PREMIUM
Stephen Nover's Playoff Game of the Year
(MLB) Chi Cubs vs. LA Dodgers,
Money Line: -152.00 Chi Cubs (Away)
Result: Win
Money Line: -152.00 Chi Cubs (Away)
Result: Win
Not only did the Cubs break out of their slump, but they got their swagger and confidence back in their 10-2 road win against the Dodgers Wednesday.
Now the Cubs have a huge pitching edge in today's Game 5 matchup of lefty Jon Lester against Kenta Maeda.
Not only did Lester have a Cy Young Award-worthy regular season, but he's a postseason monster giving up just one run in 14 playoff innings. No team had a harder time hitting lefties this season than the Dodgers. LA ranked last in batting average versus southpaws at .213. The Dodgers also were last against lefties in OBP, OPS and slugging percentage. They've been helpless against Lester, who has a 0.86 ERA versus the Dodgers in three starts spanning 21 innings this season, including Game 1 of this series.
Chicago is 24-7 in Lester's last 31 starts. The Cubs also have rested dominant lefty Aroldis Chapman to close.
By contrast, Maeda has been terrible. He hasn't reached the fifth inning in any of his last four starts, including his last one against the Cubs in Game 1 of this NLCS yielding three runs in four innings. Before that outing, Maeda had allowed 12 runs in three starts spanning only 9 2/3 innings.
Maeda has hit the wall giving up 12 runs in his last three starts spanning only 9 2/3 innings, the last coming this past Sunday in a loss to the Giants.
Now the Cubs have a huge pitching edge in today's Game 5 matchup of lefty Jon Lester against Kenta Maeda.
Not only did Lester have a Cy Young Award-worthy regular season, but he's a postseason monster giving up just one run in 14 playoff innings. No team had a harder time hitting lefties this season than the Dodgers. LA ranked last in batting average versus southpaws at .213. The Dodgers also were last against lefties in OBP, OPS and slugging percentage. They've been helpless against Lester, who has a 0.86 ERA versus the Dodgers in three starts spanning 21 innings this season, including Game 1 of this series.
Chicago is 24-7 in Lester's last 31 starts. The Cubs also have rested dominant lefty Aroldis Chapman to close.
By contrast, Maeda has been terrible. He hasn't reached the fifth inning in any of his last four starts, including his last one against the Cubs in Game 1 of this NLCS yielding three runs in four innings. Before that outing, Maeda had allowed 12 runs in three starts spanning only 9 2/3 innings.
Maeda has hit the wall giving up 12 runs in his last three starts spanning only 9 2/3 innings, the last coming this past Sunday in a loss to the Giants.
