The Chicago Cubs (42-35, 16-22 away) and Los Angeles Dodgers (46-31, 25-13 home) conclude their four-game set Sunday night on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. Los Angeles has taken two of three from the Cubs this series.
Sunday night’s first pitch is slated for 7 p.m. at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. The Dodgers are a heavy (-195) head-to-head favorite, and the run total is 8.
What to Know – Los Angeles Dodgers
After getting swept by the San Diego Padres during the week, the Dodgers responded with two wins against the Cubbies. The Dodgers sit in second place in the National League East standings, 4.5 games behind the San Francisco Giants. Los Angeles and San Francisco get together for a quick two-game series beginning Monday.
Clayton Kershaw (8-7, 3.43 ERA, 1.01 WHIP) is the expected starter for the Dodgers. The lefty is looking to get back in the win column after suffering a pair of losses in his last two trips to the mound. However, the 33-year old has been effective in his previous three starts, surrendering five earned runs over 18 innings pitched.
Los Angeles is 5-5 over their last ten games and hitting .211 as a team in those contests. Third baseman Justin Turner has shined in the first half of the season, hitting .288 with a team-high 40 runs driven in. First baseman Max Muncy leads the Dodgers with 15 home runs and adds 36 RBIs.
What to Know – Chicago Cubs
Chicago looks to get back on track after a pair of losses to the Dodgers and maintain their position in the NL Central. The Cubs have fallen to second place in the standings, two games back of the Milwaukee Brewers. Chicago heads to Milwaukee following tonight’s game for a three-game set beginning Monday.
Chicago counters on the mound with Adbert Alzolay (4-6, 4.19 ERA, 1.03 WHIP). The record might not show it, but the 26-year old has shined this season in his first full season on the roster. Like Kershaw, Alzolay is looking to get back into the win column after a pair of losses.
The Cubs are 4-6 over their last since games with an unimpressive .170 team batting average during that stretch. Shortstop Javier Baez had a rough 2020 season but looked to have found his swing this year, leading the Cubs with 17 home runs and 46 RBIs. Third baseman Kris Bryant has also seen a 2021 resurgence at the plate, batting .268 with 15 home runs, 41 RBIs, and 45 runs scored.
The Pick
These teams have gone at it this weekend, showcasing the talent that each squad has rostered. We get a veteran star versus future star pitching matchup that will entertain the national audience.
Kershaw didn’t pitch well when he faced the Cubs, so you can bet the veteran star will have a bit of extra motivation Sunday night. Additionally, Alzolay is 1-4 in road starts, so we will be riding with the host in this one.
Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (+110)
