Alrighty, then.
The Chicago Cubs just won three out of four against the Giants, one against the Brewers, and all three against the Reds to regain control of the Seven Kingdoms NL Central (sorry, Game of Thrones is on the mind). And boy does it feel good.
HOWEVER, their tenuous half-game lead over the Brewers will be heavily tested this weekend, with a three game set against a very good Dodgers team and three of their best starters.
Tonight’s bad guy, Alex Wood, has been exceptional through his first seven starts of the year: 1.88 ERA, 1.89 FIP, 4.00 K/BB. Lefties have actually hit the Dodgers’ southpaw a bit better than righties this season (though, to be sure, no batters are hitting him well), but he does have a traditional split for his career.
That may be why we aren’t seeing Kyle Schwarber in the lineup once again.
Jake Arrieta is starting for the Cubs, after what was his best start of the season (against the Brewers) since his first two games of the year. Hopefully, he can build some momentum in a stadium where he’s had success in the past (2.57 ERA at Dodger Stadium and a no-hitter). He’ll be pitching to Willson Contreras tonight and in front of a mostly standard defense (minus Schwarber, of course).
The easy(ish) stretch is behind us –Â it’s time for the Cubs to remind everyone what they can do to good teams, too. Let’s go.
Game Info
Los Angeles Dodgers (28-20) at Chicago Cubs (25-21)Â – 9:10 CT on ABC-7, MLBN (out of market), 670 The Score
Game Thread and Series Preview
Your game thread is down in the comments, so let’s have some good, clean (safe-for-work) fun today.
Starting Pitchers
Cubs: Jake Arrieta (R): 4.80 ERA, 3.92 FIP, 3.77 xFIP; 3.93 K/BB
versus
Dodgers: Alex Wood (L): 1.88 ERA, 1.89 FIP, 2.39 xFIP; 4.00 K/BB
Los Angeles Dodgers Lineup:
- Logan Forsythe, 3B
- Corey Seager, SS
- Yasmani Grandal, C
- Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
- Chris Taylor, CF
- Cody Bellinger, LF
- Chase Utley, 2B
- Yasiel Puig, RF
- Alex Wood, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Ben Zobrist, LF
- Kris Bryant, 3B
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Ian Happ, CF
- Willson Contreras, C
- Jason Heyward, RF
- Javy Baez, 2B
- Addison Russell, SS
- Jake Arrieta, P