Fresh off a series victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, the Los Angeles Dodgers now host the reigning World Series champion Chicago Cubs for the first time since the 2016 National League Championship Series.
Los Angeles and Chicago met during the first month of the regular season, with the Cubs taking two of three games at Wrigley Field. The series was a low-scoring affair, as the Dodgers managed just four runs to the Cubs’ seven.
Making his eighth start of the season is Alex Wood, who looks to continue his dominance in the month of May.
In four outings since the calendar turned from April, Wood has pitched to a superb 1.54 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 23.1 innings — picking up a win in each start.
The southpaw tossed 7.1 shutout innings against the Miami Marlins last Friday, allowing six hits and striking out four batters. It was Wood’s third consecutive start without allowing a run. He enters with a 20.1 scoreless innings streak.
For his career against the Cubs, Wood owns a 3.57 ERA and 1.68 WHIP in 22.2 innings, with 28 strikeouts and 12 walks.
On the mound for Chicago is Jake Arrieta, who’s in the midst of his worst season since joining the club in 2013. In nine starts this year, the right-hander has posted a 4.80 ERA and 3.92 FIP in 50.2 innings.
While his strikeouts are up and walks are down, Arrieta is simply allowing more hits and home runs than usual (10.1 H/9, 1.4 HR/9). The 31-year-old last faced the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, allowing one run (unearned) in six innings, with six strikeouts and one walk.
Arrieta has four career starts under his belt against the Dodgers, pitching to a 1-2 record, 3.24 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 25 innings. Arrieta threw the first no-hitter of his career on Aug. 30, 2015, at Dodger Stadium.
Yasmani Grandal looks to continue his hot month of May. He’s batting .364/.400/.591 with nine doubles, two home runs and 15 RBIs in 18 games (16 starts) during the second month of the regular season.
Chris Taylor makes a third consecutive start in center field. He’s been tested early, and thus far passed with flying colors. Taylor made a diving catch on Thursday night to rob Dexter Fowler of a hit.
Dodgers lineup:
3B: Logan Forsythe
SS: Corey Seager
C: Yasmani Grandal
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
CF: Chris Taylor
LF: Cody Bellinger
2B: Chase Utley
RF: Yasiel Puig
P: Alex Wood
Cubs lineup:
LF: Ben Zobrist
3B: Kris Bryant
1B: Anthony Rizzo
CF: Ian Happ
C: Willson Contreras
RF: Jason Heyward
2B: Javier Baez
SS: Addison Russell
P: Jake Arrieta
