The Cubs need a bounce back today after last night’s loss. It’s going to mean Drew Smyly has to hold down the Dodgers for the second straight start, and the Cubs will need to get to Julio Urias for the second straight start.
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Nico Hoerner, 2B
- Dansby Swanson, SS
- Ian Happ, LF
- Seiya Suzuki, RF
- Patrick Wisdom, DH
- Cody Bellinger, CF
- Trey Mancini, 1B
- Yan Gomes, C
- Nick Madrigal, 3B
The Cubs get a couple extra righties in there against Urias. I’m not entirely sure why you’d go with Wisdom at DH and Madrigal at 3B, instead of vice versa, but maybe it’s a mini-rest situation for Wisdom. Thing is, with Drew Smyly on the mound, you would expect a lot of ground balls to the left side of the infield.
Los Angeles Dodgers Lineup:
- Mookie Betts, RF
- Freddie Freeman, 1B
- J.D. Martinez, DH
- Max Muncy, 3B
- Miguel Vargas, 2B
- James Outman, LF
- Trayce Thompson, CF
- Luke Williams, SS
- Austin Wynns, C
Pitching Matchup:
Los Angeles Dodgers: Julio Urias, LHP
You know the drill with Urias. He’s one of the best starting pitchers in baseball, and although the Cubs have added some righties to the lineup, he’s a split-neutral guy. Last time out, the Cubs put up three runs (with an assist from the Dodgers defense) over Urias’s 5.2 innings. Here’s hoping Patrick Wisdom and Cody Bellinger show the power again (each homered off of him last time, and the wind is blowing out).
Chicago Cubs: Drew Smyly, LHP
It’s tough to face the same team twice in a row, and I wonder if that’s especially true for a guy like Smyly, who mostly uses just two pitches (sinker, curveball). Last time out, he went 5.2 innings, like Urias, but allowed just one run on four hits and a couple walks. With the bullpen having been used so aggressively last night, I’m sure the Cubs are hoping he can go on the longer end of his range today.
Broadcast Info:
Chicago Cubs (11-7) vs Los Angeles Dodgers (10-10) at 1:20 pm CT on Marquee Sports Network, MLBN, 670 The Score