5 reasons the Los Angeles Dodgers will upset the Chicago Cubs

4. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Patience at the Plate

The Dodgers walked away from their Game 1 loss with a lesson that they’ve taken into the rest of the NLCS. The Dodgers learned that they needed to be patient with the Cubs’ pitchers, especially the starting pitchers.

In Game 1, the Dodgers struggled to control the game because Jon Lester put on quite a performance. He pitched six innings allowing four hits, one run, and one walk. Lester only threw 77 pitches before being relieved. The Dodgers offense woke up after Lester was removed but in order to beat the Cubs, they need to beat their starters.

Game 2 went a bit differently. Yes, the performance by Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen was the focal point of their win. But the Dodgers batters had success despite it being a 1 run game. Kyle Hendricks, the 2016 season ERA leader, started the game for the Cubs. He only last 5.1 innings though and threw 91 pitches. Hendricks also allowed 4 walks in addition to the 3 hits. The Dodgers lineup grinded out at-bats and were not overly aggressive at the plate. Their patient at-bats led to Hendricks reaching 90 pitches in the top of the 6^th inning and the Cubs having to rely on their bullpen for the rest of the game.

In Game 3, we saw a similar approach by Los Angeles. They were patient at the plate against Jake Arrieta and it paid off beautifully. Arrieta threw 83 pitches through 5 innings and allowed 4 runs. He did not allow a walk but it is important to note that out of the 21 batters Arrieta faced, he was ahead in the count in only 7 at-bats.

The Dodgers have altered their approach at the plate and it is paying off. They have had a total of 16 runners left on base through the first three games of the NLCS. Their batters are being patient, grinding out ABs, and forcing the Cubs’ pitchers to throw strikes. And when hitters like Seager, Gonzalez, and Turner start to get hot, the last thing the Cubs want is to give them pitches to hit.