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Playoff-bound Dodgers resume series with Cubs

Sep 20, 2014 - 11:59 AM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched a playoff spot Friday night, but their sights remain set on winning the National League West.

They aim for another strong performance against the Chicago Cubs Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field in the third contest of a four-game series.

The Dodgers celebrated their second straight trip to the postseason last night after Milwaukee blew a 2-0 lead at Pittsburgh and lost to the Pirates, 4-2. Los Angeles holds a 3 1/2-game lead over San Francisco atop the NL West. Following this series, the Dodgers host the Giants for three games.

So far in the series against the Cubs, it's been LA's bats coming up big. On Thursday, the Dodgers cranked out 13 hits in an 8-4 win. Yesterday, Matt Kemp smacked a three-run homer in a six-run Los Angeles first inning in a 14-5 final.

Clayton Kershaw labored through five frames, but managed to posted his 20th victory.

"Twenty is obviously kind of a benchmark for a starting pitcher," Kershaw said. "I wasn't great today, we scored 14 runs."

A.J. Ellis cracked a pair of two-run shots and Yasiel Puig added a three-run blast for Los Angeles, which has won five of its last seven games

Edwin Jackson (6-15), who was activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to the game, was roughed up for five runs on four hits and a walk over just two- thirds of an inning for the Cubs.

"Pretty sloppy year to say the least, pretty much how it's been all year," Jackson said.

Roberto Hernandez, who was acquired in a trade from Philadelphia on Aug. 7, starts today's game for the Dodgers. The right-hander is 0-2 over his last three starts, during which time he's pitched only 11 innings. He's given up 16 hits and 12 runs -- nine earned -- in that span.

Hernandez has gone 1-1 with a 3.27 ERA in two starts this season against the Cubs. He's limited Chicago to a .162 batting average.

Lefty Felix Doubront counters for the Cubs. He is 2-1 with a 1.50 ERA in three starts since his Cubs debut on Aug. 30 in St. Louis. Doubront, who was acquired from Boston, last faced the Dodgers in his major league debut on June 18, 2010. He gave up five runs -- three earned -- in five innings in that game and picked up his first career win.

Cubs catcher Welington Castillo left Friday's game against the Dodgers in the first inning with a left rib contusion. He's day-to-day.

Los Angeles dropped two of three to the Cubs at Dodger Stadium from Aug. 1-3.