Chicago Cubs at LA Dodgers MLB Playoff Predictions for Game 3
Written October 4, 2008 by Jack Jones
It seemed like all of Chicago thought that this was the year for the Cubs. After 100 years without a World Series title, this year’s team seemed poised to end the drought. However, after the first two games of the series with the Dodgers, there isn’t much room for optimism left for Cubbie fans. Chicago will be trying to put an end to an eight-game playoff losing streak and second straight sweep when they head to Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers. The good news for Chicago fans is that the odds are in favor of the team winning as the Cubs are -131 favorites at Bookmaker. This means that you will have to bet $131 to win $100.
The regular season belonged to the Cubs, who had the most runs in the National League, and also the best record. The team was 55-26 at home, but that didn’t keep them from self-destructing over their first two games at Wrigley in this series.
Ryan Dempster started Game 1 and uncharacteristically walked seven batters, then in Game 2 every one of the starting infielders committed an error. Meanwhile the offense has gone on vacation, hitting just .235 with men in scoring position. This is just more of the same from the Cubs, who have now lost eight in a row since taking that 3-1 lead against Florida, then the Bartman play put the jinx back in the team’s mind.
Lou Piniella is going to try to alter his lineup a little bit to turn things around. On the bench will be Kosuke Fukudome, who is hitting just .173 since August 2nd. He is hitless in eight at bats with four strikeouts in the series.
Cubs fans should know how difficult the task is before them as no National League team has come back from an 0-2 deficit, and only one American League team has risen to the challenge after losing the first two games at home.
Rich Harden will be the Cub starter trying to stop the bleeding and he’s 5-1 with a 1.77 ERA during his stint with the team. He needs to get his control back after walking 11 hitters in his last 11 innings, but as an NFL starter he has struck out 89 and allowed just 39 hits over 71 innings. He has started one postseason game before and allowed three runs, walked five in just 5 2/3 innings against Detroit in the 2006 AL Championship series.
The Dodgers made a big regular season trade of their own in Manny Ramirez and it has been paying off big. The star has homered in each of the first two games against the Cubs, and in 53 regular season games with the Dodgers had 17 home runs and 53 RBIs while batting .396.
Everything seems to be going right at this time for the Dodgers, who are trying to win their first playoff series since 1988. They are getting timely hitting and solid pitching from Derek Lowe and Chad Billingsley.
Now they send out Hiroki Kuroda to the mound, who allowed only 1 ER in 15 1/3 innings against the Cubs this year. If you think that he can keep his domination up against Chicago, then bet the Dodgers at +123 at BodogLife with a chance to win $123 for every $100 you wager.
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