Since the Dodgers joined the National League in 1890 as the Brooklyn Dodgers, they and the Cubs have played 2033 games to a decision (there have been a few tie games over the years), including last night's Cubs victory.
Tonight will be decision #2034 between the two teams. If the Cubs win, the all-time series will be tied, 1017-1017. There have been long stretches of history when the Cubs were good and the Dodgers were awful (most of the 1920's and 1930's) and others when the Dodgers were dominant and the Cubs horrid (from the late 1940's until the mid-1960's, for one). But add it all up and it comes out even. The Cubs have gone 7-5 against LA at Wrigley, 4-7 on the Left Coast, and the runs aren't that far apart either: 80 for the Dodgers, 70 for the Cubs.
Since Lou Piniella became Cubs manager for the 2007 season -- same drill. Once again, if the Cubs win tonight, the Cubs and Dodgers will be even-up since then, 12 wins each. (SHHH! We're not gonna talk about those three games in October 2008. Regular season only.)
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After his third start of the season -- when he had a 7.07 ERA with nine walks in 14 innings, Dodger fans were out with the torches and pitchforks after Chad Billingsley. Since then he has posted a 2.39 ERA in six starts and allowed only one HR in 37.2 innings. The Cubs will try to bring back that early-season feeling for Billingsley tonight. Lifetime he is 1-3, 3.54 in six appearances (four starts) vs. the Cubs. Current Cubs are hitting .244 (19-for-78) vs. Billingsley with three HR (one each by Derrek Lee, Kosuke Fukudome and Koyie Hill).
Tom Gorzelanny has a career 5.30 ERA in four appearances (three starts) vs. the Dodgers, but threw well against them last August 20 at Dodger Stadium, giving up only two runs in five innings. He left that game in a 2-2 tie; the bullpen blew it. Nuff said about that -- current Dodgers are 8-for-33 (.242) against Da Gorz.
Today's game is on WGN and Prime, the LA cable station. Here is the rest of the MLB.com Mediacenter for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Dodgers site True Blue LA.
Tonight's first pitch thread will be up at 7 pm CDT, and the overflows will post at 8, 9 and 9:45 pm CDT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.