Series Preview: Chicago Cubs (25-21) at Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles (27-20)

In Series Previews by berselius58 Comments

The Dodgers pitching is tops in the league, which is not a huge surprise, but their offense is way better than I would have guessed as well. They were fourth in the NL in offensive production last year, and are right there again in 2017. Turner, Grandal, and Seager are having big years as expected, but they are also getting great production from the likes of Chris Taylor and Cody Bellinger, who I don't think I heard of until this week. This team is pretty good when half the rotation isn't on the DL.

Team Leaders

Cubs

Dodgers

  • OBP: Justin Turner (.453)
  • ISO: Cody Bellinger (.333)
  • HR: Bellinger (9)
  • R+RBI: Corey Seager (55)
  • wRC+: Chris Taylor (168)
  • BSR: Turner (1.0)
  • SP K/9: Alex Wood (11.47)
  • SP BB/9: Kershaw (1.00)
  • SP FIP: Wood (1.87)
  • RP K/9: Kenley Jansen (16.50)
  • RP BB/9: Jansen (0.00)
  • RP FIP: Jansen (0.09)
  • WAR: Turner/Kershaw (2.2)

Injuries, transactions, vengeance pacts, etc.

It wouldn't be the Dodgers without a long list of injuries. Most notably, Justin Turner is on the 10-day DL with a hamstring strain and should miss this series. Joc Pederson is on the concussion DL and will also be out for these games, though his replacements have been filling in just fine. Andrew Toles is out for the year with a torn ACL, and Andre Ethier is on the 60-day with a herniated disc. Scott Kazmir is on the DL, but it's probably better to report when he's not injured.

There is nothing too serious on the Cubs side right now. Willson is a little banged up after fouling a ball off his foot on Wednesday but I don't expect him to miss this series or anything.

Pitching probables

K%, BB%, ERA, projected ERA listed for each starter.

Friday: Jay Carrieta, RHP (24.8%, 6.3%, 4.80, 3.19) vs Alex Wood, LHP (29.9%, 7.5%, 10.88, 2.72), 9:10 PM CT

Wood has been incredible in seven starts this year, pretty much the only complaint that one could make is that he hasn't pitched deep into games. He has seen a big jump in his strikeout rate and his ground ball rate this year, and has even better numbers than his more famous teammate in several categories. He shut out the Marlins for 7.1 innings in his last outing.

Saturday: John Lackey, RHP (23.7%, 6.5%, 4.82, 3.80) vs Brandon McCarthy, RHP (21.2%, 6.7%, 3.76, 3.92), 6:15 PM CT

McCarthy is finally healthy and putting together the kind of season the Dodgers expected when they signed him two years ago. He's stingy with walks and gets ground balls. He was shelled by the Giants a week ago but has otherwise been boringly solid.

Sunday: Jon Lester, LHP (25.1%, 8.2%, 3.19, 3.14) vs Clayton Kershaw, LHP (27.0%, 3.0%, 2.01, 2.46), 3:10 PM CT

If Lester looks anything like he did in his last start, this should be an incredible game. Both pitchers are coming off games with nearly identical lines – 9 IP, 10 K, 0 BB, 1 R. I guess we have to give Kershaw the edge since he only gave up three hits to Lester's four.

 

 

Share this Post

Comments

  20. cerulean

    I like this quicker pitching version of the human rain delay.

    EDIT: I liked it better when he wasn’t throwing strikes.

    EDIT EDIT: That’s more like it.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  30. Author
    berselius

    To-day’s base ball squadron

    CF Jay
    LF Schwarber
    3B Bryant
    1B Rizzo
    2B Happ
    RF Heyward
    C Montero
    SS Russell
    P Lackey

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  45. Author
    berselius

    To-day’s base ball squadron

    2b Baez
    3b Bryant
    1b Rizzo
    LF Happ
    RF Heyward
    C Contreras
    SS Russell
    CF Almora
    P Lester

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  56. Rizzo the Rat

    Of course Maddon waits for a low-leverage situation to go to the bench. And he pinch-hits for position players rather than the relief pitcher.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0

Leave a Comment