I realize Jake Arrieta hasn't been as dominant as he's been the past couple of seasons and that Alex Wood is pitching extremely well.

But the Cubs are the more powerful team - especially with the Dodgers minus injured Justin Turner and Joc Pederson - and Arrieta still rates an edge on Wood, who has yet to achieve consistency during his career.

The Cubs have won 69 percent of Arrieta's last 54 road starts. Arrieta held the Brewers to one run, which was unearned, on five hits and six strikeouts with a walk in six innings during his last start this past Sunday. The Dodgers haven't scored in 16 consecutive innings when facing Arrieta.

The southpaw Wood is coming off a 7-2 win against the offensively-challenged Marlins last Friday. Wood threw a season-high 96 pitches in that game. Following a quality Wood start, the Dodgers are 2-9 the past 11 times the next time he pitches.

Chicago also is 10-4 the last 14 times facing a lefty starter, including 8-4 this season. The Cubs have smacked 26 homers in their last 14 games, second-most in the majors during this span.