The Los Angeles Dodgers are mired in a four-game losing streak and are trying to snap the skid one night after the Chicago Cubs used four pitchers to throw a combined no-hitter.
Coincidentally, the Dodgers now face Jake Arrieta, who prior to Thursday, was the last pitcher to no-hit them when he did so for the Cubs during a 2015 game at Dodger Stadium. Arrieta now faces a Dodgers team that has scored a combined seven runs during their losing stretch.
“Obviously we’ve got a very good offense,” manager Dave Roberts said after his team dropped the series opener. “We’ve shown that individually and collectively. There’s just been times I think we can do a better job of adjusting in-game and managing collective at-bats.”
Arrieta enters 5-8 with a 5.45 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 14 starts this season. He has allowed at least four earned runs in three of four starts this month, and given up a home run in three of those outings as well.
The Dodgers counter with Tony Gonsolin, who has yet to provide much length amid a hope his return would bring an end to bullpen games. Gonsolin recorded just five outs in his 2021 season debut, then went 3.2 innings in each of the past two starts.
Gonsolin was limited in his most recent outing due to right shoulder fatigue. He previously had been on the injured list due to inflammation in his throwing shoulder. “I’ve been feeling good,: Gonsolin said. “Bullpen felt really good and I’m looking forward to [Friday].
“Just getting a little bit more treatment in between to flush out some of the soreness and stuff like that.”
Setting the shoulder issue aside, Gonsolin has additionally been plagued by his control issues that have led to eight walks. That already exceeded the seven free passes Gonsolin handed out over 46.2 innings last season.
He is coming off not walking a batter against the Arizona Diamondbacks, which in some part stemmed from exclusively pitching out of the stretch. “It feels more comfortable right now,” Gonsolin explained.
“I feel like I’m more under my control with my mechanics and can execute pitches better.”
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Max Muncy
3B: Justin Turner
CF: Cody Bellinger
C: Will Smith
SS: Gavin Lux
LF: AJ Pollock
2B: Zach McKinstry
P: Tony Gonsolin
Cubs lineup
LF: Joc Pederson
3B: Kris Bryant
SS: Javier Baez
1B: Anthony Rizzo
C: Willson Contreras
2B: Ian Happ
RF: Jason Heyward
CF: Rafael Ortega
P: Jake Arrieta
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