The Los Angeles Dodgers rebounded nicely on Tuesday with a 5-0 victory against the Chicago Cubs. Led by the bat of Corey Seager and arm of Scott Kazmir, the Dodgers evened the series with two games left to play at Wrigley Field.
The series will end with some intrigue as Julio Urias is starting in place of Kenta Maeda, who is suffering from residual swelling in his throwing hand after being struck by a line drive in his last outing.
Before arriving to that point, the Dodgers hand the ball to Mike Bolsinger. After making a spot start on May 18, the right-hander was recalled to replace Ross Stripling, who couldn’t make a scheduled start due to being used in relief during the 17-inning game with the San Diego Padres.
Bolsinger is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA, 5.02 FIP and 1.30 WHIP over 10 innings pitched. He allowed two runs (both coming on a home run) to the Cincinnati Reds and had six strikeouts in 5.2 innings, earning the win.
The 28 year old is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA in two career starts at Wrigley Field. In the first outing, he held the Cubs to four hits and allowed one unearned run and had seven strikeouts in 6.2 innings, picking up a win as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Starting for the Dodgers at Wrigley Field last season, Bolsinger allowed runs on six hits in 4.2 innings pitched. He didn’t earn a decision, but Los Angeles won the game. Bolsinger is opposed by Jon Lester, whose 164 ERA+ is on pace for a career high.
The southpaw enters Wednesday’s game 5-3 with a 2.48 ERA, 3.55 FIP and 1.10 WHIP. Lester earned a win in his previous outing, allowing two runs (one earned) over 6.2 innings against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Lester is 1-2 with a 5.19 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in three career starts against the Dodgers. He faced them twice last season, suffering the loss in both outings. One came at Wrigley Field, when he allowed four hits, four runs and walked four batters in a 4-0 loss.
Yasiel Puig, who was scratched from Tuesday’s lineup with a sore left hamstring, is again out. Carl Crawford makes a second consecutive start in left field, and the same holds true for Trayce Thompson in right.
With the exception of Crawford, Joc Pederson and Corey Seager, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts otherwise sits his left-handed batters, with Howie Kendrick starting in place of Adrian Gonzalez at first base, and Kiké Hernandez spelling Chase Utley at second. Hernandez is 2-for-his-last-3 since a 3-for-50 slump.
Lefties are hitting .240/.321/.360 with three doubles and one home run off Lester in 56 plate appearances this season. Right-handed batters own a .222/.270/.330 slash line, with four doubles and five home runs in 190 plate appearances.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Kiké Hernandez
3B: Justin Turner
SS: Corey Seager
1B: Howie Kendrick
RF: Trayce Thompson
CF: Joc Pederson
C: A.J. Ellis
LF: Carl Crawford
P: Mike Bolsinger
Cubs lineup:
CF: Dexter Fowler
RF: Jason Heyward
LF: Kris Bryant
1B: Anthony Rizzo
2B: Ben Zobrist
SS: Addison Russell
3B: Javier Baez
C: David Ross
P: Jon Lester
