LOS ANGELES -- As much as it would make for a good storyline this weekend, it’s hard to call the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers series a playoff preview. Technically, it could be, of course. Both teams are in first place so meeting in October is a possibility, but it simply won’t be with all of the same players -- especially on the mound.
“We’re missing people. They’re missing people,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said before Friday’s game. “At the end of the day, I always like our best group against their best group.