<p>
National League pennant contenders collide when the Dodgers and Cubs begin a four-game series at Chavez Ravine Thursday night. Who do we like here for our free MLB pick?
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<h2>
MLB Betting Odds<br />
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<p>
Thursday's MLB betting odds opened LA at around -185 over Chicago, with an over/under of eight runs. Early betting action then dipped that line up to -180.
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</div>
<h2>
Cubs vs. Dodgers Set-Up<br />
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<p>
Chicago just lost two of three games at Colorado earlier this week, avoiding the sweep by winning Wednesday 10-1. Just before that, the Cubs swept three games at home from St. Louis, and just before that they took two of three from the Rockies at Wrigley. So Chicago is 7-3 over its last 10 games.
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<p>
At 38-29 overall the Cubbies sit in second place in the NL Central, a half-game behind division-leading Milwaukee. Chicago also owns the top spot in the National League wild-card standings.
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Los Angeles, meanwhile, just got swept two games by the Angels in Anaheim, falling Tuesday 5-3. The Dodgers then had Wednesday off.
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<p>
Just before that LA took two of three games at San Francisco, and just before that the Dodgers took two of three at Arizona.
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<p>
Even though Los Angeles is only 2-4 over its last six games at 45-23 overall, it leads the NL West by 9.5 games over both the Rockies and Diamondbacks. The Dodgers are also six games ahead of both the Braves and Brewers in the battle for the best record in the National League.
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<p>
This series is the second meeting between these teams this season; back in April the Cubs took two of three games from the Dodgers at the Friendly Confines.
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<h2>
Thursday's Starting Arms<br />
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<p>
Lefty Kershaw, by our stringent standards, is 7/10 on quality starts this season, and two for his last two. Last Friday he held the Giants to two runs and six hits through seven innings, although Los Angeles lost that game 2-1. And just before that he held Philadelphia to one unearned run and six hits through seven frames of a 4-3 Dodgers victory.
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<p>
LA is 9-1 with Kershaw this season.
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<p>
In his only start against Chicago, last season Kershaw allowed just one run and four hits through five innings, although the Dodgers lost that game 11-5.
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<p>
Fellow southpaw Lester 6/12 on quality starts this season but only one for his last five. Last Saturday he gave up four runs and two home runs in six innings of a 9-4 Cubs win over the Cardinals. But over his last five starts, he's allowed 21 ER and 34 hits through 27 innings.
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<p>
The Cubbies are 7-5 with Lester this season, 2-0 over his last two starts.
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<p>
Over his last three starts against Los Angeles, two last year and one back in April of this season, Lester allowed just three runs and 13 hits through 17 innings. Chicago won two of those three games.
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<h2>
Thursday's Batting Splits<br />
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<p>
Chicago is batting .239/.334/.443 against left-handed pitching this season. Cubs bats have also scored at least five runs seven times in their last 10 games.
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Los Angeles is batting .251/.337/.425 against LH pitching this season. But Dodgers bats have also been held to three runs or less five times in their last six games.
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<h2>
The Bullpens<br />
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<p>
The Cubs bullpen owns a 4.30 ERA this season and a 1.44 WHIP.
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The Dodgers pen owns a 4.34 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP.
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<h2>
Totals Report<br />
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<ul>
<li>
Overs are 35-31 in Cubs games this season.
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<li>
Unders are 33-32 in Dodgers games this season.
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Overs are 15-14 in games played at Dodger Stadium this season.
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Overs are 8-3 with Lester this season.
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<p><section></p>
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<span style="font-size:16px;"><b><span style="color:#008000;">Get more details:</span></b> <a class="advblue" href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/matchup/1078313">Chicago Cubs at LA Dodgers MLB Match-up Stats </a> </span>
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</ul>
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