Dodgers make a statement against Cubs

The Dodgers swept the Cubs in a three-game series at Dodger Stadium this weekend, sending a message to the defending World Series champs -- next year is here.

With Clayton Kershaw and John Lester facing off today, everyone expected a tight pitcher's duel. The Dodgers had shut out Chicago in the first two games of the series with Alex Wood and Brandon McCarthy tossing gems and the bullpen posting zeroes.

But today, neither Lester or Kershaw got through five innings, Lester surrendering two three-run homers (Hernandez, Bellinger) and Kershaw getting tapped for dingers by Wilson Contreras, Javier Baez and Anthony Rizzo.

The Dodgers also got long balls from Yasiel Puig and Austin Barnes enroute to a 9-4 rout.

With the win, the Dodgers pulled to within 1.5 games of the Colorado Rockies in the National League West. Los Angeles has one of the best records in the majors,
a solid pitching rotation and a strong bullpen.

Today, the Dodgers got 4.2 innings of no-hit pitching from the pen with Josh Fields, Sergio Romo, Adam Liberatore and Kenley Jansen picking up Kershaw after a rare shaky start.

In Saturday's 5-0 win, Ross Stripling came out of the pen and gave up just one hit over three innings. On Friday, Pedro Baez and Chris Hatcher each pitched two innings in relief of Wood and did not give up a hit.

When your pen is that good, your offense doesn't have to be killing it.

The Dodgers figure to see the Cubs again in the post-season. Sweeping three in May doesn't mean too much -- but it means something.