LA Dodgers (2-3) at Chicago Cubs (3-2)
When: Saturday, October 22nd 2016
Where: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: FOX Sports 1
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The Los Angeles Dodgers’ season rests on their ace Clayton Kershaw when they visit the Chicago Cubs for Game 6 of the NLCS on Saturday night. Los Angeles decided to not to use Kershaw on three-days rest in Game 5 to give him some extra rest for Saturday’s elimination game. Rich Hill would go in Game 7 if the Dodgers can cool off Chicago’s bats and force the deciding game. The Cubs were shutout in Games 2 and 3, but responded with 18 runs in their Game 4 and 5 victories to take a 3-2 series lead heading back to Wrigley. Addison Russell and Anthony Rizzo both broke out of horrible slumps by each belting a homerun in Game 4 and Russell added another bomb in Thursday’s victory. Javier Baez added four RBIs in the two victories, but RF Jason Heyward continues to slump (.071 postseason). The Dodgers didn’t help themselves defensively in the two losses, committing five errors, leading to five unearned runs. Dodgers 3B Justin Turner has reached base safely in 15 straight postseason games.
Pitchers: Dodgers – Clayton Kershaw (2-0, 3.72 ERA) | Cubs – Kyle Hendricks (0-1, 3.00)
Kershaw allowed two hits in seven scoreless innings to earn the win in Game 2 at Wrigley Field after earning the save in the finale of the NLDS at Washington three days earlier. Kershaw is just 4-6 with a 4.39 ERA in his postseason career and has never won two games in the same series. He has struck out 25 batters this postseason in 19.1 innings.
Kyle Hendricks will get the start for Chicago after allowing one run on three hits and four walks in 5.1 innings while going up against Kershaw in Game 2 and ended up with the loss in a 1-0 final. The regular-season ERA champion at 2.13, took a liner off the forearm in his NLDS start but was not bothered by it in Game 2. Hendricks will be making his third start this postseason.
The Cubs bats have woken up and that is terrible news for the Dodgers. Kershaw has been pretty good this postseason, but you can’t count out Hendricks either. I would love to see a Game 7, but I think the Cubs close it out tonight.
Pick: Cubs +125
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