The set-up: The Cubs won four of their seven regular-season meetings against the Dodgers but found themselves down 2-1 in the NLCS after getting shut out in both Game 2 (1-0) and Game 3 (6-0). The Chicago bats were kept totally in check with only six hits in the back-to-back losses. However, after the Dodgers pitching staff extended its scoring drought against the Cubs to 21 innings, Chicago broke out for a four-run 4th inning in Game 4 on its way to a 10-2 victory. A five-run 8th in Game 5 broke open a 3-1 Chicago advantage in Game 5, leading to an 8-4 win. Those silent Chicago bats in Games 2 & 3 had 13 hits apiece in Games 4 & 5, as Chicago now takes a three games to two lead back to Wrigley Field for Game 6. Chicago has scored 26 runs in its two wins and been shut out in both of its loses this series.

The pitching matchup: Clayton Kershaw (2-0, 3.72 ERA) will take the mound for the Dodgers up against the Cubs' Kyle Hendricks (0-1, 3.00 ERA). LA manager Dave Roberts made the decision to save ace Clayton Kershaw for Game 6 instead of asking him to throw again on short rest in Game 5,and now Roberts and the Dodgers need him to save their season. Kershaw allowed two hits in seven scoreless innings to earn the win in Game 2 at Wrigley Field which came three days after he had earned a save in Game 5 of the NLDS (Kershaw had started Game 4 of that series, as well). Kershaw did not face the Cubs during the regular season but he owned a 2.18 ERA in eight previous starts against the Cubs (prior to Game 2 of the NLCS), striking out 68 batters in 53 2/3 innings while holding the Cubs to a .218 BA against him. Chicago's Hendricks took a liner off the forearm in his NLDS start but was not bothered by any lingering pain in Game 2. He did walk four batters in his Game 2 start of this NLCS but he allowed just one run (on a solo HR) in 5 1/3 innings. Hendricks was the regular-season ERA champion at 2.13 and he was quite impressive at Wrigley Field during the regular season, going 9-2 with a 1.32 ERA in 15 appearances.

The pick: The Cubs now have two chances to get one more win and advance to the World Series for the first time since 1945 and as almost all baseball fans know, the Cubs last won a World Series back in 1908. The Dodgers haven't been to a World Series since they shocked the A's 4-1 back in 1988 (led by Orel and Gibson's dramatic Game 1 HR) plus Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young winner, has a chance here to put his playoff failures in the past. His lone dominant performance of the 2016 postseason came in Game 2 of this series (although LA has won all three of his starts) but his save in Game 5 against the Nat (with one day off after starting Game 4), was a legend-builder. However, Kershaw remains just 4-6 with a 4.39 ERA in his postseason career. That said, a win here to extend this series to a Gam2 7, would change the narrative of his postseason legacy. That's the bet. Make the Dodgers a 10* play.