3 reasons the Dodgers need Clayton Kershaw healthy to upset Cubs

Kershaw is a Cub killer

The Chicago Cubs are one of the most patient teams in the league. They put pressure on opposing pitchers by working the count, knowing the strike zone, and taking a walk when a pitcher refuses to give into them. The Cubs also strike out a ton, and their offense can become stagnant when they are not getting their free passes.

In his career, Kershaw has dominated the Cubs. He is 5-3 in eight starts with a 2.18 ERA. He has struck out 68 in 53.2 innings while walking only 13. Last year, Kershaw made two starts against the Cubs and struck out 23 batters in 15.0 innings. He has not faced them this season, but the lineup remains mostly unchanged from 2015.

Of the current Cubs lineup, only Dexter Fowler has hit Kershaw well throughout his career. Fowler spent the early years of his MLB career in Colorado, however, and some of his offensive numbers have to be taken with a grain of salt. Overall, the current Cubs roster has taken 154 at-bats against Kershaw and has struck out 54 times, good for a 37.5 percent strikeout rate. They have also drawn only seven walks.

The Cubs went down with a whimper against the New York Mets in the NLCS last season. Faced with a quartet of power arms, the Cubs could not do much. In the postseason, wins and losses are largely based on which team’s pitcher can limit hard contact and baserunners most effectively. The Cubs are a matchup nightmare for most pitchers in the league, but Clayton Kershaw is not most pitchers.