You have to go back to 2020 to find the last time Kyle Hendricks had an ERA below 3.00. The 34-year-old Hendricks is clearly past his prime, having the worst season of his career with a 3-11 record and 6.60 ERA.

And Hendricks' last three starts have come against the weak-hitting Pirates twice and Marlins. Now Hendricks has to face a highly potent Dodgers offense that ranks third in runs, third in homers and also is third in OPS. Hendricks' road ERA is a brutal 7.89.

Yet the Cubs aren't drawing dead in this matchup because they get to go against Walker Buehler, who is on the comeback trail following a serious arm injury. Buehler is 1-4 with a 5.67 ERA. He hasn't lasted past the fifth inning in any of his past seven starts. He's clearly not the same pitcher he was pre-injury. At least not this season.

The Cubs rank a respectable 13th in runs scored.