Cubs at Dodgers
After going all-in to close out the National League Division Series and facing Clayton Kershaw in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series, the Chicago Cubs figured they might be in this position. The Los Angeles Dodgers can keep the defending World Series champions on the ropes with another victory at home on Sunday.
Albert Almora Jr. gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead in the opener with a two-run blast off Kershaw in the fourth inning, but he wound up being the team’s last baserunner. Kershaw retired the final six batters he faced and the Dodgers’ bullpen set down 12 straight to close out a 5-2 victory. Chicago's bats need to bounce back against veteran Rich Hill, who was drafted by the Cubs and went 18-17 with a 4.37 ERA over his first four major-league seasons with the club from 2005-08. The Dodgers have belted five home runs while winning their first four playoff games and will try to keep it going against Jon Lester, who is slated to start on three days’ rest after an extended relief outing in Game 4 of the NLDS against Washington.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, TBS
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Jon Lester (13-8, 4.33 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Rich Hill (12-8, 3.32)
Lester was outstanding in one start and one relief appearance in the NLDS, allowing two runs and three hits over 9 2/3 innings. The 33-year-old is the active leader in postseason innings pitched with 143 1/3 and owns a 9-7 record and 2.57 ERA in 24 playoff appearances (20 starts). Lester is 2-3 with a 3.89 ERA in seven career regular-season starts against the Dodgers and went 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two starts in last year’s NLCS matchup.
Hill started Game 2 of the NLDS against Arizona, allowing two runs and three hits over four innings of a no-decision. The 37-year-old is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in five career postseason starts. Hill has made only one relief appearance against his former team in the regular season, but he limited the Cubs to two hits over six scoreless innings of a win in Game 3 of last year’s NLCS.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Cubs registered four hits in Game 1, marking the third time in six games this postseason they have recorded fewer than five.
2. Dodgers RHP Kenley Jansen struck out all four batters he faced in the series opener for his 11th postseason save, tying him with Jason Isringhausen and Robb Nen for the fourth-most in MLB history.
3. Los Angeles SS Charlie Culberson, a late addition to the NLCS roster to replace injured star Corey Seager (back), notched a double and a sacrifice fly in Game 1.