PREMIUM
Rogers' Afternoon ASSAULT >> 32-20-3 L10 Days! 14-7-1 MLB!
(MLB) LA Dodgers vs. Chi Cubs,
Money Line: -130.00 Chi Cubs (Home)
Result: Win
Money Line: -130.00 Chi Cubs (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: The Dodgers and Cubs meet this afternoon at Wrigley for the rubber match of their three-game series. The Cubs won 3-2 on Monday night but the Dodgers evened the series last night with a 2-0 win behind a solid effort from Brandon McCarthy (six scoreless innings) and three more scoreless innings from three relievers. The Cubs were shut out for the first time in 2017 but note that this powerful Chicago lineup has scored three runs or less in five of its first eight games (Cubs are 5-3). LA (5-4) hopes to stay above .500 with w win, before returning home for a four-game series with the surprising 7-3 Arizona Diamondbacks.
The pitching matchup: The Dodgers send Hyun-Jin Ryu (0-1 & 3.86 ERA) to the mound up against Chicago's Brett Anderson (0-0 & 1.59 ERA). Ryu missed all of 2015 and made just one start last year but was promising in his season debut against Colorado. He struck out five while allowing two runs and six hits over 4 2/3 innings in his first major-league outing since July of 2016. Ryu is in his fifth Dodgers season. He was 14-7 with a 3.38 ERA in 2014 (his last full season) and was 14-8 with a 3.00 ERA in his 2013 rookie season and finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting. He's only faced the Cubs twice, going 1-0 with a 2.92 ERA (Dodgers are 2-0). Anderson spent the previous two seasons with the Dodgers and has never has faced his former team. Anderson went 10-9 with a 3.69 ERA in 2015 but was sidelined much of 2016 with a bad back, working four games between Aug. 14 and Sept. 29 (1-2 with an 11.91 ERA over 11 1/3 innings pitched). Other injuries over his career have included a strained right oblique, stress fracture in his right foot and a broken left index finger. The Cubs signed Anderson, a free agent, in January.
The pick: Anderson was solid in his Cubs debut, limiting Milwaukee to one run and five hits over 5 2/3 innings while recording four strikeouts. Anderson has made just one start at Wrigley Field, allowing two runs and 11 hits over seven frames of a no-decision in 2014. The Cubs have yet to get untracked in 2017 but let's not forget that Chicago was 57-24 at Wrigley in 2016, the best home record of any team in MLB. Make the Cubs an 8* play.
The pitching matchup: The Dodgers send Hyun-Jin Ryu (0-1 & 3.86 ERA) to the mound up against Chicago's Brett Anderson (0-0 & 1.59 ERA). Ryu missed all of 2015 and made just one start last year but was promising in his season debut against Colorado. He struck out five while allowing two runs and six hits over 4 2/3 innings in his first major-league outing since July of 2016. Ryu is in his fifth Dodgers season. He was 14-7 with a 3.38 ERA in 2014 (his last full season) and was 14-8 with a 3.00 ERA in his 2013 rookie season and finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting. He's only faced the Cubs twice, going 1-0 with a 2.92 ERA (Dodgers are 2-0). Anderson spent the previous two seasons with the Dodgers and has never has faced his former team. Anderson went 10-9 with a 3.69 ERA in 2015 but was sidelined much of 2016 with a bad back, working four games between Aug. 14 and Sept. 29 (1-2 with an 11.91 ERA over 11 1/3 innings pitched). Other injuries over his career have included a strained right oblique, stress fracture in his right foot and a broken left index finger. The Cubs signed Anderson, a free agent, in January.
The pick: Anderson was solid in his Cubs debut, limiting Milwaukee to one run and five hits over 5 2/3 innings while recording four strikeouts. Anderson has made just one start at Wrigley Field, allowing two runs and 11 hits over seven frames of a no-decision in 2014. The Cubs have yet to get untracked in 2017 but let's not forget that Chicago was 57-24 at Wrigley in 2016, the best home record of any team in MLB. Make the Cubs an 8* play.
