UPDATE (3 p.m. PT): The series opener between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs was postponed due to inclement weather. The teams will play a split doubleheader at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, with 11:20 a.m. PT and 4:40 p.m. start times.
After salvaging a series against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Los Angeles Dodgers continue their tour against the National League Central in a matchup with the last-place Chicago Cubs. But whether the series opener at Wrigley Field will be played faces some uncertainty.
The forecast in Chicago calls for rainy weather beginning approximately 30 minutes after the scheduled 4:30 p.m. PT start time. The Dodgers last were rained out during the 2018 season, with both instances predictably coming on the road.
Should the game managed to be played, Walker Buehler takes the mound on an extra day of rest. He set a season high with 10 strikeouts against the Cincinnati Reds the last time out, but Buehler was frustrated by his inability to protect a lead in what ended as a loss for the Dodgers.
The right-hander has logged at least six innings in all five starts this season, and tallied a combined 19 strikeouts in the past two outings after managing just four in each of his first three games. Buehler attributed the increase — back to his career level — to sorting through some mechanical issues.
The Cubs are due to counter with Kyle Hendricks, who has a 7.54 ERA that is inflated due to struggles against the Atlanta Braves. Hendricks has allowed a combined 14 runs in two starts against the Braves, and only five runs across three outings against the Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Dodgers currently have a vacancy on their active roster after designating Mike Kickham for assignment in order to claim Phil Bickford off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers. Kickham pitched two innings in the series finale against the Brewers.
The Cubs also made a roster move ahead of the matchup, activating Joc Pederson off the 10-day injured list. When discussing his former teammate, Justin Turner said he missed Pederson’s home run celebrations.
“No one enjoys hitting a homer more than Joc,” Turner added.
Cubs lineup
LF: Joc Pederson
CF: Kris Bryant
SS: Javier Baez
1B: Anthony Rizzo
C: Willson Contreras
RF: Jason Heyward
2B: David Bote
3B: Matt Duffy
P: Kyle Hendricks
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