With the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs both surging recently, their three-game series at Wrigley Field this week might feel like a preview of a third consecutive National League Championship Series meeting. But Cubs manager Joe Maddon doesn’t want his team thinking that way when the series begins with a split doubleheader on Tuesday.
“I don't like to add too much weight to any given game,” Maddon told reporters. “I don't care if we're playing the Dodgers or any team that might be in [our] division. That's a trap.” The scheduled series opener was postponed Monday due to a limited power outage at Wrigley Field and rain in the forecast throughout the night, so the teams will get started with a day game and play again under the lights Tuesday night. The Cubs have won 14 of their last 20 and regained a share of the NL Central lead with Milwaukee’s loss Monday. The Dodgers have been just as hot, winning 21 of their last 28 to climb back into contention in the NL West.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, SportsNet Los Angeles, NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Kenta Maeda (4-4, 3.61 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Tyler Chatwood (3-5, 4.12)
Maeda put together his two best starts of the season to end May but is winless in his last two turns. The 30-year-old native of Japan gave up two runs on five hits and three walks over five frames in a no-decision versus Texas on Wednesday. Maeda, who will be facing the Cubs for the first time in a regular-season game, has 69 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings this season and has held right-handed batters to a .196 average.
Chatwood is winless in his last six outings after giving up four runs on five hits and two walks over five innings in a loss at Milwaukee on Tuesday. The 28-year-old has not completed more than 5 1/3 frames in any of his last eight starts and has posted a 5.19 ERA over the last two months after producing a 2.83 mark in April. Yasmani Grandal is 6-for-11 with a homer versus Chatwood, who is 5-9 with a 4.07 ERA in 15 career appearances (14 starts) against the Dodgers.
WALK-OFFS
1. Dodgers INF-OF Enrique Hernandez is 7-for-19 with three homers during a six-game hitting streak, while 3B Justin Turner has gone 6-for-20 with a homer while hitting in five straight contests.
2. Cubs INF Javier Baez, who was hit on the left elbow by a Jack Flaherty pitch Sunday, told reporters he hopes to return to the lineup Tuesday.
3. Chicago placed LHP Brian Duensing on the bereavement list Monday and recalled LHP Rob Zastryzny from Triple-A Iowa.