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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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Anthony Rizzo
Oct 16, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo (44) reacts after hitting a pop fly during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game two of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports /

3. The Chicago Cubs Cold Bats

The main reason the Los Angeles Dodgers have been able to win two games against the Chicago Cubs is because the Cubs aren’t hitting. And even more so, the middle of their order isn’t hitting.

Before the shutouts in Game 2 and Game 3, the Cubs hadn’t been shut out since August 28th. The Cubs also haven’t been shut out in back-to-back games since May of 2012. And in Game 2 and 3, the Cubs really didn’t threaten the Dodgers much at all.

During the regular season, the Cubs were third in the majors with 808 runs but have failed to score one since the eighth inning of Game 1. They also had the 2nd best on-base-percentage in the major leagues but that hasn’t carried over to the postseason either. Their team OBP during this series against the Dodgers is a measly .222 while their batting average rests below .200.

This issue actually started in the NLDS against the San Francisco Giants. The Cubs were batting a collective .200 with a .247 OBP but got an overwhelming amount of run support for their pitchers at the plate.

Although the entire team is struggling to find hits, this issue mainly rests on the shoulders of the heart of the order batters.

  • (MVP candidate) Anthony Rizzo – 2 for 26,
  • Addison Russel – 1 for 24,
  • Jason Heyward – 2 for 20,
  • Dexter Fowler – 5 for 28
  • Ben Zobrist – 4 for 26

Right now, the Dodgers are winning the series because the Cubs can’t hit. And the big Chicago bats, outside of Kris Bryant, are nowhere to be found.

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