CHICAGO CUBS VS. LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Season Series: Matchups:

Dodgers won 4-2. Chicago is making its third straight appearance in the NLCS and looking to knock off Los Angeles for the second year in row . ... The Dodgers outscored the Cubs 22-11 in head-to-head meetings this season.

BIG PICTURE Cubs:

That long championship drought for the Cubs seems like ancient history with each passing day. Chicago is the first team with three straight appearances in the NLCS since St. Louis made it four times in a row from 2011-14. It has survived four straight win-or-be-eliminated postseason games, including three straight to end the 2016 World Series. ... Chicago has played a major leaguehigh 517 games since the start of the 2015 season. The Blue Jays and Dodgers are tied for second at 506 games.

Dodgers:

Is this the year? Los Angeles has made it to the playoffs for five straight years and nine times in last 14 seasons, but it hasn’t made it to the World Series since it won it all in 1988. After a first-round sweep against Arizona, the Dodgers are rested and their rotation is lined up for the rematch with the Cubs . ... Los Angeles finished with the majors’ best record for the first time since 1974 and will enjoy home-field advantage throughout the postseason. It went 57-24 at Dodger Stadium during the regular season.

WATCH FOR Turner’s Time.

Dodgers’ Justin Turner is batting .388 (26 for 67) with three homers and 17 RBIs in his last 19 playoff games. The All-Star third baseman has developed into one of the game’s most dangerous hitters. Holding him in check will be one of Chicago’s top priorities.

Chicago’s bullpen was shaky against Washington — even Wade Davis. All but automatic during the regular season, the three-time All-Star gave up Michael A. Taylor’s grand slam in Game 4. He got the last seven outs of Game 5 in his longest appearance since 2012. But he yielded a run in the eighth inning before working a perfect ninth.

Kershaw has done it all during his stellar major league career, except lead Los Angeles into the World Series. The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner is 5-7 with a 4.63 ERA in 19 career playoff games. He pitched 6.1 innings in the playoff opener against Arizona and was charged with four runs and five hits.

Closing Time. Kershaw’s Chance.