The MLB has a number of entertaining series to offer this weekend, but the one between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs could be the most intriguing. The red-hot Cubs will face Dodgers' ace Clayton Kershaw on Friday night at 10:10 p.m. ET.
Scroll to the bottom for the MLB live stream and radio broadcast.
Chicago is 18-6 this month thanks to an all-around team effort. The starting rotation has been excellent and the offense has scored 130 runs in August thanks to the hot bats of Kyle Schwarber, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo.
However, starting pitcher Jason Hammel will face a talented Dodgers' lineup while the Cubs' offense will have Kershaw pitching to them. The Dodgers' left-hander has a 1.00 ERA since the All-Star break and is 10-6 with a 2.29 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 222 strikeouts (leads MLB) in 25 starts (177 innings) this season.
The Cubs managed to scored three runs on four hits and two walks off Kershaw in a 4-2 win back in June, but since then the reigning NL MVP has given up one run or less in nine of his last 10 outings. Chicago was also dominated by fellow left-hander Madison Bumgarner yesterday.
As for Hammel, the right-hander is 7-5 with a 3.35 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 139 strikeouts in 24 starts (137 innings). He blanked the Dodgers back in June after surrendering just two hits and two walks while striking out six in 7 2/3 innings. He didn't get the win, but the Cubs won 1-0.
Despite that masterful performance, Hammel is just 2-4 with a 4.96 ERA in 11 career starts against Los Angeles. The 32-year-old has not had a good month of August, but the Dodgers have been struggling on offense over that same span too. They've scored just 90 runs (27th in MLB) and manager Don Mattingly recently benched struggling rookie Joc Pederson.
Both teams have unreliable bullpens, which could be the deciding factor in the weekend series. The Cubs acquired Fernando Rodney from the Seattle Mariners on Thursday and expect him to be ready tonight. Los Angeles acquired Jim Johnson and Luis Avilan from the Braves prior to the non-waiver deadline, but Johnson has given up 15 earned runs in
10 appearances and Avilan has given up four earned runs in just 5 2/3 innings of work with the Dodgers.
Nonetheless, this will be a competitive series because the Dodgers are looking to extend their division lead over the San Francisco Giants while the Cubs look to do the same in the NL wild-card. Los Angeles leads the Giants by 2.5 games in the NL West and the Cubs are 5.5 games ahead of the defending World Series champs.
You can check out the live stream for tonight's game here as well as the live radio broadcast here (LAD) or here (CHC).
