Mike Montgomery (4-5, 2.41 ERA) takes the mound for the Chicago Cubs (81-45) as they meet Bud Norris (6-10, 4.69 ERA) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (71-56) in the first of a three-game series at Dodger Stadium. The game gets underway at 10:10 p.m. ET on Friday, Aug. 26 and will air on WLS and SNLA.
In his last start, Norris pitched 0.2 inning, giving up one run and walking one in an 18-9 victory over the Reds. Corey Seager (.322, 86 Rs, 22 HRs, 61 RBIs, 1 SB) went 1 for 3 yesterday. The Cubs were victorious over the Rockies 9-2 the last time Montgomery pitched. He went 4.1 innings, allowing one run, striking out five and walking two. Kris Bryant (.301, 104 Rs, 33 HRs, 86 RBIs, 8 SBs) has been doing well offensively for the Cubs, going 2 for 4 Wednesday with two runs.
Los Angeles is favored by a slight -108 margin in its matchup against Chicago. Oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at eight runs. The Dodgers are in an interesting position this season. While they have a notable winning record in games where they’re the favorite (63-37), their overall money line (-354) is less impressive. Over their past 10 games, Los Angeles’s offense has been playing lights out, averaging 6.1 runs per game, well over their season average of 4.5. Los Angeles’s pitching staff will be looking to pick it up in this one after recent struggles. The Dodgers have given up an average of 5.0 runs to opponents in their last 10 games, above their season average of 4.0 runs per game. The Dodgers are second in the league in WHIP at 1.185. An area where the Dodgers are particularly strong is striking batters out, where they average an NL-best 9.2 K’s per game.
Across the field, the Cubs have a subpar record of 5-8 when they are the underdog, but are +321 overall with the money line. Chicago’s pitching staff and defense as a whole have been firing on all cylinders so far, averaging an NL-best 3.4 runs allowed per game. They have a WHIP of 1.118 on the year, the best in the league.
The Cubs are 3-1 against the Dodgers this season. The Dodgers will take on a left-hander (Montgomery) in this game and have a 15-16 record against left-handed starting pitchers this season. Taking the hill against the Cubs will be the right-hander Norris. Right-handed starters haven’t been a big issue for them as they sport a 54-32 record.
Predictions: SU Winner – CHC, O/U – Over
Notes
LA Dodgers are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games.
The total has gone OVER in 7 of LA Dodgers’s last 10 games at home.
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of LA Dodgers’s last 11 games when playing Chi Cubs.
LA Dodgers are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games when playing Chi Cubs.
LA Dodgers are 8-4 SU in their last 12 games when playing at home against Chi Cubs.
The Dodgers didn’t score any runs in their last game. The Cubs have an 11-0 record when they don’t allow any runs.
When they are outhit, the Cubs are 7-28. The Dodgers have a 13-40 record when opponents outhit them.
Ranking 15th in home runs, Los Angeles has hit 153 this season. Chicago ranks 10th with 161 home runs.
Los Angeles and Chicago both rank in the top 10 of the league in hits. Los Angeles sits at ninth with 8.58 hits per game and Chicago ranks sixth with 8.79.
Ranking 15th, Los Angeles is in the top half of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage (.736). Chicago ranks in the top five at third with an OPS of .784.
The Cubs are 41-37 in games where they allow one or more home runs. The Dodgers are 33-44 when they allow at least one homer.
