PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* MLB Game of the Week >> 47-26-1 L74 MLB! +$19K MLB Run!
(MLB) Chi Cubs vs. LA Dodgers,
Money Line: -113.00 Chi Cubs (Away)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -113.00 Chi Cubs (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The Cubs finished off the Giants with a stunning four-run rally in the 9th inning back in Game 4 of that NLDS matchup, closing out the series with a 6-5 win. A sold-out Wrigley Field crowd saw the Cubs open a 3-1 led over LA in Game 1 but the Dodgers tied the game before Miguel Montero hit a pinch-hit grand slam in the 8th for an 8-4 win. Then in Game 2, Clayton Kershaw made arguably his best-ever postseason start as LA tied the series one-all with a 1-0 victory (only score was a Gonzalez HR). The series now moves to Dodger Stadium for three games.
The pitching matchup: Jake Arrieta (0-0, 3.00 ERA) starts for the Cubs and Rich Hill (0-1, 6.43 ERA) for the Dodgers. Arrieta makes his second start of the 2016 postseason. His first came in Game 3 of the NLDS on Oct. 10 against the Giants, allowing two runs in six innings and received a no-decision in a game the Cubs eventually lost 6-5 in 13 innings. Arrieta was 18-8 with 3.10 ERA on the season but he was 9-0 with a 1.56 ERA entering June, so he was not remotely a "shut down" pitcher for the season's final four months. Hill began the season with the A's but was acquired by the Dodgers in late July, despite the fact that he was on the DL at the time of the trade. His first start for LA came on August 24th and he was famously pulled by manager Dave Roberts while he was tossing a no-hitter after six innings. He made 20 starts in 2016 (Oak & LA), finishing 12-5 with a 2.12 ERA, including six starts for LA, going 3-2 with a 1.83 ERA (LA was 3-3). Hill had put up impressive numbers when healthy in 2016 but note that the Dodgers lost his last three starts of the regular season. He lasted only 4 1/3 innings while losing Game 2 of the NLDS vs. the Nats, giving up four runs on six hits. He then lasted only 2 2/3 innings, while allowing a run on three hits and received a no-decision in the Dodgers' 4-3 victory over the Washington Nationals in the decisive Game 5 of the NLDS.
The pick: Hill defended his performance in this year's postseason at Monday's press conference. "For me, I go out there and give everything that I have, that's it. That's the bottom line," Hill told reporters. "Your effort is everything. Your ability to go out there and stay in the moment and execute pitch to pitch and do the best that you can, that's it. Let everything else fall where it may." I'm not buying it. Arrieta faced the Dodgers just once in 2016, throwing seven scoreless innings on May 31 at Wrigley, although LA won that game 5-0. The last time Arrieta faced LA at Dodger Stadium was Aug. 30, 2015, when he no-hit them. The Cubs are a 10* play.
The pitching matchup: Jake Arrieta (0-0, 3.00 ERA) starts for the Cubs and Rich Hill (0-1, 6.43 ERA) for the Dodgers. Arrieta makes his second start of the 2016 postseason. His first came in Game 3 of the NLDS on Oct. 10 against the Giants, allowing two runs in six innings and received a no-decision in a game the Cubs eventually lost 6-5 in 13 innings. Arrieta was 18-8 with 3.10 ERA on the season but he was 9-0 with a 1.56 ERA entering June, so he was not remotely a "shut down" pitcher for the season's final four months. Hill began the season with the A's but was acquired by the Dodgers in late July, despite the fact that he was on the DL at the time of the trade. His first start for LA came on August 24th and he was famously pulled by manager Dave Roberts while he was tossing a no-hitter after six innings. He made 20 starts in 2016 (Oak & LA), finishing 12-5 with a 2.12 ERA, including six starts for LA, going 3-2 with a 1.83 ERA (LA was 3-3). Hill had put up impressive numbers when healthy in 2016 but note that the Dodgers lost his last three starts of the regular season. He lasted only 4 1/3 innings while losing Game 2 of the NLDS vs. the Nats, giving up four runs on six hits. He then lasted only 2 2/3 innings, while allowing a run on three hits and received a no-decision in the Dodgers' 4-3 victory over the Washington Nationals in the decisive Game 5 of the NLDS.
The pick: Hill defended his performance in this year's postseason at Monday's press conference. "For me, I go out there and give everything that I have, that's it. That's the bottom line," Hill told reporters. "Your effort is everything. Your ability to go out there and stay in the moment and execute pitch to pitch and do the best that you can, that's it. Let everything else fall where it may." I'm not buying it. Arrieta faced the Dodgers just once in 2016, throwing seven scoreless innings on May 31 at Wrigley, although LA won that game 5-0. The last time Arrieta faced LA at Dodger Stadium was Aug. 30, 2015, when he no-hit them. The Cubs are a 10* play.
