The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs will play a split doubleheader at Wrigley Field on Tuesday due to the series opener being postponed because of inclement weather. Both of the doubleheader games will be seven innings, as per MLB’s health and safety protocols.
The first matchup is scheduled to begin at 11:20 a.m. PT, with the second game to follow at 4:40 p.m. The Dodgers’ last rainout was twice during the 2018 season, and their most recent doubleheader came last year after a game with the San Francisco Giants was postponed in response to social injustice.
Not playing Monday adds yet another wrinkle to what has become a complicated situation for the Dodgers with respect to their pitching. Dustin May is set to undergo Tommy John surgery on Tuesday, May 11, which leaves the Dodgers short of a starter.
However with three off days before Thursday, May 13, the team was likely leaning toward using those to their benefit and managing with a four-man rotation for the time being. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also said starting Trevor Bauer every fourth day — which he has championed for — was a consideration as well.
The Dodgers’ probables for the series at Wrigley Field were Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw and Bauer. The team has since announced Kershaw will start the first game of the doubleheader, and Bauer gets the ball in the second. Buehler has been bumped back to series finale.
With inclement weather on the horizon and the Cubs also a bit taxed on the pitching side, Roberts indicate Monday’s game only would have been played if the teams felt confident in being able to get through five innings.
Dodgers waiting on Gonsolin
With the Dodgers short a starter in the wake of May’s injury, the club is stretching out Tony Gonsolin. He recently resumed throwing as part of the recovery process from right shoulder inflammation.
Roberts estimated Gonsolin would need three weeks to reach the floor of being built up to five innings and 75 pitches.
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