Both teams may show impatience at the plate with the All-Star break looming.
Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers
Chicago has won two of the first three games on its current road trip, averaging 6.5 runs in the process. The Cubs entered the game ranked 14th in the National League in runs scored and had scored three or fewer runs in 14 of their last 20 games before Saturday’s 7-3 victory. “Finally,” said third baseman Aramis Ramirez. “We just have to come back after the break and keep doing what we’re doing now.” Ramirez has posted five consecutive multi-hit games to raise his season average from .178 to .209. The club is 11-4 against NL West competition this season, while going 28-45 against all other teams. Chicago has had a difficult time in producing winning streaks this season, posting a 14-24 record after a win (-1,510).
Cubs starting pitcher Carlos Silva is 9-2 with a 2.96 ERA in 16 starts this season, as he snapped a two-game losing streak last time out. He allowed two runs and four hits over six innings in a 6-4 road victory over the Diamondbacks. The right-hander has managed to walk just 16 batters and strike out 70 in 100.1 innings. Silva brings a perfect 5-0 mark and 3.05 ERA on the road this season, allowing opponents to hit just .213 against him. In seven career outings (two starts), he is a spotless 3-0 with a 4.08 ERA, including a 1-0 record and 3.52 ERA in three outings at Dodger Stadium.
Los Angeles finds itself with a 16-11 record against NL Central opponents and the team’s 44-28 overall mark against National League opponents is the best in the league by an NL club this season. The Dodgers have bounced back well following a loss this season, producing a 22-16 record (+250) and 109-80 mark over the last three seasons (+1,350). The club will be excited to face a right-handed starter this evening, after being shutdown by a southpaw on Saturday afternoon. Los Angeles has a 36-25 record against righties (+770), producing 5.0 runs per game and hitting for a combined .276 average against them. Shortstop Rafael Furcal has been the spark plug for the offense, scoring a run in 15 of his last 16 games.
Dodgers starting pitcher Vicente Padilla is 3-2 with a 4.72 ERA in eight starts this season and is coming in on a two-game winning streak. Over those outings against San Francisco and Florida, he has allowed just three earned runs and nine hits over 13.2 innings while striking out 14 and walking just a single batter. Padilla is 2-1 with a 3.05 ERA in three home starts, managing to strike out 23 batters and walk just three in 20.2 frames. In 15 career appearances (six starts) against the Cubs, he is 3-4 with a 4.79 ERA. He last started against Chicago on June 21, 2007 as a member of the Texas Rangers, giving up four runs in four innings and took a no-decision.
Bettors may want to play the total in this ESPN matchup due to players focusing on vacation plans with this being the final game of the weekend. The Cubs are 12-25 O/U in night games this season, while the under is 10-4-1 in the last 15 meetings between the clubs.
