Dodgers host the Cubs to open 3-game series

Chicago Cubs (16-9, first in the NL Central) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (17-8, first in the NL West)

Los Angeles; Friday, 10:15 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Cubs: Jameson Taillon (1-1, 3.97 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 21 strikeouts); Dodgers: Emmet Sheehan (2-0, 5.85 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 18 strikeouts)

LINE: Dodgers -163, Cubs +137; over/under is 9 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Chicago Cubs to start a three-game series.

Los Angeles has a 17-8 record overall and a 9-3 record at home. The Dodgers have the best team batting average in MLB play at .280.

Chicago has a 5-4 record in road games and a 16-9 record overall. Cubs hitters have a collective .357 on-base percentage, the highest percentage in the majors.

Friday's game is the first time these teams meet this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Andy Pages has a .337 batting average to lead the Dodgers, and has four doubles and five home runs. Max Muncy is 13 for 36 with four home runs and five RBIs over the last 10 games.

Nico Hoerner has seven doubles and four home runs for the Cubs. Alex Bregman is 14 for 43 with two doubles, a triple and three RBIs over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Dodgers: 6-4, .263 batting average, 2.72 ERA, outscored opponents by 20 runs

Cubs: 9-1, .325 batting average, 3.46 ERA, outscored opponents by 33 runs

INJURIES: Dodgers: Landon Knack: 15-Day IL (undisclosed), Brock Stewart: 15-Day IL (shoulder), : 60-Day IL (elbow), : 60-Day IL (shoulder), : 60-Day IL (elbow), : 60-Day IL (shoulder), : 15-Day IL (shoulder), : 60-Day IL (elbow), : 10-Day IL (ankle), : 15-Day IL (elbow), : 15-Day IL (shoulder), : 10-Day IL (back), : 15-Day IL (shoulder)