Facing a right-handed starter for the first time in the National League Championship Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers have Andre Ethier in the lineup as part of notable changes. Ethier starts in left field and bats fifth.
Also starting is Chase Utley at second base and Joc Pederson in center field. Chris Taylor slides to the infield to man shortstop. Ethier and Pederson are each making their first start of the 2017 postseason.
Where there isn’t a change is behind the plate, as Austin Barnes makes a fifth consecutive start at catcher. While Cody Bellinger remains at first base, he’s now batting second with Justin Turner behind him and Yasiel Puig in the cleanup spot.
The Dodgers will look to provide run support for Yu Darvish in what’s only his second career start at Wrigley Field. He’s coming off a dominant outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 3 of the NL Division Series.
Darvish allowed just three baserunners and one run over five innings, punching out seven batters in the process and propelling the Dodgers to a three-game sweep in the NLDS.
As a member of the Texas Rangers, Darvish lasted just 4.1 innings in a road start against the Chicago Cubs, striking out nine batters but walking four as well.
“Last time I pitched there at Wrigley I think I came off the DL before that, and it was still like an uncertainty about coming off the Tommy John surgery and all that stuff,” Darvish explained through a translator.
“So it was really hard for me to focus on facing the hitters. Now that I feel pretty confident with all my physical stuff, and I’m having a different approach to the hitters. I’m pretty confident that I can pitch better this time.”
The Cubs counter with Kyle Hendricks, who pitched to a solid 3.03 ERA and 1.19 WHIP during the regular season. In two starts against the Washington Nationals this postseason, he put up a 3.27 ERA in 11 innings with 13 strikeouts and four walks.
The 27-year-old stymied the Dodgers’ offense in last year’s NLCS. Over 12.2 innings, he posted a 0.71 ERA and 0.71 WHIP against Los Angeles, with 11 strikeouts to four walks.
“They’re a pretty different team. Their lineup top to bottom, especially Adrian isn’t in there, you have Taylor leading off,” Darvish said of the 2017 Dodgers.
“You just have different names in there. So it’s going to be a lot different for me. At the end of the day, focus on making good pitches.”
Cubs manager Joe Maddon has benched the hitless Javier Baez in favor of Ben Zobrist at second base. Elsewhere, Jon Jay is manning center field, starting at a third different position in as many games.
Dodgers lineup:
SS: Chris Taylor
1B: Cody Bellinger
3B: Justin Turner
RF: Yasiel Puig
LF: Andre Ethier
2B: Chase Utley
C: Austin Barnes
CF: Joc Pederson
P: Yu Darvish
Cubs lineup:
2B: Ben Zobrist
LF: Kyle Schwarber
3B: Kris Bryant
1B: Anthony Rizzo
C: Willson Contreras
CF: Jon Jay
SS: Addison Russell
RF: Jason Heyward
P: Kyle Hendricks
