NLCS Series Preview: Cubs and Dodgers, October 14 – October 22, 2017

I’ll tell you what, I’m sure not getting sick of writing up these Series Previews. In fact, I wouldn’t even mind if the Cubs forced me to write one more before the year is up.

All it’ll take is four measly wins against the Los Angeles Dodgers. They can manage that, right?

We’re Going Streaking

The Chicago Cubs (3-2) beat the Nationals to advance to the NLCS, but it took all five games. Their starters and bullpen are all taxed and they won’t have home field advantage in this one either.

The Los Angeles Dodgers (3-0), on the other hand, swept the Diamondbacks in their series, which means their starters and relievers are much better rested. We took a look at the NLCS odds earlier, and, as you can image, the Cubs are the obvious underdogs in this one.

Game Times and Broadcasts

Location: Dodger Stadium/Wrigley Field

Dodger Stadium

  • Saturday, October 14 at 7:00 CT on TBS, 670 The Score
  • Sunday, October 15 at 6:30 CT on TBS, 670 The Score
  • Wrigley Field (Check Tickets at StubHub Here)

  • Tuesday, October 17 at 8:00 CT on TBS, 670 The Score
  • Wednesday, October 18 at 8:00* CT on TBS, 670 The Score
  • (If necessary) Thursday, October 19 at 7:00 CT on TBS, 670 The Score
  • Dodger Stadium 

  • (If necessary) Saturday, October 21 at 3:00* CT on TBS, 670 The Score
  • (If necessary) Sunday, October 22 at 6:30 CT on TBS, 670 The Score
  • *Those games are 7:00 if the ALCS is over.

    Expected Starters and Lineups

    These lineups are likely to be pretty close to what gets fielded, but you’ll want to check each day’s Lineup or Pre-Gamin’ post for the actual lineup.

    Chicago Cubs

    Starters (order unannounced):

  • Jose Quintana (4.15 ERA, 3.68 FIP, 3.73 xFIP; 3.39 K/BB) – L
  • Jon Lester (4.33 ERA, 4.10 FIP, 3.85 xFIP; 3.00 K/BB) – L
  • Jake Arrieta (3.53 ERA, 4.16 FIP, 4.11 xFIP; 2.96 K/BB) – R
  • Kyle Hendricks (3.03 ERA, 3.88 FIP, 3.76 xFIP; 3.08 K/BB) – R
  • Game 5: We’ll see.
  • Game 6: We’ll see.
  • Game 7: We’ll see.
  • Approximate Lineup:

    1. Jon Jay, CF
    2. Kris Bryant, 3B
    3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
    4. Willson Contreras, C
    5. Ben Zobrist, LF
    6. Addison Russell, SS
    7. Jason Heyward, RF
    8. Javy Baez, 2B
    9. Pitcher

    Los Angeles Dodgers

    Starters (order announced):

  • Clayton Kershaw (2.31 ERA, 3.07 FIP, 2.84 xFIP; 6.73 K/BB) – L
  • Rich Hill (3.32 ERA, 3.72 FIP, 3.88 xFIP; 3.39 K/BB) – L
  • Yu Darvish (3.86 ERA, 3.83 FIP, 3.65 xFIP; 3.60 K/BB) – R
  • Alex Wood (2.72 ERA, 3.32 FIP, 3.34 xFIP; 3.97 K/BB) – L
  • Clayton Kershaw
  • Game 6: We’ll See.
  • Game 7: We’ll See.
  • Approximate Lineup:

    1. Chris Taylor, CF
    2. Corey Seager, SS
    3. Justin Turner, 3B
    4. Cody Bellinger, 1B
    5. Yasiel Puig, RF
    6. Curtis Granderson, LF
    7. Yasmani Grandal/Austin Barnes, C
    8. Logan Forsythe, 2B
    9. Pitcher

    Hot or Not and Whom to Watch

    Chicago Cubs – Pitching

    The Chicago Cubs starting pitching in the NLDS was absolutely brilliant through the first three games:

    Kyle Hendricks: 7.0 IP, 2H, 0ER, 3BB, 6K
    Jon Lester: 6.0 IP, 2H, 1ER, 2BB, 2K
    Jose Quintana: 5.2 IP, 2H, 0ER, 1BB, 7Ks

    But with things on the line in Games Four (a tough road matchup looming) and Five (elimination), Joe Maddon played things tight with his starters, Arrieta and Hendricks, who both exited after just 4.0 innings. It’s fair to assume, however, with extra rest for the former and a non-elimination game for the latter (combined with facing the Dodgers without having just seen them a few days earlier), each will go deeper in his next start.

    The bullpen … struggled. Let’s just leave it there for now. We can take a closer look as the NLCS goes on.

    Chicago Cubs – Offense

    Doesn’t it feel like Ben Zobrist had a big series? Well, despite scoring three runs, he didn’t knock any in and slashed just .235/.278/.353; 63 wRC+. Strange. I guess he came through at big moments.

    You know who DID have a big series? Jon Jay. In 15 plate appearances, Jay slashed .273/.429/.455 with a 142 wRC+ and just a 13.3% strikeout rate. With so many lefties in the Dodgers rotation (we’ll get to that in a minute), his reverse-split bat will loom large.

    You can also expect to see a TON of Albert Almora this series (he’ll probably start every non-Yu Darvish started game), and that’s good because 1. he crushes lefties and 2. he had a good series against the Nationals. He may have gotten only 7 plate appearances, but he recorded two hits (.333 AVG) and a walk (.429 OBP) while providing quality defense in center field.

    And because you may see slightly less Jason Heyward this time around, Almora’s glove in center field will be much appreciated.

    Los Angeles Dodgers – Pitching

    Although the Cubs just had to fight their way through the likes of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and company, their test against top tier arms doesn’t end in Los Angeles.

    Obviously, the Dodgers will throw Clayton Kershaw in Games One and Five (if necessary), and he’ll probably even be available out of the pen in Game Six/Seven if needed. But he’s not all they have.

    On top of the best pitcher of this generation, the Dodgers have a I-can’t-believe-he’s-still-rocking-it Rich Hill (3.32 ERA, 30.1 K% this season), a oh-yeah-he’s-on-the-Dodgers-now Yu Darvish (3.44 ERA, 30.2 K%, 6.4 BB% with Dodgers this season), and a relatively healthy Alex Wood, who’s had a career year in Los Angeles (2.72 ERA, 3.4 fWAR).

    They all strike a lot of guys out and walk very few …. and if you know anything about the Cubs hitters, it’s probably that they strike out a lot. So brace yourself.

    And don’t forget about Kenley Jansen, the 3.5 fWAR RELIEVER, who paired an unbelievable 42.3 K% with an even more unbelievable 2.7 BB% this season. Oh, and he just loves going more than one inning. So, yeah. This should be a tough one.

    Los Angeles Dodgers – Offense

    And then, of course, there’s the Dodgers’ offense.

    To be honest, despite having some very potent bats, the Dodgers’ lineup isn’t nearly as scary as the Nationals. In fact, their 4.75 runs scored per game this season ranked just 12th (!) in MLB, a full eight spots behind the Cubs.

    Even still, they have guys like Justin Turner, who just may be the 2017 NL MVP, Cody Bellinger, who just may be the 2017 NL Rookie of the Year (he will), and Corey Seager, who nearly won both awards last year and is having another great year at the plate. Even their lesser known guys like Chris Taylor had a top 20 wRC+ in the NL this season, so this is far from an easy lineup.

    In game one against the D-Backs, Justin Turner had a particularly big game, going 3-5 with a homer and 5 RBI and he added three more hits before the series was over.

    Even Yasiel Puig isn’t the guy you remember getting demoted to Triple-A last year. In 2017 he slashed .263/.346/.487 (117 wRC+). The Cubs pitchers will not have an easy go at it.

    But the Cubs have won as underdogs before and they can do it again. A second straight World Series trip is on the line.

    written by

    Michael Cerami began covering the Chicago Cubs for Bleacher Nation as a part-time contributor in 2015. One year later, he joined Bleacher Nation full-time, covering the Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball. Today, Michael runs Bleacher Nation, contributing as a writer (Cubs, MLB) and an editor for all sections of the site, including the Chicago Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks, as well as MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL. In 2019, Michael was the co-host of NBC Sports Chicago's Cubs Post-Game Show Outside the Ivy. You can find him on Twitter/X @Michael_Cerami

    more cubs news

    Justin Steele Injury Update: New Classification, MRI Tomorrow, IL Stint Coming? Steele and Counsell Speak

    A significant update on Justin Steele came from Craig Counsell tonight after the Cubs extra innings loss in Texas. In short: Yes, a stint on the Injured List is likely for Justin Steele. But we still don't know how severe...

    Enhanced Box Score: Rangers 4, Cubs 3 – March 28, 2024

    It took exactly one day for the Cubs' ace to sustain what may be a significant injury, for their closer to blow a save, for the umpires to significantly impact the outcome of a critical play (this time in the...

    OMG: Michael Busch Scored the 9th Inning, GO-AHEAD Run, Because He Just Never Stopped Running

    That was absolutely incredible. To all the little kids out there, when your coach tells you to never stop running, this is why. Rookie Cubs 1B Michael Busch (the guy the Cubs got from the Dodgers this offseason to be...

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Rangers – Lineups, Pitching Matchup, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    *SHORT COURTS: It's Time To Bring The Home Court, Home! Looking for a unique way to celebrate your athlete or team before you peruse the FIRST CHICAGO CUBS LINEUP of the Year? Don't miss out! For just one more week...

    The Cubs Are Among the Most Returning-y Teams

    I am still mostly incapacitated at the moment, so apologies for the short shrift on such an otherwise blessed day. In between pokes and prods, I wanted to share a chart I saw that was pretty interesting, even if unsurprising:...

    Maybe the Cubs Are the Favorites in the NL Central, After All?

    ESPN was the first to throw some love the Cubs way this week, with an overwhelming majority of their writers, analysts, and editors picking the Chicago Cubs to win the NL Central in 2024. But the love doesn't end there....

    The Season Begins, Love for Morel, Counsell’s Value, and Other Cubs Bullets

    You know where you want to spend your Opening Day morning? The hospital! Suffice to say, this is not how I imagined getting HYPED for the Cubs' opener. I guess I'll just have to think about all the possible lineup...

    Cubs vs Rangers: The First Series of the Year!

    Cubs vs Rangers — THE REGULAR SEASON IS HERE! Wake up and rejoice. Later tonight, the Cubs will begin their march toward October Baseball against the (reigning World Series champion) Texas Rangers in Arlington. Justin Steele is getting the nod...

    The 2024 Chicago Cubs for Dummies

    Boom. We made it. The offseason is over, and the Cubs regular season - and those elevated expectations - begins tomorrow. But in case you slept through the winter, I'm here to catch you up on everything you need to...

    I’m Expecting More This Year, Cubs — It’s Time to Start Winning

    There's no way around it: The Chicago Cubs did *not* have the offseason we hoped they might after making Craig Counsell the highest paid manager in MLB history. Not that they did poorly, mind you. Cody Bellinger, Shota Imanaga, and...

    Latest News

    Best NBA Prop Bets Today – Friday, March 29, 2024

    Today's NBA schedule has 12 quality competitions in store. Among those games is the Minnesota Timberwolves playing the Denver Nuggets.NBA prop bets for today's games are available, so if you're interested in placing a bet or building a parlay, you'll...

    Updated Elite 8 Odds: UConn Betting Favorite To Win March Madness

    There were some great performances last night including a 30-point win by the UConn Huskies sending them to the Elite Eight. Are they the betting favorite to win March Madness? What team is sitting on top of the odds to...

    UConn vs. Illinois Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets – NCAA Tournament Round Elite Eight

    The No. 1 seed UConn Huskies (34-3) are 8.5-point favorites to advance to the Final Four when they play the No. 3 seed Illinois Fighting Illini (29-8) in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight on Saturday at TD Garden, airing on...

    Alabama vs. Clemson Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets – NCAA Tournament Round Elite Eight

    The No. 4 seed Alabama Crimson Tide (24-11) and No. 6 seed Clemson Tigers (24-11) will both be vying for a spot in the NCAA Tournament Final Four when they meet on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena, tipping off at 8:49...

    How to Watch UConn Huskies vs. Illinois Fighting Illini: Live Stream or on TV

    The No. 1 seed UConn Huskies (34-3) will take on the No. 3 seed Illinois Fighting Illini (29-8) in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight on Saturday at TD Garden, airing on TBS starting at 6:09 PM ET.UConn won its previous...

    Alabama vs. Clemson: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The No. 6 seed Clemson Tigers (24-11) will take the court for an NCAA Tournament Elite Eight matchup with the No. 4 seed Alabama Crimson Tide (24-11) on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena, airing on TBS beginning at 8:49 PM ET,...

    Today’s March Madness Schedule: Updated Bracket, TV Channels for Every Game

    We saw some wild games last night as the Sweet 16 started hot as March Madness continues. There are great matchups tonight worth checking out. Take a look at today's March Madness schedule for Friday, March 29. The Sweet 16...

    Big Ten Basketball Predictions, Computer Picks and Best Bets | March 29

    There is one game on the postseason college basketball schedule on Friday that feature Big Ten squads, and we have best bets recomendations. That matchup is the Gonzaga Bulldogs versus the Purdue Boilermakers.How to Bet on Big Ten Games[lasso ref="draftkings-promo-1"...

    SEC Basketball Predictions, Computer Picks and Best Bets | March 30

    The Friday postseason college basketball slate includes two games featuring an SEC team in action. Among those games is the Creighton Bluejays playing the Tennessee Volunteers. Here are our recomendations for the best bets on action throughout the conference.How to...

    Big 12 Basketball Predictions, Computer Picks and Best Bets | March 30

    There is one game on the postseason college basketball schedule on Friday that feature Big 12 squads, and we have best bets recomendations. That matchup is the Duke Blue Devils versus the Houston Cougars.How to Bet on Big 12 Games[lasso...

    more cubs news