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Dodgers face Cubs in Chicago on Wednesday
By: Zach Cohen - StatFox
Published: 6/1/2016  at  11:46:00 AM
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LOS ANGELES DODGERS (28-25)

at CHICAGO CUBS (35-15)

First pitch: Wednesday, 8:05 p.m. ET
Line: Los Angeles +170, Chicago -180, Total: N/A

The Dodgers will be looking to win their second straight game when they face the Cubs on Wednesday.

Los Angeles will be coming into this game with a ton of confidence, as the team just defeated Chicago with Jake Arrieta on the mound. The Cubs had won 23 straight starts with Arrieta pitching, so it was not easy to pull off what the Dodgers did in that game. They won 5-0 and helped snap the Cubs’ six-game winning streak. A win on Wednesday would help Los Angeles improve to 6-4 at home against Chicago over the past three seasons. The starters for this contest are set to be RHP Mike Bolsinger (1-1, 4.50 ERA 8 K) for the Dodgers and LHP Jon Lester (5-3, 2.48 ERA 59 K) for the Cubs. One trend that is really worth pointing out is that the Dodgers are a miserable 1-8 against the money line in road games after three straight games where their bullpen gave up no runs over the past two seasons. The Cubs also happen to be an impressive 80-47 against the money line in night games over the past two seasons. OF Yasiel Puig (Hamstring) missed Tuesday’s game for the Dodgers and is listed as questionable for the team in this one. He’s the only player listed on the injury report that is worth mentioning for either team in this game.

Mike Bolsinger will be making his third start of the season on Wednesday and he was solid the last time he was on the mound for Los Angeles. He started a game against the Reds on May 24 and allowed just two earned runs in 5.2 innings of work. His stuff was on point in that game, as he struck out six batters and walked just one in the game. If he can come through with a similar performance then the Dodgers would be extremely satisfied. Some guys to keep an eye on offensively in this one are 1B Adrian Gonzalez (.299, 5 HR, 27 RBI), OF Howie Kendrick (.231, 2 HR, 10 RBI) and OF Carl Crawford (.205, 0 HR, 6 RBI). Gonzalez has been on a tear for Los Angeles recently, racking up 10 hits in the past 10 games. He is, however, 0-for-6 against Lester in his career and will need to figure out a way to get on base in this one. Kendrick and Crawford, meanwhile, are a combined 17-for-61 with seven RBI and five doubles against Lester in their careers. It’s not a definite that either will be in the lineup in this game, but perhaps they could provide a spark at the plate for the Dodgers on Wednesday.

Jon Lester will be on the mound for the Cubs on Wednesday and he has been having a great season for Chicago. Lester has, however, allowed 12 hits over his past 9.0 innings of work and will need to be a bit better in this one. If the Dodgers are constantly getting guys on base then they will make Lester pay eventually. Offensively, the Cubs will need some production out of guys like 1B Anthony Rizzo (.236, 11 HR, 37 RBI), OF Jason Heyward (.220, 1 HR, 18 RBI) and 2B Ben Zobrist (.345, 7 HR, 35 RBI). Rizzo is one of Chicago’s most dangerous hitters but he is just 3-for-15 over the past five games and he has not homered in any of those contests. The Cubs need him to start displaying his power and it’d be big if he can do so on Wednesday. Heyward, meanwhile, has been a massive disappointment for Chicago. He has, however, gotten hits in four of the past five games and perhaps he is turning the corner. Zobrist is the only guy that has consistently hit for Chicago this year. He has 16 hits in the past 10 games and should be able to continue to get on base at a high rate this season.


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