Coming out of their final off day of Spring Training, the Los Angeles Dodgers look to get back in the win column as they travel to Sloan Park to take on the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs won their previous Cactus League matchup against the Dodgers back on March 4.
Dustin May gets another opportunity to make his case for what appears to be two final spots in the Dodgers’ starting rotation. In three games this spring (two starts), he has pitched to a 3.12 ERA and 1.62 WHIP with 11 strikeouts over 8.2 innings.
With each outing, May has found more confidence throwing his breaking balls for strikes. “I feel comfortable with it. I just pulled a couple down in the second inning, but the shape and everything is right,” he said after tossing three innings against the Colorado Rockies.
“I’ve just got to be able to put it in the zone. I’ve been working on it a lot this offseason and in bullpens and stuff. Just being able to put it in the zone early in counts, trying to get ahead of guys.”
The Cubs counter with Adbert Alzolay, who has struggled mightily this spring. In three games (two starts), he has allowed eight runs on seven hits over just four innings of work.
Alzolay is coming off a solid 2020 season in which he posted a 2.95 ERA, 3.05 FIP and 1.17 WHIP with 29 strikeouts against 13 walks across 21.1 innings pitched.
Alzolay faces a Dodgers lineup that largely resembles what could be seen any given night during the regular season.
There was an expectation Joc Pederson would play, but he is not in the Cubs lineup for a second consecutive game. Thus, Pederson has yet to face the Dodgers since singing with the Cubs during the offseason.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
CF: Cody Bellinger
C: Will Smith
1B: Max Muncy
LF: AJ Pollock
2B: Chris Taylor
P: Dustin May
Cubs lineup
LF: Ian Happ
C: Willson Contreras
3B: Kris Bryant
RF: Jason Heyward
SS: Javier Baez
CF: Jake Marisnick
2B: David Bote
1B: Matt Duffy
P: Adbert Alzolay
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