SCHEDULE (best-of-five series)
Wednesday: Los Angeles at Chicago, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday: Los Angeles at Chicago, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Chicago at Los Angeles, 8 p.m.
Sunday: Chicago at Los Angeles*, TBA
Tuesday: Los Angeles at Chicago*, TBA
All games on TBS; * if needed
OFFENSE
Manny Ramirez is the best hitter in this series and possibly the entire playoffs, but the Cubs are running an AL-caliber lineup with no holes except the pitcher's spot — and even then only when Carlos Zambrano's not pitching. Advantage: Cubs
DEFENSE
The Dodgers are about average defensively, while the Cubs grade out a notch above — especially on the infield. The Dodgers improve defensively if Rafael Furcal is fully healthy and able to replace, um, Angel Berroa. Advantage: Cubs
STARTING PITCHING
Derek Lowe, Chad Billingsley and Hiroki Kuroda give the Dodgers three solid right-handers to combat the Cubs' right-handed pop. But the Cubs are the NL's version of the Red Sox, with a rotation so deep that 17-game winner Ted Lilly is the No. 4. Advantage: Cubs
BULLPEN
This is a strength of both the Dodgers and Cubs, who ranked first and third in bullpen ERA. The Dodgers will be hurt by Hong-Chih Kuo's absence, though replacing him with phenom Clayton Kershaw softens the blow. Cubs' Carlos Marmol has some bad playoff memories to overcome. Advantage: Dodgers
BOTTOM LINE
Are the Cubs doomed by their history or inspired to change it? Are the Dodgers riding a dreadlocked destiny or just the product of playing in baseball's worst division? The Cubs have the best team in the NL but will have to prove they won't tense up in October. Cubs in four
3 REASONS THE CUBS CAN WIN
1. Curses aside, this is the best team in the National League — maybe in all of baseball. They scored the most runs, had the best on-base and slugging percentages, gave up the second-fewest runs and struck out the most batters.
2. The Cubs' 3.87 ERA ranked second in the NL (behind the Dodgers), and nobody can match their Ryan Dempster-Carlos Zambrano-Rich Harden playoff trio. Harden's 1.77 ERA with the Cubs is only 12 points behind CC Sabathia's mark with the Brewers.
3. Um, they're due?
3 REASONS THE DODGERS CAN WIN
1. We're still not convinced about a manager's impact, but in Joe Torre, the Dodgers have the most experienced and successful playoff manager of our time (though Terry Francona is catching up). If nothing else, maybe that helps the Dodgers' young players feel more comfortable.
2. Pitching. Not only did the Dodgers lead the National League in team ERA, but their pitching was brutal against right-handed hitters, allowing just a .239 average and .361 slugging percentage. Chicago's offensive production — Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, Derrek Lee, Mark DeRosa and Geovany Soto — comes largely from the right side.
3. They're scoring 4.6 runs per game since trading for Manny Ramirez, up nearly a half-run off the first four months. With Ramirez and superagent Scott Boras angling for a nine-figure payout this winter, the Dodgers are getting the best of Manny without the distractions that eventually disgusted the Red Sox.
—McClatchy Newspapers
Chicago Cubs
(97-64)
Los Angeles Dodgers
(84-78)