Dodgers at Cubs
With early-season blips behind them, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs are playing like the National League pennant contenders they were expected to be heading into a three-game series starting Tuesday at Wrigley Field. The Dodgers have won seven of their last eight after a six-game skid, and the Cubs have climbed back to .500 following a 1-6 start.
Cody Bellinger’s was the hero of Los Angeles’ 6-5 victory at Milwaukee on Sunday, robbing a home run from Christian Yelich in the eighth inning and launching his 11th homer of the season to break a tie in the ninth. The Dodgers took three of four in Milwaukee as they continued a stretch of 20 consecutive games against NL Central teams. The Cubs have won three of their last four series and split the other after David Bote’s walk-off single Sunday gave them a 2-1 win as they took two of three from visiting Arizona. Chicago has allowed one run or fewer in four of its last five games.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network; SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Kenta Maeda (3-1, 3.80 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jose Quintana (2-1, 3.43)
Maeda has won three of his first four starts and allowed three runs or fewer in all three victories. The 31-year-old from Japan posted a quality start last time out against Cincinnati, holding the Reds to one run and four hits over 6 2/3 innings. Maeda is 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA in two starts against the Cubs, both last season.
After a disastrous outing at Milwaukee on April 5, Quintana has been dominant in his last two starts. The 30-year-old Colombian has piled up 18 strikeouts over 14 scoreless innings across his last two outings, allowing 10 hits and one walk in wins over Pittsburgh and Miami. Quintana is winless in three starts against the Dodgers despite allowing only three earned runs over 19 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Dodgers have homered in 21 of their first 24 games, second only to Seattle, which has homered in 23 contests.
2. Cubs LHP Mike Montgomery (strained lat) was scheduled to make a rehab start at Double-A Tennessee on Monday.
3. Los Angeles OF Joc Pederson on Sunday hit his 10th lead-off home run since the start of last season, most in the majors during that stretch.