Los Angeles @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 1, 2013 ) LA Dodgers 6, Chi. Cubs 4
Perhaps the most impressive part of the Los Angeles Dodgers' surge to the top of the National League West is how much of the damage they've done away from home. Los Angeles takes an 11-game road winning streak into Friday's contest against the host Chicago Cubs, the franchise's longest since it also won 11 straight on the road as the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955. Los Angeles claimed a 6-4 triumph in the opener of the four-game set on Thursday to extend its NL West lead to 3 1/2 games over Arizona.
Chicago has dropped four of five and turns to All-Star left-hander Travis Wood to try to stop the bleeding. The Dodgers haven't lost a game rookie left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu has started since June 19, a span of six starts - and they'll try to add to that remarkable run. Los Angeles is 11-2 since the All-Star break and has won 28 of its last 35 games.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (9-3, 3.14 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Travis Wood (7-7, 2.79)
Ryu has won his last three decisions, and he's coming off a tremendous outing in which he held Cincinnati to one run on two hits over seven innings. The 26-year-old South Korean hasn't been nearly as effective on the road, though, going 4-2 with a 4.62 ERA in 10 starts. Ryu has never faced the Cubs.
The Cubs' most consistent pitcher did it again last time out, allowing just one unearned run and four hits over seven innings to defeat San Francisco. Wood has recorded quality starts in 18 of his 21 outings and has permitted two or fewer runs 13 times. The 26-year-old is 1-1 with a 6.48 ERA in three starts against Los Angeles.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Cubs have hit a National League-best 72 home runs at home - including four Thursday.
2. Dodgers 2B Mark Ellis is batting .409 during a 12-game hitting streak, the longest active streak in the National League.
3. Chicago 1B Anthony Rizzo has 99 hits, 50 of which have gone for extra bases. The latter stat ranks third in the NL.
PREDICTION: Dodgers 3, Cubs 2