North Siders’ bats rise as NCLS progresses
Anthony Rizzo is still batting well below .200 in the playoffs. Yet the Chicago first baseman seems to be heating up at precisely the right time.
With Wednesday’s fifth-inning homer off the Dodgers’ Pedro Baez, Rizzo broke out of a 2-for-26 funk. The MVP candidate then tacked on a two-RBI single in the sixth, propelling the Cubs to a 10-2 victory in Game 4 of the NLCS.
Both squads meet again tonight, with an 8:08 p.m. ET first pitch out West. Online sports book Bovada.lv gives the visitors odds of -175 to seize a 3-2 series lead. Los Angeles, on the other hand, represents a +160 underdog. The over/under run total rests at seven.
Rizzo hopes his offensive renaissance continues against Kenta Maeda. Dave Roberts’ righty has struggled mightily in his first two postseason outings, going 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA. Most recently, Washington reached Maeda for four runs on five hits in three innings.
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Joe Maddon’s option on the hill appears considerably more reliable. After finishing the regular campaign 19-5 with a 2.44 ERA in 32 starts, Jon Lester’s also cutting a swath through the October competition. He received a no-decision in the NLCS opener despite working six frames of one-run ball.
With Rizzo and shortstop Addison Russell evidently casting their struggles to the side, Chicago could well keep crushing the rawhide. If Maeda exhibits further trouble, though, Roberts won’t hesitate to pull the yank the 28-year-old rookie right away. We’re expecting a less bombastic affair in a few hours, even with Maddon’s crew enjoying the clear edge on paper.
THURSDAY MLB FREE PICK: CUBS/DODGERS UNDER 7 RUNS