Weekend MLB preview: Cubs at Dodgers

Two of the National League's cornerstone franchises, the Chicago Cubs (38-30) and Los Angeles Dodgers (46-23), will battle it out in a weekend series in Southern California. Here's what bettors should be expecting throughout.

Friday, 10:10 p.m. ET

Kyle Hendricks (7-4, 3.00 ERA) (CHC) +120 / +1.5 runs (-180) / Over 8 runs (-105) Rich Hill (3-1, 2.40 ERA) (LAD) -130 / -1.5 runs (+150) / Under 8 runs (-115)

MLB free play: Cubs moneyline

The Cubs are an intriguing underdog Friday night against the Dodgers.

Kyle Hendricks has an 8.33 strikeout/walk ratio in his last eight starts for Chicago. He is 6-0 with a 2.15 ERA in that span. Hendricks' current 0.8 home runs per nine innings figure would be his lowest since 2016, when he was third in the NL Cy Young voting. His ability to keep the ball in the park could prove crucial against a Los Angeles offense that is sixth in home runs this season.

Rich Hill goes for the Dodgers, and he has a 1.50 ERA over his last five starts. Hill relies on strikeouts (10.4 per nine innings), however, and the Cubs have the fifth fewest strikeouts against lefties this year. Shortstop Javier Baez has a 1.277 OPS in 43 at-bats against southpaws this season, and third baseman Kris Bryant has a 1.134 OPS in 44 at-bats.

Saturday, 9:10 p.m. ET

Walker Buehler (7-1, 3.35 ERA) has been in fine form for Los Angeles of late, while Yu Darvish (2-3, 4.98 ERA) has struggled all year for Chicago, which makes the Dodgers a logical play on Saturday night.

Buehler has allowed one earned run or fewer in five of his last six starts. His SO/W ratio on the season is 6.00, and Dodgers relievers have pitched to a 1.72 ERA over the last week, which could go a long way in extinguishing any thoughts of a late-inning comeback by the Cubs.

Darvish has issued the second-most walks in baseball this season (44), and the Dodgers are fourth-best at drawing the free pass this year. They are led, unsurprisingly, by the extraordinary Cody Bellinger. Chicago's relief corps has been shaky over the last week, pitching to a 6.06 ERA.

Sunday, 7:08 p.m. ET, ESPN

The Cubs will get their first taste of Cy Young candidate Hyun-Jin Ryu (9-1, 1.36 ERA) in Sunday night's series finale at Dodger Stadium.

Chicago's offense travels well, with the fourth-highest runs per game figure in road games this season (5.72), but Ryu has allowed just four earned runs in his last eight starts (58 2/3 innings).

Jose Quintana (4-6, 3.89 ERA) has not fared as well is his last eight outings, with a 4.20 ERA and 1-5 record. Left-handed bat Max Muncy should have a good game despite facing a southpaw. He has a .962 OPS against lefties this year (77 at-bats) compared to his .889 OPS against righties.