Hosts seek offensive jolt as NLDS progresses
The Cubs’ Jon Lester had no trouble muzzling the Giants in Friday’s NLDS opener. Will Kyle Hendricks follow the same script this evening?
Joe Maddon’s sinkerball specialist takes the mound at 8:08 p.m. ET, with oddsmakers continuing to feel bullish on the home team. Online sports book Bovada.lv lists Chicago as a 1.5-run favorite heading into Game 2, whereas San Francisco represents a +170 underdog. The over/under run figure rests at 7.5.
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For two-plus hours last night, Lester and Johnny Cueto engaged in a scoreless duel. In the bottom of the eighth, however, Javier Baez cranked a solo homer off Bruce Bochy’s No. 2 hurler. Lester and Aroldis Chapman required no further help from there, piloting the North Siders to a 1-0 triumph.
Don’t underestimate Hendricks’ (16-8, 2.13 ERA) ability to pull off something similar shortly. The righty went 9-2 with a 1.32 ERA in 15 regular-season appearances at Wrigley Field, never failing to work at least five innings. He’ll face the Giants for the fourth time in his career.
With Madison Bumgarner unavailable until early next week, Bochy hedges his bets on Jeff Samardzija (12-11, 3.81). The Notre Dame product spent nearly seven full years in the Windy City, compiling a 31-42 record as a Cubbie. San Francisco struggled to give Samardzija much support down the stretch, though, as he won only three of his final 14 starts.
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While Hendricks probably deserves the benefit of the doubt here, we still need to see him execute on the October stage. Expect a pretty good offensive show from both clubs, particularly if Ben Zobrist can resuscitate himself. Chicago’s super-utility man ended the campaign mired in a 17-for-78 funk.
SATURDAY MLB FREE PICK: GIANTS/CUBS OVER 7.5 RUNS