In the second of a three-game series between the Los Angeles Dodgers (71-57) and the Chicago Cubs (82-45) at Dodger Stadium, Julio Urias (4-2, 3.95 ERA) and Jason Hammel (13-6, 3.07 ERA) get the start. The Cubs won the last game 6-4, and Chicago leads the series 1-0. The game starts at 4:05 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 27 and will air on FS1, SNLA and WGN.
In his most recent outing, Urias pitched 6.0 innings, giving up zero runs and striking out six in a 4-0 victory over the Reds. Corey Seager (.323, 86 Rs, 22 HRs, 61 RBIs, 1 SB) continued his strong season yesterday, going 2 for 5. The Cubs were unsuccessful the last time Hammel pitched. He did not do well, pitching 3.1 innings, allowing 10 runs (four unearned), striking out two and walking two in an 11-4 loss to the Rockies. Kris Bryant (.303, 107 Rs, 35 HRs, 89 RBIs, 8 SBs) has been doing well offensively for the Cubs, going 2 for 4 yesterday with three runs, two home runs, and three RBIs.
Oddsmakers have deemed this game an even matchup and the Over/Under (O/U) is presently unavailable. 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 has fallen apart in the past 10 games. Its average runs allowed per game rose to 5.0 during that span, compared to its 4.0 season average. The Dodgers are third in the league in WHIP at 1.186. An area where the Dodgers are particularly strong is striking batters out, where they average an NL-best 9.2 K’s per game.
The Cubs are the top pitching staff in the NL, essentially shutting down opponents to the tune of 3.4 runs allowed per game. They have a WHIP of 1.121 on the year, the best in the league.
The Cubs are 4-1 against the Dodgers this season. The Dodgers will take on a right-hander (Hammel) in this game and have a 56-40 record against right-handed starting pitchers this season. Taking the hill against the Cubs will be the left-hander Urias. Southpaw starters haven’t been a big issue for them as they sport a 27-13 record.
Predictions: SU Winner – CHC
Notes
LA Dodgers are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games.
The total has gone OVER in 12 of LA Dodgers’s last 18 games.
The total has gone OVER in 8 of LA Dodgers’s last 11 games at home.
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of LA Dodgers’s last 12 games when playing Chi Cubs.
When leading after seven innings, Chicago is 44-21, while Los Angeles is 27-22.
The Cubs managed to give up five walks in their last game. They’ll have to pick it up against the Dodgers who are heading in with a 19-12 record against opponents who give up that many walks or more.
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 154 this season. Chicago ranks 10th with 163 home runs.
Los Angeles and Chicago both rank in the top 10 of the league in hits. Los Angeles sits at ninth with 8.59 hits per game and Chicago ranks sixth with 8.80.
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 .783.
The Cubs are 42-37 in games where they allow one or more home runs. The Dodgers are 33-45 when they allow at least one homer.
