NLCS Game 7: Dodgers vs Brewers Preview and Pick

NLCS Game 7 - Dodgers and Brewers Lay it on the Line

This is it. NLCS Game 7, and it is for a trip to the MLB World Series for the National League Champion. The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers will battle it out at Miller Park tonight.

TV: 8:09 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Walker Buehler (0-1, 6.75 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Jhoulys Chacin (2-0, 0.00)

Odds: The Brewers opened as -108-moneyline favorites. The Dodgers are now -110-moneyline favorites. The total is 7.5 Under -120.

The Milwaukee Brewers have been dominant at home most of the season. They will get a chance to reach their first World Series since 1982. The Brewers finished with an NL best 51-30 record at home during the regular season.

They have won four of five at Miller Park in the playoffs after Friday's 7-2 victory in Game 6.

Atmosphere for Game 6 Was "Crazy"

Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell told reporters the fans "put a crazy amount of energy into the dugout" on Friday. The Brewers fed off that with four first-inning runs before adding on later. That allowed top reliever Josh Hader to stay in the bullpen.

The Brewers are set up for Game 7 with their top starting pitcher, Jhoulys Chacin, on the hill. The Dodgers will go with talented rookie Walker Buehler. He could be followed by three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw.

Los Angeles will try to make back-to-back World Series appearances for the first time since 1977 and 1978. They were held to five hits on Friday. The team could not take advantage after David Freese led off the game with a homer.

Chris Taylor recorded one of the five hits by the Dodgers in Game 6. He is 7-for-20 in the series, but Manny Machado will have to recover from an 0-for-4 effort with two strikeouts.

Johnny WholeStaff Should be Ready for Both Teams

Buehler gave up four runs on six hits and a walk while striking out eight over seven innings.  He suffered the loss in Game 3 on Monday. The 24-year-old Vanderbilt product has allowed nine runs over 12 innings in two playoff starts.

He pitched to a 1.58 ERA over his last 11 starts of the regular season to finish at 8-5.

Orlando Arcia went deep in Game 3 against Buehler. Buehler posted a 3.45 ERA on the road as opposed to a 1.93 mark at home during the regular season.

Chacin has been outstanding in two postseason starts. He has permitting six hits and five walks across 10 1/3 scoreless innings. The Ace has recorded a pair of wins. The 30-year-old Venezuelan  won a career-high 15 games during the regular season.

He beat Buehler in Game 3 as he registered six strikeouts in 5 1/3 frames.

Matt Kemp has belted three homers. Cody Bellinger and Joc Pederson have gone deep twice against Chacin. Chacin recorded a 3.79 ERA at home in the regular season.

Los Angeles RHP Kenley Jansen also was not used on Friday. He has allowed two hits and registered seven strikeouts in 5 1/3 scoreless innings this postseason.

Milwaukee 1B Jesus Aguilar knocked in three runs Friday and has hit three doubles in his last two games.

PREDICTION: Brewers 4, Dodgers 2

NLCS Betting Odds & Trends

Los Angeles Dodgers
LA Dodgers is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
Dodgers are 10-4 SU in its last 14 games
LA Dodgers is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of LA Dodgers's last 7 games on the road
LA Dodgers is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Milwaukee
LA Dodgers is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Milwaukee
The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Dodgers's last 6 games when playing on the road against Milwaukee

Milwaukee Brewers
Brewers are 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games
Milwaukee is 14-3 SU in its last 17 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Milwaukee's last 10 games
Milwaukee is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Brewers are 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home
Milwaukee is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing LA Dodgers
Milwaukee is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against LA Dodgers
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Milwaukee's last 6 games when playing at home against LA Dodgers

 

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