NLDS Game 2: Dodgers at Cubs

The Cubs dropped game 1 to the Dodgers 7-2 and trail in the series 0-1.
Scouting Report:

Dodgers: He's made a little progress in two years. When the Dodgers played the Mets in the 2006 playoffs, Billingsley was a rookie added to the roster hours before Game 1 because Joe Beimel sliced his hand in a barroom mishap. Billingsley didn't fall victim to the pressure or his inexperience, pitching two innings of scoreless relief. Now he's advanced to the No. 2 starter of the playoff rotation after pitching like an ace during the regular season, leading the club in wins (16) and strikeouts (201) and going 3-0 in September. He's 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA this year against the Cubs and 1-1 against them with a 3.60 ERA overall.

He has four appearances against the Cubs in his career, two of which are starts, and has gone 15 innings, giving up 6 runs on 12 hits and 5 walks while striking out 18. He likes to give up the long ball, having issued 3 to the Cubs. The Cubs bat him for a .214 BA and Billingsley has a 1.13 WHIP against the Cubs. The current Cub roster is a little better, having a .222 BA (14-63) with one double and 3 HRs (Derek Lee, Mark DeRosa, and Kosuke Fukudome) with 6 RBIs.

There are no standout hitters against Billingsley.

Cubs: The Cubs' Opening Day starter, Zambrano is 7-2 with a 3.77 ERA at home and 7-4 with a 4.07 ERA on the road. He's been a little erratic in the final month. He threw a no-hitter on Sept. 14 against Houston in a game played at Miller Park because of Hurricane Ike but lasted only 1 2/3 innings in his start after that against St. Louis. Part of the reason for the rough outing, in which he gave up eight runs on six hits and three walks, was that he'd flown home to Venezuela to attend his grandmother's funeral. Lou Piniella has talked to Zambrano about how his antics sometimes get in the way. No one knows which Zambrano will show up. He is 0-0 with a 3.09 ERA in two NLDS starts.

Zambrano went 14-6 this season with a 3.91 ERA. In his last eleven starts, the Cubs are 8-3, but have lost two of his last four starts. He has pitched in 12 games against the Dodgers (8 starts) and is 2-3 with a 3.75 ERA, compiling 57.2 innings. He's given up 27 runs (24 earned) off of 53 hits (3 HRs) and 23 walks while fanning 53 batters. The Dodgers hit him for a .241 BA, but slapped him hard in his last outing against them (2 HRs with a .406 BA in 6.2 innings).

Dodgers to Watch:

• Russell Martin: 8-13 (.615 BA) with a HR and 4 RBIs
• Andre Ethier: 6-13 (.462 BA) with a double
• Matt Kemp: 3-6 with a HR and 3 RBIs

The current Dodger roster is 44-185 (.238 BA) with 6 doubles, 3 HRs, and 16 RBIs.

Forecast: Normally, I would pick Zambrano. Zambrano is generally an easy choice to make. With that said, I am taking the Dodgers in this one. I think Billingsley is the better choice, simply because he holds the Cubs at bay. Zambrano's last start against the Dodgers was lack-luster and there is questions of where he is at mentally. I don't know if his head is going to be in the game or not... Dodgers take it to 2-0 in the series with a score of 6-2.

Home Plate