Sep 29 2008
Cubs will face the LA Dodgers
In game one of the National League Division Series, the Chicago Cubs will face the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Cubs have seventeen game winner, Ryan Dempster, opposing Derrek Lowe for the Dodgers.
Lowe faced the Cubs twice this year. Lowe’s numbers against the Cubs in those two starts:
May 28 at Wrigley Field: (Cubs won 2-1)
7.0 Innings Pitched, 4 Hits, 0 Earned Runs, 2 Walks, 5 Strike Outs
June 7 at Dodger Stadium: (Dodgers won 7-3)
7.0 Innings Pitched, 6 Hits, 3 Earned Runs, 2 Walks, 4 Strike Outs
The Cubs have struggled against Lowe this year as they have a hard time hitting and scoring off of Lowe. They managed a few runs in the game at Dodger Stadium, however, they only managed to score three times over three of the middle to late innings. Bottom line, this could be a tough game for the Cubs offense.
On the flip side, Ryan Dempster has faced the Dodgers twice. In both games, the Cubs won in very close contests. Here are Dempster’s numbers against the Dodgers this year:
May 26 at Wrigley Field: (Cubs won 3-1)
7.0 Innings Pitched, 7 Hits, 1 Earned Run, 3 Walks, 3 Strike Outs
June 2 at Dodger Stadium: (Cubs won 5-4)
5.1 Innings Pitched, 5 Hits, 3 Earned Runs, 2 Walks, 1 Strike Out
This looks like it’s going to be a good matchup as both pitchers have gone fairly deep in their games and don’t allow a whole lot of offense. I know that the Dodgers have a new look as well with the acquisition of Manny Ramirez. The Cubs have not faced the Dodgers with Manny Ramirez this season. Obviously, Manny brings a different vibe to that offense so that could be the X factor in this series.
If the Cubs can win this first game, they should look good to win the rest of the series. I think this might be the Cubs’ most difficult game of the series seeing as they have struggled against Lowe in previous games.
Go Cubs!
(REFERENCE: ESPN.COM )
