Not many series in June can have massive implications for the MLB postseason in October. But the four-game set between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs, which starts Thursday night at Dodger Stadium, sure seems like an exception.
Despite their recent 2-4 skid, the Dodgers still have the best record in the National League at 45-23. The Cubs sit seven games back of that at 38-29, good for first place in the current NL Wild cCrd standings.
Chicago is just a half-game ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies there, and half a game behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central standings.
Both the Dodgers and Cubs send decorated veteran left-handers to the mound in Thursday’s series opener, as Clayton Kershaw starts opposite Jon Lester. Both pitchers, along with several of their teammates, are no stranger to high-stakes games against the other side.
Kershaw and Lester pitched in the 2016 and 2017 NL Championship Series; in Kershaw’s case, he pitched in the deciding game of both series. The Cubs, of course, won the 2016 matchup in six games while the Dodgers got revenge the next year in five games.
All four MVPs of those two series take the field Thursday: Lester and Javier Baez for the Cubs, and Justin Turner and Chris Taylor for the Dodgers. And along with Cody Bellinger, the game will feature every NLCS MVP from the past three years.
Taylor and Kiké Hernandez will likely see their playing time increase despite their 2019 struggles thanks to Corey Seager’s hamstring strain. The Dodgers have not set a timetable but he figures to miss at least one month after officially being placed on the 10-day injured list.
Taylor gets the first opportunity to start in place of Seager at shortstop, as he’s batting fifth. Hernandez is also in the lineup, though playing left field.
The Dodgers and Cubs faced off at Wrigley Field earlier this season, when Chicago took two of three in the series. However, the Cubs fair far worse on the road, as they have just a 14-18 record in away games this season compared to a 24-11 record at home.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, are 25-7 at home in 2019, including a 9-1 record in their last 10 games at Dodger Stadium.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Kiké Hernandez
3B: Justin Turner
1B: David Freese
LF: Cody Bellinger
SS: Chris Taylor
2B: Max Muncy
CF: Alex Verdugo
C: Austin Barnes
P: Clayton Kershaw
Cubs lineup:
LF: Kyle Schwarber
RF: Kris Bryant
1B: Anthony Rizzo
SS: Javier Baez
C: Willson Contreras
CF: Albert Almora Jr.
2B: Addison Russell
P: Jon Lester
3B: David Bote
