NLDS: Dodgers-Cubs preview

Los Angeles vs. Chicago could take on familiar theme in the playoffs. If the seeds play out, there could be an LA vs. Windy City feel in the World Series as well. (And heck, we could see the White Sox vs. the Dodgers, too - anything can happen.)

First things first, however. The Cubs are back in the playoffs, looking for their first pennant since World War II and their first World Series title in a century, and the fans are excited. The Cubs clinched early, are reasonably healthy and take on the team with the worst record in the first round. But the Dodgers are more dangerous than an 84-78 team appears.

First, they have veterans used to the playoff pressure. From Game 1 starter Derek Lowe to the greatest home run hitter in playoff history in the red-hot Manny Ramirez to a manager who has been in the postseason in every year since 1996 in Joe Torre, the Dodgers know how they got here and will know how to win.

But the Cubs (97-64), swept out of the first round last year by the Diamondbacks, have a big edge in two areas: Talent and health. They are the better team statistically and have a home-field advantage; now they will have to work for the next week or so to prove it.

It's a shame that MLB has made this series with a starting time so late in Games 2 and 3, by the way. An 8:30 start in the Central time zone is way too late for kids to watch baseball. And it's a tweener time (6:30 p.m.) in California.

Hitting: The Dodgers are rolling the dice, bringing back shortstop Rafael Furcal in the leadoff spot. He missed 125 games with a back injury and just returned last week. Jeff Kent also made the playoff roster after having knee surgery just a month ago. But they do have Ramirez, who hit .396 with 17 homers in just 53 games with Los Angeles after being traded from the Red Sox. The Cubs and Dodgers never met with Manny and third baseman Casey Blake (,251, 10 homers in 59 games) on the roster. Alfonso Soriano (.280, 29 HR) and Aramis Ramirez (.289, 27 HR, 111 RBI) struggled in the postseason last year, but the Cubs are pretty solid from 1-9 and have some unsung bats such as Ryan Theriot (.307), Geovany Soto (.285, 23 homers) and Kosuke Fukudome (.257, 10 homers) ready to pick up the slack. And don't sleep on the Cubs' pitchers at the plate. Carlos Zambrano hit .334 with four home runs and 14 RBI in 83 at-bats.Edge: Cubs.

Pitching: In a short series, the Dodgers are throwing Lowe (14-11, 3.24 ERA), Chad Billingsley (16-10, 3.14) and Hiroki Kuroda (9-10, 3.73). Not to shabby, and future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux will be available out of the bullpen. But the Cubs' group of Ryan Dempster (17-6, 2.96), Zambrano (14-6, 3.91), Rich Harden (5-1, 1.77) - who has never faced the Dodgers - and the unsung Ted Lilly (17-9, 4.09) are a cut above. I expect a low-scoring series. Edge: Cubs.

Bullpen: Moving Kerry Wood (5-4, 34 saves) to closer was a good move for the Cubs, and there's no better setup guy in the majors right now than Carlos Marmol, who only allowed a ridiculous 40 hits in 85 1/3 innings this season. Power arms in Bob Howry and rookie Jeff Samardzija (the former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver) will be ready in the middle innings. On the Dodgers' side, the stats are there (best in the majors 3.34 ERA), but injuries have taken a big toll. Takashi Saito (4-4, 2.49, 18 saves) is back, but how effective will he be?. Torre could go with Jonathan Broxton (3-5, 3.13, 14 saves) as the closer, but he's been shaky at times. Lefty Joe Beimel and righty Cory Wade have been decent in middle relief, but are untested under playoff pressure. Edge: Cubs.

Prediction: Cubs in four.

• Game 1: Wednesday, Oct. 1, Los Angeles at Chicago, 5:30 p.m. CDT (TBS)
• Game 2: Thursday, Oct. 2, Los Angeles at Chicago, 8:30 p.m. CDT (TBS)
• Game 3: Saturday, Oct. 4, Chicago at Los Angeles, 7 p.m. PDT (TBS)
• Game 4: Sunday, Oct. 5, Chicago at Los Angeles, time TBA (TBS)*
• Game 5: Tuesday, Oct. 7, Los Angeles at Chicago, time TBA (TBS)*

Links to all playoff coverage in Playoff Central. And check out photo galleries and stats for the Dodgers and Cubs.