The Los Angeles Dodgers have already lost their first series since Aug. 5-7, but look to finish their homestand on a positive note by avoiding a sweep at the hands of the Chicago Cubs.
Teoscar Hernández is in the Dodgers lineup for the first time since Friday. Hernández missed four games in a row after being hit by a pitch in his left foot.
There was some concern he suffered a fracture that would’ve been a season-ending injury, but X-rays, CT scan and MRI all came back negative. Hernández steadily increased his level of activity over recent days and was poised to make a pinch-hit appearance in the bottom of the ninth inning on Tuesday had the game not ended.
Bobby Miller takes the mound as he tries to bounce back from a rough outing against the Los Angeles Angels last week. Miller had been trending in a more positive direction since rejoining the Dodgers rotation in the middle of August.
Amid inconsistency throughout the year, Miller has struggled with the home run ball. He’s given up at least one in 10 of 11 starts this season, and two or more in four of his last five outings.
The Cubs hit two home runs in the series opener, courtesy of one each from Cody Bellinger and Michael Busch.
When Miller faced the Cubs at Wrigley Field back in April, he allowed five runs over just 1.2 innings pitched.
Jordan Wicks is on the mound for his second start against the Dodgers this year. The left-hander held them to just two runs despite giving up six hits in 4.2 innings. Wicks benefitted from collecting seven strikeouts but still took a tough-luck loss.
The 25-year-old appeared out of the bullpen on June 8, then had his start the next week cut short because of a right oblique strain. Wicks spent more than two months on the injured list before returning on Sept. 1.
He’s completed five innings in both starts since coming off the 60-day injured list.
Dodgers lineup
DH: Shohei Ohtani
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
LF: Teoscar Hernández
CF: Tommy Edman
3B: Max Muncy
C: Will Smith
SS: Miguel Rojas
2B: Chris Taylor
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