Dodgers at Cubs Game Preview

Tonight at 7:10 CST on Prime Ticket, the Los Angeles Dodgers (57-49) visit Wrigley Field to take on the Chicago Cubs (49-58). The Dodgers come into this game after splitting a two game series at home against the Yankees. Los Angeles was were shutout yesterday night by a score of 3-0. Pitcher Clayton Kershaw started the game for the Dodgers, and went 8 scoreless innings. New York scored 3 runs in the top of the 9th, and career save leader Mariano Rivera pitched a perfect ninth for the Yankees to earn a split. Ronald Belisario took the loss for Los Angeles to drop his record to 4-6. Ricky Nolasco will be on the hill for the Dodgers tonight. He has a record of 6-9, with an ERA of 3.72. Shortstop Hanley Ramirez is the team leader in batting average for position players at .374. Pitchers Ricky Nolasco and Zack Greinke have averages of .667 and .400, respectively, but Nolasco has only 3 at bats, and Greinke only has 35 at bats. Chicago enters this four game series with the Dodgers after losing three of four at home against the Brewers this past week. Starting pitcher Edwin Jackson, who has been traded three times at the trade deadline, including twice in one day, overcame a 66 minute rain delay yesterday to pick up the win for the Cubs. He pitched 8 innings of one run ball. First baseman Anthony Rizzo and shortstop Starlin Castro homered for Chicago. Chris Rusin will be the starting pitcher for the Cubs tonight. He has a record of 2-1, with a decent ERA of 2.93. Outfielder Junior Lake leads the team in batting average at .310. Rizzo leads the team in home runs at 15, and RBI with 60. Outfielder Alfonso Soriano was the team leader in home runs with 17, but he was traded to the Yankees last week. This is an interesting matchup. Look for the experienced hitters of Los Angeles to force Rusin into an early exit. I think Nolasco will be dominant, and the Dodgers will collect a road win.

Brewers at Cubs Game Preview

Tonight at 7:10 CST on Fox Sports Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Brewers (43-61) visit Wrigley Field to take on the Chicago Cubs (48-55). Milwaukee enters the four game series in Chicago after dropping two of three in Colorado over the weekend. The Brewers were defeated 6-5 yesterday. They led 5-4 heading into the bottom of the 8th, but gave up two in the frame and were unable to come back. Donovan Hand was the starting pitcher for the Crew. He pitched 6 innings and gave up 8 hits and 3 runs, all earned. John Axford took the loss to drop his record to 4-4. Norichika Aoki belted his 100 career home run (Japan and MLB), and Yuniesky homered as well. Kyle Lohse will be the starter for the Brewers tonight. He has a record of 7-7 with an ERA of 3.37. Lohse picked up the win Wednesday in his last start at home against the Padres. Shortstop Jean Segura leads the team in batting average at .315. He will be back in the lineup tonight after missing yesterday's game. He swung at a pitch that hit his right forearm on Saturday night, causing him tightness and to miss the series finale. Outfielder Carlos Gomez is the club leader in home runs with 17. Catcher Jonathan Lucroy has 56 RBI to lead the team. Chicago comes into this series on a four game winning streak. They swept the Giants in San Francisco over the weekend. Starting pitcher Kerry Wood hit his third home run of the year, and Wellington Castillo belted one as well to lead them to victory. Jeff Smardzija will take the mound for the Cubs tonight. The former star wide receiver at Notre Dame has a record of 6-9 with an ERA of 3.94. Outfielder Junior Lake leads the team in batting average at .349. First baseman Anthony Rizzo is the club leader in home runs with 14. He also leads the RBI column with 58. Outfielder Alfonso Soriano led the team with 17 home runs, but this past week he was traded to the New York Yankees. This should be an exciting game, but look for the offense of Gomez, Segura, and Lucroy as well as the pitching of Lohse to carry the Brewers to a win tonight.