National League Championship Series Picks
Its the dream matchup everyone expected the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs will square off in the National League Championship Series. The Dodgers are built for a championship run as the club looks to secure its first World Series crown in more than 20 years. Theyll have to get through the defending champion Cubs to get there. We break down the NLCS and offer our prediction.
Los Angeles Dodgers (-190) vs. Chicago Cubs (+155)
Odds courtesy of Bovada.lv and BetOnline.com
You have to go back 17 years to find the last MLB team to win consecutive World Series championships — the New York Yankees accomplished that feat by capturing three in a row.
The defending champion Chicago Cubs took are one step closer to snapping the long-lasting drought of consecutive winners, but first they most get past the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.
The series will pit two extremely strong pitching rotations — Clayton Kershaw, Yu Darvish and Rich Hill for the Dodgers and Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester and Jose Quintana for the Cubbies.
The Dodgers, who finished with the best record in the majors this season, head into the series as the -190 favorites to down the Cubs and reach the World Series for the first time in 21 years when the club last won the championship. However, expect the money to start rolling in on the underdog Cubs, who enter the best-of-seven series as +155 dark horse.
The clubs met five times this season, with the Dodgers winning four of those contests — including a 9-4 victory in their last clash on May 28.
Los Angeles made easy work of the Arizona Diamondbacks to get to this point, sweeping their way to the NLCS. The Cubs on the other hand, went the distance against the Washington Nationals and will be forced to make tough decisions throughout the series in regards to starting pitching.
Expect a low-scoring pitching duel between these two clubs as both were among the NL leaders in fewest runs allowed — the Dodgers surrendered 580, while the Cubs gave up 695.
If you’re looking for some intriguing proposition bets, head to BetOnline.com, which has a few available. BetOnline has lines on the series outcome and with the NLCS expected to go the distance, it’s best if you pick a team to win in 6 or 7 games.
Taking the Dodgers in 7 games will pay out +350, but picking them to win the series in 6 is pegged at +300.
If you’re backing the defending champions, consider taking the Cubs in 6 games (+400) or 7 games (+500). BetOnline also has a series on odds on when the series will finish, with Game 6 coming in as the +160 favorite.
At the plate, the Cubs will need their big bats to performance better than they have to this point of the playoffs. Both first baseman Anthony Rizzo and third baseman Kris Bryant entered the NLCS batting .200. Against a stellar Dodgers rotation, Rizzo and Bryant will need to step up their games if the Cubs stand any chance of returning to the World Series.
L.A. has had no shortage of offensive production in the post-season, most notably from Austin Barnes — the Dodgers’ catch who batted .500 with a home run and three RBIs in three games.
Last season, the Cubs snapped a century-old title drought and while the Dodgers’ World Series skid isn’t as long, watch for the NL West Division champions to return to the final for the first time in 21 years.
Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers (-190)
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