NLDS Game 1: Cubs vs. Dodgers

The Cubs... well, they are in the playoffs. It's been 100 years since their last title. Is this going to be the year they grab another one? And the Dodgers, well, this is just one classic matchup. This should be a great series. My gut on who will win the series? I think it will be the Cubs.
Scouting Report:

Dodgers: The right-hander has been the Dodgers' most consistent pitcher all season, and he's the logical choice to kick things off in Game 1 against the Cubs. He's had highs and lows as a postseason starter, as he started the clincher when the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004, but wasn't as successful in Game 1 of the 2006 NLDS against the Mets. Lowe was unbeaten in his last six starts, going 4-0 with an 0.50 ERA in that time.

Lowe has eight career starts against the Cubs and is 2-1 with a complete game shutout. He's thrown 52.2 innings, given up 48 hits and 17 walks for a 1.23 WHIP and a 3.25 ERA. The Cubbies are .241 off him historically.

Cubbies to Watch:

• Derek Lee: 11-28 (.393 BA) with a double, a HR and 5 RBIs
• Reed Johnson: 4-11 (.364 BA) with a double and 5 RBIs

As a team, they are 49-202 (.243 BA) with 10 doubles, 5 HRs, and 22 RBIs.

Cubs: In his first full season as a starter since 2003 and first after spending the last three years as the Cubs' closer, Dempster set a personal high in wins. The right-hander, who had not totaled 200-plus innings since 2001, also reached that mark. He's the first Cubs pitcher to finish the season with an ERA under 3.00 and 200 innings since Carlos Zambrano did so in 2004 (2.75 ERA, 209 2/3 innings). Dempster appeared in one inning last year in the NLDS against Arizona, but that was as a reliever.

Dempster has pitched 19 games against the Dodgers, but only 9 starts. He's 4-3 with a 3.01 ERA over a span of 71.2 innings.

Dodgers to Watch:

• Andruw Jones: 13-40 (.325 BA) with 2 doubles, 2 HRs, and 8 RBIs
• Juan Pierre: 5-12 (.417 BA) with a double and a RBI
• Andre Ethier: 5-11 (.455 BA) with 2 doubles, a HR, and 3 RBIs

The current LA roster is 53-175 (.303 BA) with 14 doubles, 2 triples, 4 HRs, and 24 RBIs.

Forecast: The Dodgers have a better chance of winning today... they have the better hitters and the better pitching. And yet, somehow the Cubs keep winning. Still, the opener goes to LA with a score of 5-3.

Home Plate