Editorials

Regular Season Match-Ups: Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

During the regular season, the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers faced each other seven times. Both managers are in the running for the National League Manager of the Year award. Dodgers’ manager, Dave Roberts, scared many fans with his unorthodox moves in the bullpen. How did the Cubs and the Dodgers stack up in the 2016 regular season?

Dodgers’ Dave Roberts: His Case for NL Manager of the Year

Series No. 1: May 30, 2016



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The Dodgers traveled to Wrigley field to face Joe Maddon’s Cubs where they got shut out in game one of the series. The star of the game was Cubs’ pitcher, Travis Wood, who pitched four innings and held the Dodgers offense down. Justin Turner was the only Dodger player to get a hit in the game. Along with Wood, Justin Grimm, Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon combined to throw seven scoreless innings to support start Jason Hammel’s departure early in the game.

“Our game plan is always to try to get a starting pitcher out of the game and get to the bullpen,” Turner said. “That’s exactly what we’re trying to do, [is] get starters out of the game and into the bullpen. Their bullpen just came in and did a good job today.”

This was the second time a Cubs starter did not pitch at least five innings in the 2016 season.

May 31, 2016

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In the second game of the series, the Cubs streak of 23 wins when a right-handed starter took the mound ended. With the help of Adrian Gonzalez, Corey Seager and Scott Kazmir, the Dodgers were able to take the victory and get a one hit shut-out against the Cubs.

Jake Arrieta received a no-decision, as he threw seven scoreless innings in his first appearance with the Dodgers. His last appearance with the Dodgers was when he no-hit the team on Aug. 30.

Top of 8th: 

  • Adrian Gonzalez singles on a line drive to left field. Chase Utley scores.
  • Howie Kendrick with sacrifice fly to right field. Corey Seager scores.

Top of 9th:

  • Corey Seager homers (9) to right field. Carl Crawford scores. Enrique Hernandez scores.

The Dodgers even out the series at one a piece.

June 1, 2016

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The star of the third game between the Cubs and the Dodgers goes to Jon Lester. Despite the home run he gave up to Kike’ Hernandez, Lester strike out 10 batters for his 13th complete-game victory in his career at Wrigley Field.

Hernandez hit a lead-off homer in the first inning while MVP candidate, Kris Bryant, hit his 12th homer of the season in the third.

Mike Bolsinger got the start for the Dodgers and pitched five innings and gave up the Bryant home run.

The Cubs now lead the series 2-1.

June 2, 2016

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On June 2, Julio Urias makes his second start in the major leagues and got rocked. Urias allowed six runs, five of them were earned, on eight hits in five innings pitched. The Cubs did much more than that. Cubs starter, Kyle Hendricks, strikes out six Dodgers through eight innings and only allowing two runs.

Jayson Hayward and Kris Bryant hit back-to-back solo home runs in the fifth inning. Javier Baez went 2-for-4 on the day with three runs and two of those runs came off a line drive homer in the fourth. Lastly, Anthony Rizzo finishes up the Cubs hot streak with yet another home run to center in the ninth inning.

The Dodgers run production included Trayce Thompson homers his eight one of the year in the top half of the fifth. In the sixth inning, Corey Seager hits a sacrifice fly to left field and Kike’ Hernandez scores the second run for the Dodgers.

Cubs won the series 3-1 against the Dodgers.

Series No. 2: August 26, 2016

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The MVP race was heating up with Corey Seager and Kris Bryant in the same place at the same time. However; Bryant stole the show as he hits two homers against the Dodgers bullpen. A crucial eight inning at-bat against Joe Blanton and the Dodgers’ lead by one.

The game heads into extra innings in Los Angeles with Adam Liberatore on the mound, and Bryant hits his homer No. 35 to get the go-ahead runs in the 10th inning.

The Dodgers had the lead from the second inning until the extraordinary performance by Bryant. Adrian Gonzalez’s home run in the seventh could not keep the Dodgers bullpen from blowing the game.

August 27, 2016

cubs-vs-dodgers-8-27-16The Dodgers rookie took the spotlight in the second game of the series against the Cubs. Julio Urias took the mound yet again for the Dodgers and allowed one run on six hits in six innings of work at Dodger Stadium.

Corey Seager was the hero of the game as he hit his 23rd home run of the season to set the Dodgers single-season record for a shortstop. In the third inning, Chase Utley and Justin Turner adds two more runs with a couple of singles.

Cubs starter, Jason Hammel, was removed from the game by the early part of the third. In his previous start, he allowed 10 runs and with the help of reliever, Rob Zastryzny, who kept the game close with 3 2/3 scoreless innings.

August 28, 2016

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Brock Stewart took the mound for the Dodgers against veteran Jon Lester for the Cubs. With a five inning outing from Stewart, it was the Dodgers offense to win it all.

Bases loaded in the eight inning with Adrian Gonzalez at bat, hits a grounder and the Dodgers Andrew Toles wins the foot race to score the Dodgers only run in the game.

The Dodgers bullpen pulled through to keep the Cubs hot offense in the series finale.

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The Dodgers won the series 2-1 against the Cubs

Cubs went 4-3 against the Dodgers in the 2016 regular season.

NLCS Positional Preview – Who Has The Advantage: Cubs or Dodgers?

On Saturday, the regular season numbers do not matter anymore and the Dodgers now have to learn from their mistakes that they made against the Cubs in the regular season.

How do you think the Dodgers will stack up against the Cubs in the NLCS? Comment below.

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