Mookie Betts starts at shortstop on Sunday as Clayton Kershaw takes the mound and the Los Angeles Dodgers look to come away with a series win against the Chicago Cubs.
Betts played shortstop for the first time in his MLB career on Friday, then spent an inning there Saturday as well. This marks the first time he’s been the Dodgers’ starting shortstop.
Although he’s become one of the best right fielders in baseball, Betts was drafted as a shortstop and felt plenty comfortable in his return to the position.
With Miguel Rojas on the 10-day injured list because of a left hamstring strain, the Dodgers had been relying on Luke Williams at shortstop. Chris Taylor additionally is part of the mix but he’s just returning from left oblique trouble.
Meanwhile, Kershaw starts after earning a 200th career win his last time out. That helped the Dodgers snap a two-game losing streak and now he can help them notch back-to-back victories for the first time since they won three in a row from April 3-6.
Kershaw enters 2-1 with a 2.52 ERA and 0.92 WHIP over four starts this season. He’s a lifetime 9-4 with a 2.62 ERA in 15 starts against the Cubs.
He’s opposed by Marcus Stroman, who also is 2-1 this year to go along with a 0.75 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. Stroman has pitched six innings in all four starts and is coming off a scoreless effort against the Oakland Athletics.
Dodgers lineup
SS: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
3B: Max Muncy
DH: J.D. Martinez
CF: James Outman
RF: Jason Heyward
LF: David Peralta
2B: Miguel Vargas
C: Austin Barnes
Cubs lineup
2B: Nico Hoerner
SS: Dansby Swanson
CF: Cody Bellinger
RF: Seiya Suzuki
LF: Patrick Wisdom
1B: Eric Hosmer
DH: Luis Torrens
C: Yan Gomes
3B: Nick Madrigal
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