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5 reasons the Los Angeles Dodgers will upset the Chicago Cubs

By Brendan Dlubala

Oct 18, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (5), starting pitcher Rich Hill (44) and left fielder Enrique Hernandez (14) celebrate beating the Chicago Cubs in game three of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (5), starting pitcher Rich Hill (44) and left fielder Enrique Hernandez (14) celebrate beating the Chicago Cubs in game three of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 16, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) pitches during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs in game two of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) pitches during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs in game two of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /

The Chicago Cubs won 103 games during the 2016 regular season. They also took down the San Francisco Giants pretty easily in the NLDS. But now, the Los Angeles Dodgers have a 2-1 lead in the NLCS and look to make the upset.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been the underdog pretty much all season. The San Francisco Giants were the best team in baseball before the All-Star break. And they were also riding their mythological “even-year magic.” Well, the Chicago Cubs put an end to the Giants’ even-year hopes in a decisive National League Division Series.

As the Cubs waited to see who they would face in the National League Championship Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers went to a do-or-die Game 5 against the Washington Nationals. This was the fourth straight season the Dodgers made the playoffs. And it was looking like it was going to be the third straight year they would be knocked out in the NLDS. But between a number of great performances that were capped off by a Clayton Kershaw save, they advanced.

The Dodgers then went on to face the Cubs in the NLCS. They lost their first game after a dramatic grand slam by Miguel Montero. But the Dodgers rebounded and have won two straight against the best team in baseball for the 2016 season. The shutout the Cubs in Games 2 and 3 despite the Cubs having two MVP candidates in Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant. Now, the Los Angeles Dodgers enter Game 4 of the NLCS with a 20-year old rookie taking the mound that has less than 80 innings pitched at the major league level.

According to Oddsshark, the Chicago Cubs had the best odds of winning the World Series all the way up through October 17th. On October 19th, the Los Angeles Dodgers took over as the favorite to win. Below are five reasons why the Los Angeles Dodgers changed the odds and why they will upset the Chicago Cubs.

Oct 16, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) pitches during the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs in game two of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) pitches during the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs in game two of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports /

5. The Los Angeles Dodgers Unique Starting Rotation

The Los Angeles Dodgers have a very unique starting rotation. Not only do they have the best pitcher in baseball, Clayton Kershaw, but they have 3 left-handed starters. Kershaw, Rich Hill, and Julio Urias.

Everyone knows how good Clayton Kershaw is and can be. And if you didn’t, he put a demonstration on for everyone to see during Game 2 of the NLCS. Despite all of the doubts about Kershaw’s ability to perform in the playoffs, he threw seven scoreless innings with six strikeouts and only allowed two hits.

Rich Hill followed that up with a remarkable Game 3 performance. Hill pitched six shutout innings with six strikeouts while surrendering only two hits. He also shockingly threw his curveball for 55% of his pitches in Game 3, yet the Cubs could not capitalize.

Now for Game 4 Los Angeles is turning to a 20-year-old starter who happens to be left-handed. Julio Urias will get the start in L.A. in hopes to take a 3-1 lead against the Cubs. Urias has appeared once this postseason and pitched 2 scoreless innings while allowing one hit and two walks. But Dave Roberts’ decision to start Urias is especially significant against the Cubs.

Through the 2016 postseason, the Cubs as a team are hitting .152 against left-handed pitching. So Dave Roberts’ decision of going to Urias looks even better than it originally did. However, the Cubs have faced some very good lefty starters including Rich Hill, Clayton Kershaw, Madison Bumgarner, and Matt Moore.

Game 4 is a huge game regardless of who wins, but if the Cubs lose to another left-handed starter, then the Dodgers may have found the perfect counter to the regular season champions.

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