In looking to bounce back from a listless performance in which they managed just one hit, the Los Angeles Dodgers face Chicago Cubs ace Jake Arrieta in the second of a four-game series at Wrigley Field.
Four Cubs pitchers combined to retire the final 25 Dodger batters faced in Monday’s 2-0 victory. Arrieta makes his first start against the Dodgers since throwing a no-hitter at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 30, 2015.
The reigning 2015 National League Cy Young Award winner has extended his dominant streak into 2016, taking the mound Tuesday night 9-0 with a 1.72, 2.73 FIP and 0.89 WHIP in 10 starts this season.
Arrieta was pushed around a bit by the St. Louis Cardinals in his last outing. The right-hander managed to throw just five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. He’s opposed by Scott Kazmir, who is coming off a strong start.
Kazmir held the Cincinnati Reds to just one run over six innings while setting a season high with 12 strikeouts. He attributed the success to fine-tuning his mechanics after a poor start in San Diego.
On the season, Kazmir is 4-3 with a 4.84 ERA, 5.14 FIP and 1.30 WHIP. He last started at Wrigley Field in 2010, earning a victory as a member of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Chase Utley, who is 0-for-10 in his career against Arrieta, is in his usual leadoff spot for the Dodgers. Trayce Thompson returns to the lineup after missing a couple games due to back spasms.
Thompson has six home runs, 14 RBIs, and owns a .633 slugging percentage this month. Ben Zobrist is riding a 16-game hitting streak, batting .426/.493/.623 with six doubles, two home runs and seven RBIs over that stretch.
Yasiel Puig was in the Dodgers’ original lineup, but got scratched during the rain delay to a sore hamstring.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Corey Seager
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
CF: Joc Pederson
RF: Trayce Thompson
3B: Howie Kendrick
C: Yasmani Grandal
LF: Carl Crawford
P: Scott Kazmir
Cubs lineup:
CF: Dexter Fowler
RF: Jason Heyward
3B: Kris Bryant
1B: Anthony Rizzo
2B: Ben Zobrist
LF: Jorge Soler
SS: Addison Russell
C: Miguel Montero
P: Jake Arrieta
