Thursday, October 20, 2016

Dodger Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Jon Lester vs. Kenta Maeda

The Chicago Cubs visit Dodger Stadium on Thursday to play the Los Angeles Dodgers. The probable starters are Jon Lester for the Cubs and Kenta Maeda for the Dodgers. The Cubs have a 75-79-8 over/under record and a 87-75-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 54% of the time. The Dodgers are 81-81-0 against the run line and have a 69-83-10 over/under record. They cover the spread 50% of the time.

The Cubs head into this matchup with a 103-58 record, including 46-34 on the road. Starting pitcher Jon Lester has a 19-5 record with an earned run average of 2.44 and a WHIP of 1.02. He has 197 strikeouts over his 202.2 innings pitched and he has given up 154 hits so far this season. He has allowed 6.8 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 3.41. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 3.50 and they have given up 365 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .208 against the bullpen while being struck out 519 times and walking 199 times this season. As a team, Chicago has allowed 6.92 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.88 batters per nine. They are 1st in the league in team earned run average at 3.13. The Cubs pitchers have collectively given up 1,125 base hits and 511 earned runs. They have allowed 163 home runs this season and they allow 1.1 homers per nine innings as a staff. Chicago as a pitching staff has walked 495 batters and struck out 1,441. They walk 3.1 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.9 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.11 and their FIP as a unit is 3.77.

As a team, Chicago is batting .256, good for 14th in the league while putting together a .258 average away from home. The Cubs hold a .429 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .343 which is good for 2nd in baseball. They rank 18th in baseball with 8.7 hits per game. Ben Zobrist comes into this game hitting .272 and his on-base percentage is at .386. He has 142 hits this season along with 94 runs scored and 76 runs batted in. He's struck out 82 times and has walked 96 times. Addison Russell is hitting .238 and he has an on-base percentage of .321. He has totaled 125 hits so far while scoring 67 runs and he's driven in 95. He has walked 55 times and has struck out 135 times. The Cubs have 1,409 hits, including 293 doubles and 199 home runs. They've stolen 66 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 34 times. Chicago has walked 656 times this season and they've struck out 1,339 times as a unit. They've left 1,217 men on base and have a team OPS of .772. They score 4.99 runs per contest and have scored a total of 808 runs so far this year.

Los Angeles comes into this matchup with a 53-28 home record and a 91-71 overall mark. With an earned run average of 3.48, Kenta Maeda has a 16-11 record and a 1.14 WHIP. He has 179 strikeouts over the 175.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 150 hits. He has allowed 7.7 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3.58. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.35 and they have given up 481 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .218 against the Dodgers bullpen while being struck out 633 times and walking 204 times this season. As a team, Los Angeles has allowed 9.37 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.19 batters per nine. They are 21st in the league in team earned run average at 4.28. The Dodgers pitchers as a team have surrendered 1,266 base knocks and 598 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 165 home runs this year and they give up 1.1 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Los Angeles as a staff has walked 464 hitters and struck out 1,510. They give up a walk 2.9 times per 9 innings while they strike out 9.4 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.19 while their FIP as a staff is 3.61.

As a team, they are batting .260, good for 9th in the league while putting together a .255 average at home. The Dodgers hold a .405 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .322 which is good for 14th in baseball. They rank 16th in baseball with 8.7 hits per contest. Joc Pederson comes into this matchup batting .246 and he has an OBP of .352. He has 100 hits this year along with 64 runs scored and 68 RBI. He's struck out 130 times and has walked on 63 occasions. Yasiel Puig is hitting .263 and he has an OBP of .323. He has collected 88 hits so far while he's scored 45 runs and drove in 45. He has earned a walk 24 times and has punched out 74 times. The Dodgers as a unit have 1,375 base hits, including 272 doubles and 189 homers. They have 45 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 26 times. Los Angeles as a team has walked 525 times this year and they have struck out 1,321 times. They've had 1,106 men left on base and have an OPS of .728. They score 4.48 runs per game and have totaled 725 runs so far this season.

Chicago Cubs Betting Trends

The Chicago Cubs are 75-79-8 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago Cubs are 87-75-0 against the run line so far this season

Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Dodgers are 69-83-10 against the over/under so far this season

The Los Angeles Dodgers are 81-81-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Chicago Cubs

04/08/16 C Kyle Schwarber Knee 60-day DL (4/8); out for season
04/04/16 P Aaron Brooks Hip 60-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 3B Christian Villanueva Fibula 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Dallas Beeler Shoulder 60-day DL (3/25)
03/31/16 P Zac Rosscup Shoulder 60-day DL (2/25)

Los Angeles Dodgers

10/04/16 P Adam Liberatore Elbow out for season
09/10/16 P Carlos Frias Oblique 60-day DL (9/9)
08/10/16 LF Scott Van Slyke Wrist 60-day DL (8/8)
07/21/16 P Chris Hatcher Oblique 60-day DL (7/20)
07/19/16 P Hyun-Jin Ryu Elbow 15-day DL (7/9)
07/16/16 LF Trayce Thompson Back 60-day DL (7/10)
05/24/16 P Chin-Hui Tsao Tricep 60-day DL (5/22)
04/23/16 P Yimi Garcia Bicep 60-day DL (4/23)

Tony's Pick: Take the Cubs

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Tony Sink