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NLCS Cubs and Dodgers: Preview, Betting Odds, Full Schedule and Predictions

We preview the NLCS series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs, including updated betting odds, full schedule, and prediction

They say revenge is sweet.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are about to find out if their rematch with the Chicago Cubs will be sweet or sour when they take the field for the second straight season, facing a familiar foe in the National League Championship Series on Saturday.

The rematch has been one year in the making after the Cubs eliminated the Dodgers from the postseason in 2016 with a 5-0 win at Wrigley Field in Game 6 last October.

Redemption is on the line for the Boys in Blue as they embark on their journey to end the team's 29-year World Series drought.

It's not every day you get offered a second chance. Heck, Harvey Weinstein is currently begging for a second chance, but for the Dodgers, that's exactly what they'll get when the square off with the reigning World Series Champion Cubs at Chavez Ravine.

It was not so long ago, that Cubs' manager Joe Maddon was asked about the possibility of his team facing the Dodgers in the postseason. At the time, the Dodgers had the best record in baseball.

"We're not afraid of them," Maddon said at the time. "We think we match up really well with them."

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"He got his wish," said Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts in retort. "He has a lot of confidence in his guys, as much as I have in our guys, so it's going to be a great series."

If you ask any Dodger player whether they wanted to face the Cubs or the Nationals in the NLCS, they will politely give you the political correct response, "It doesn't matter who we face," but for those that are not so tight-lipped, revenge is sweet.

"To be honest with you, yes," said Dodgers' closer Kenley Jansen when asked the question of if deep down he and the Dodgers wanted to face the Cubs. "If we want a championship, why not? Take down the champs. That's the team to beat."

The Dodgers hopes of a World Series birth were dashed last fall when Clayton Kershaw gave up five runs including two home runs in the decisive game 6 at Wrigley Field.

"I had one good game and one bad game," Kershaw said of his NLCS experience last season. "They have a very similar team to what they did last year. Lot of familiarities with both of us. There are not going to be any secrets."

The Dodgers remember that defeat well, as they do waiting for two hours after the game ended in the visiting locker room for the party outside to subside so they could take a team bus back to the hotel.

"I would try to walk a few blocks and get an Uber," Kershaw said jokingly if for some reason history repeats itself. "If we lose again, that's probably the best situation."

To make matters worse, the Dodgers flew back to Chicago at the beginning for the 2017 season on the same day that the Cubs received their World Series rings.

Chicago had pregame ceremonies celebrating their first World Series in 108 years, and the Dodgers players had to absorb every second of it from the visiting dugout.

"I was in the clubhouse. It was cold," said Dodgers utility player Kiké Hernandez. "It was an unnecessarily long ceremony. We were inside trying to stay warm."

The Dodgers are rested and have the advantage of setting up their starting rotation, unlike last season.

Kershaw is well-rested and available to start in Game 1 of the NLCS, unlike last season where he had to pitch Game 2 on three days rest.

"We want to win this series. We want to go to the World Series," said Kershaw. "We didn't get to do that last year, and the Cubs were the reason why. No doubt about it, we know that. They were the best team last year, and until somebody beats them, they're the best team so we've got to go get them."

His manager agrees. 

"They're the world champs, the defending champs," said Roberts. "So I guess they say to win a championship, you've got to go through the current champions. So it's going to be a fun series."

Entering Saturday, the Dodgers were the favorites to win the series and advance to the World Series, but those odds changed drastically early on Saturday morning as the team announced that All-Star shortstop Corey Seager would not be on the roster with a lower back injury.

Here are the current odds according to Bovada:

Odds:
Chicago Cubs +150 (3/2)
Dodgers -180 (5/9)

Here is the full NLCS Schedule:

Game 1: at Dodgers, Saturday, 5:08 p.m.
Game 2: at Dodgers, Sunday, 4:38 p.m.
Game 3: at Cubs, Tuesday, 6:01 p.m.
Game 4: at Cubs, Wednesday, 6:01 p.m. or 5:08 p.m.
Game 5-x: at Cubs, Thursday, 5:08 p.m.
Game 6-x: at Dodgers, Oct. 21, 1:08 p.m. or 5:08 p.m.
Game 7-x: at Dodgers, Oct. 22, 4:38 p.m. 

All Broadcasts on TBS

Prediction: Without Corey Seager, Cubs repeat history and win in six. 

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