Cubs Vs. Dodgers Game Preview: Chance For First Ever Season Series Sweep

The Los Angeles Dodgers have a chance to complete a series sweep of the Chicago Cubs and increase their winning streak to seven games.

If the Dodgers win, it would mark their first four-game sweep of the Cubs since Aug. 1-4, 2013, and the first time they have done so at Dodger Stadium since July 15-18, 1965. Additionally, a win would make them 7-0 against the Cubs this year, which would be the first time they have swept a season series.

With their winning streak, the Dodgers have grown their lead in the National League West to seven games ahead of the second-place San Diego Padres and their lead over the New York Mets for the best record in the NL to 2.5 games.

Julio Urías makes his 17th start of the season, looking to build on a recent run of success and cement his case for the NL All-Star team.

In June, Urías posted a 2.20 ERA across 28.2 innings and followed that by starting his July with six innings of one run ball against the Colorado Rockies. The 25-year-old has attributed the success to making mechanical adjustments that allowed him to be more consistent.

Overall this season, the left-hander owns a 2.57 ERA and 3.92 FIP while striking out 23.9% of hitters and walking 6.0% in 87.2 innings.

The Cubs counter with a southpaw of their own in Drew Smyly, who was just activated off the 15-day injured list after missing all of June with an oblique injury.

Smyly has thrown 42.2 innings this season while pitching to a 3.80 ERA, 4.72 FIP and striking out 18.9% of hitters while walking 5.6%. He previously faced the Dodgers on May 7 and pitched 4.1 innings while giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

This season, the Dodgers are batting .252/.329/.432 with 108 home runs and 395 RBI while the Cubs are batting .246/.321/.396 with 84 home runs and 343 RBI. Over the previous six matchups between the two clubs, L.A. has outscored Chicago 33-11.

Justin Turner has hit safely in seven consecutive games and Gavin Lux is on a six-game hitting streak.

Dodgers lineup

RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Trea Turner
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
3B: Justin Turner
DH: Max Muncy
CF: Trayce Thompson
2B: Hanser Alberto
LF: Gavin Lux

Cubs lineup

CF: Christopher Morel
DH: Wilson Conteras
LF: Ian Happ
3B: Patrick Wisdom
SS: Nico Hoerner
C: P.J. Higgins
RF: Nelson Velazquez
1B: David Bote
2B: Andrelton Simmons

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