Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Preview, Sunday 8/28, 3:10 CT

The Cubs are on another remarkable run: 30-11 since the last game before the All-Star break, a win in Pittsburgh that ended the season's longest losing streak, five games. That's a better 41-game stretch than the first 41 games of the season (29-12).

They have lost consecutive games only twice in that span: the two to the White Sox at the Cell, and two to the Cardinals at Wrigley. Both of those were four-game series that wound up split; the only series loss was to the Rockies in Denver last weekend.

So, a win this afternoon would not only produce another series win, but a satisfying 6-3 road trip, and good preparation for two good teams (Pirates and Giants) who will be at Wrigley Field this week.

Here are today's particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Fowler CF, Bryant LF, Rizzo 1B, Zobrist 2B, Russell SS, Heyward RF, Baez 3B, Ross C, Lester P

Here is today's #Cubs lineup for the finale against the #Dodgers.

Game preview: https://t.co/txtJofd5oR #LetsGo pic.twitter.com/IPAcp0ifqw

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 28, 2016

This is the same lineup the Cubs used in Jon Lester's last start, August 22 in San Diego. Perhaps Joe is on to something.

Dodgers lineup:

Kendrick LF, Seager SS, Turner 3B, Gonzalez 1B, Hernandez CF, Segedin RF, Grandal C, Culberson 2B, Stewart P

On June 1 at Wrigley Field, Jon Lester gave the Dodgers two hits and a run in the first inning, the run a homer by Kiké Hernandez. And after that -- almost nothing. He allowed just two other hits and retired the last 15 batters he faced in a 10-strikeout complete game. Since the All-Star break Lester has a 2.28 ERA and 1.062 WHIP in seven starts. Keep up the good work.

Brock Stewart, an Illinois native (Normal, and he also went to ISU there), has made three appearances in the big leagues this year (two starts) without much success (11.25 ERA, seven walks in 12 innings, five home runs allowed). He posted a 1.68 ERA and 0.856 WHIP at three levels (High-A, Double-A and Triple-A) in the Dodgers farm system this year. He was their sixth-round pick in 2014. He has never faced the Cubs or anyone on the current roster.

Today's game is on CSN Chicago. It will also be carried on TBS, and the TBS broadcast will be available in the Los Angeles market. A reminder that the CSN coverage will include a full inning (the third) of Vin Scully's SportsNet LA audio.

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

SB Nation game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Dodgers site True Blue LA. If you do go there to interact with Dodgers fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

The 2016 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used at the end of 2015. Here's how it works.

You'll find the game preview posted separately on the front page, two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream™ containing the preview will also post on the front page. The First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads will be published in that stream, as well as the recap. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post, and at the time I write the recap I will rename the stream "Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of Week) Game Threads" so you can go back and find every thread related to that particular game.

You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread, all the overflow threads and recap in the box marked "Chicago Cubs Game Threads" at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). They will also appear in the game's StoryStream™ as noted above.

The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at one hour, two hours and 2:45 after the scheduled game time.

Discuss amongst yourselves.