at limiting hits and walks to their opponents, recording a WHIP of 1.19 so far this season.
In games where it is the favorite, Los Angeles has a 35-29 record and an overall money line of -701. They played poorly as the favorite over their last 10 games with a 2-7 record, and a 3-7 record SU. Offensively, the Dodgers have really sputtered in the last 10 games. They have decreased their season average of 4.3 runs per game by averaging 3.1 during that stretch. The Dodgers can change the game with one swing of the bat, ranking third in the league with 93 home runs. Los Angeles is excellent at drawing walks with an NL-best 4.0 per road game. Los Angeles’s pitching staff is one of the top in the NL at pitching on the road, with a 3.80 ERA. When it comes to preventing batters from getting on base, the Dodgers are one of the best in the league with a WHIP of 1.18 for the season. The Dodgers have established a reputation of overwhelming hitters with an NL-best 8.6 strikeouts per game, making them one of the top five teams in the league.
The Cubs have the edge in the season series, 2-0. The Cubs have a 32-26 record against right-handed starting pitchers on the year, which is what they’ll be facing when Bolsinger takes the mound. Hendricks (RHP) will be on the hill against the Dodgers, who have a 36-24 record against right-handed starting pitchers.
Predictions: SU Winner – LAD
Notes
Chicago earned its eighth shutout of the season in its last game. Los Angeles has been shut out six times this season.
When the Cubs play into extra innings, they have a 9-3 record. The Dodgers are 3-3 when their games exceed nine innings.
Having scored zero runs in their last game, the Dodgers are going to have to up their game if they want to win this matchup. The Cubs have an 8-0 record in games where opponents scored that many runs.
When they are outhit, the Cubs are 7-25. The Dodgers have a 7-22 record when opponents outhit them.
Chicago ranks in the top half of the league at 12th when it comes to home runs, hitting 71 this season. Los Angeles ranks in the top five at third with 93.
Chicago and Los Angeles both rank in the top 10 of the league in hits. Chicago sits at 10th with 8.43 hits per game and Los Angeles ranks ninth with 8.46.
Ranking 18th, Chicago is in the bottom half of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage (.711). Los Angeles ranks in the top five at second with an OPS of .767.
The Dodgers are 16-23 in games where they allow one or more home runs. The Cubs are 22-21 when they allow at least one homer.
