After going 3-4 on their first road trip of the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers are back at Dodger Stadium for the start of a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs.
The Dodgers enter play at 7-6, while the Cubs head into the series opener with a 6-5 record. L.A. won all seven head-to-head meetings against Chicago last season.
As the Dodgers look to build on their series win over the San Francisco Giants, they see familiar faces in Cody Bellinger and Edwin Ríos for the first time. The former 2019 National League MVP signed a one-year contract with the Cubs this past offseason after he was non-tendered by the Dodgers.
To this point, Bellinger’s offensive inconsistency has largely continued with the Cubs but his production is improved. In 11 games thus far, he’s batting .238/.298/.405 with one double, two home runs and nine RBI.
Bellinger and the Cubs face Noah Syndergaard, who hopes to bounce back from a rough start against the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 8. After allowing just one run in six innings against them on Opening Day, he gave up six runs and eight hits in four frames at Chase Field.
Syndergaard brings with him an 0-1 record, 6.30 ERA, 4.99 FIP and 1.20 WHIP in 10 innings pitched so far. He owns a 1-2 record, 5.67 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 11.0 strikeouts per nine in five career starts against the Cubs.
Chicago counters with Justin Steele, who has been one of the top starters in the early going of the season. In two starts, he has pitched to a 1-0 record, 0.75 ERA, 2.81 FIP and 1.00 WHIP across 12 innings.
The left-hander blanked the Milwaukee Brewers in six innings in his first start of the year, then allowed only one run in his next outing against the Texas Rangers. Steele is 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in two career starts against the Dodgers.
Miguel Rojas is in the Dodgers lineup two days after being removed early because of a left hamstring cramp. Rojas attested that was more due to having his left leg wrapped too tightly than an actual injury.
Austin Barnes is starting at catcher due to Will Smith dealing with an illness. Max Muncy is the Dodgers’ emergency catcher.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
DH: J.D. Martinez
3B: Max Muncy
CF: Trayce Thompson
2B: Miguel Vargas
SS: Miguel Rojas
LF: Chris Taylor
C: Austin Barnes
Cubs lineup
2B: Nico Hoerner
SS: Dansby Swanson
LF: Ian Happ
RF: Seiya Suzuki
CF: Cody Bellinger
3B: Patrick Wisdom
1B: Eric Hosmer
DH: Edwin Ríos
C: Yan Gomes
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