The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs are headed for a National League Championship Series rematch, which they enter off a vastly different set of circumstances.
The Dodgers swept the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL Division Series, while the Cubs and Washington Nationals went to a decided Game 5. What’s more, because Game 4 at Wrigley Field was rained out and postponed and the Nationals forced a Game 5, the teams played on back-to-back days.
This season, it was Los Angeles who finished with the best record in baseball and hold home-field advantage not only through the NL playoffs but World Series as well.
There were six head-to-head meetings between the Cubs and Dodgers during the regular season, with Wrigley Field and Dodger Stadium each playing host to a three-game set.
Ahead of Game 1 of the NLCS on Saturday night, we review those regular-season matchups.
Series at Wrigley Field
April 10: Cubs 3, Dodgers 2
Ironically enough, the Cubs hosted the Dodgers in their 2017 home opener and received their World Series rings before first pitch. They then got off to a good start against Alex Wood as they took an early 2-0 lead on a double by Kris Bryant and fielder’s choice by Jon Lester.
The Dodgers fought back, though, scoring a run off Lester in the sixth on a double by Corey Seager and then another in the eighth to tie the game on an error by shortstop Addison Russell.
Chicago proved why they were the World Champions on this night, as they came away with a walk-off win on a flair single by Anthony Rizzo in the bottom of the ninth off Sergio Romo, securing a 3-2 victory.
April 12: Dodgers 2, Cubs 0
The Dodgers got their revenge in the second game of the series, although the main contributors were players that won’t be on the NLCS roster.
Brandon McCarthy turned in perhaps his best start of the season, tossing six shutout innings while allowing just four hits, striking out four and walking three.
Both of the Dodgers runs came courtesy of Andrew Toles, as he hit a leadoff home run off John Lackey and then in the ninth inning Toles reached base on a strikeout and error that allowed Utley to score, giving the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.
The insurance run ended up not being needed, as Kenley Jansen retired the Cubs on just 10 pitches in the 2-0 victory.
April 13: Cubs 4, Dodgers 0
The final game of the series at Wrigley Field against featured pitchers that won’t factor into the 2017 NLCS, as Hyun-Jin Ryu squared off against former Dodgers southpaw Brett Anderson, who is no longer with the Cubs organization.
The Cubs touched Ryu up for four runs in 4.2 innings, with Rizzo and Russell both taking him deep. Anderson pitched well enough to win, tossing five shutout innings.
The Cubs bullpen was flawless behind him as Carl Edwards Jr., Koji Uehara and Wade Davis combined for four shutout innings in the Cubs victory.
Series at Dodger Stadium
May 26: Dodgers 4, Cubs 0
Six weeks later, Wood again took the mound in a series opener, this time squaring off against Jake Arrieta.
Wood was much improved a second time facing the Cubs as he threw five scoreless innings in dominant fashion. He struck out out eight while only allowing two hits.
The Dodgers were able to get to Arrieta for four runs in six innings, as Utley and Adrian Gonzalez both homered, and Yasmani Grandal added an RBI-double.
The Los Angeles bullpen was again lights out, as Pedro Baez and Chris Hatcher threw two shutout innings apiece to seal the win.
May 27: Dodgers 5, Cubs 0
Perhaps Dodgers manager Dave Roberts should consider McCarthy for the NLCS roster, because he put together another solid outing against the Cubs in the second game of the series at Dodger Stadium.
McCarthy tossed six shutout innings and limited Chicago to only two hits and a walk. He struck out six batters.
Utley and Chris Taylor did some damage against Lackey, as Utley homered off him in the fourth and hit an RBI-single in the fifth. That came after Taylor hit a three-run home run.
Ross Stripling relieved McCarthy and went the distance, earning a three-inning save by allowing just one hit and striking out two to complete the second shutout in as many days for the Dodgers.
May 28: Dodgers 9, Cubs 4
The regular-season series finale between the two teams featured two aces in Jon Lester and Clayton Kershaw, but the result was not what everyone expected it to be.
Lester gave up seven hits and six runs in 3.2 innings, while Kershaw gave up 11 hits and four runs in 4.1 innings in the offensive outburst.
The Dodgers offense all came via the home run, as Cody Bellinger and Kiké Hernandez both hit three-run home runs off Lester, and Austin Barnes and Yasiel Puig both homered in the later innings.
After Kershaw could not get out of the fifth inning, the Dodgers bullpen was flawless, finishing the game with 4.2 hitless innings, striking out six and allowing just one walk.
