Chicago Cubs (1-1) at LA Dodgers (1-1)
When: Tuesday, October 18th 2016
Where: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: FOX Sports 1
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The Los Angeles Dodgers return home to play three straight at Dodger Stadium in their NLCS against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. The Cubs took Game 1 behind an 8th inning grand slam from Miguel Montero, but the bats were cooled-off in Game 2 by Clayton Kershaw. Adrian Gonzalez hit a solo home run for the Dodgers for the game’s only run. Gonzalez has knocked in three of the Dodgers’ five runs this series. Outside of Javier Baez (9-for-23 postseason) and Kris Bryant (8-for-24), the Chicago bats have been pretty quiet. First baseman Anthony Rizzo is just 1-for-23 this postseason including 0-for-8 in the NLCS. Los Angeles RHP Kenley Jansen struck out four in two innings to get the save in Game 2 and has fanned 13 batters in 7.1 innings this postseason. Jake Arrieta will oppose Rich Hill on Tuesday.
Pitchers: Cubs – Jake Arrieta (0-0, 3.00 ERA) | Dodgers – Rich Hill (0-1, 6.43)
Arrieta pitched seven innings of two-hit scoreless ball in a no-decision against the Dodgers on May 31st and won 18 games during the regular season. He gave up two runs in six innings in a no-decision against San Francisco in the National League Division Series last week and will have plenty of rest for this matchup tonight. He threw a no-hitter at Dodger Stadium back on August 30th, 2015.
Hill won 12 games in the regular season but hasn’t fared well this postseason. He has pitched a total of seven innings over two starts against Washington in the NLDS, but does have 13 strikeouts. He was lifted early in the winner-take-all Game 5 in which Kershaw finished the game with the save. In a regular season game, Hill would not have been lifted that early.
Hill should get the freedom to go deeper in Tuesday’s contest. The Cubs are still looking to find some offensive consistency and Dodger Stadium is not the best place to find it. The pressure is starting to mount for the Cubs and I believe the Dodgers will seize momentum in this series with a victory tonight.
Pick: Dodgers +105
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