Dodgers at Cubs
The Chicago Cubs’ starting pitching has been excellent since Jon Lester went on the injured list more than two weeks ago, and now the Cubs are about to get their ace back. Lester will return to try to pitch the Cubs to a three-game sweep of the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.
Lester will look to pick up where he left off before a strained hamstring — and continue the great work his teammates did while he was out, as Cubs starters are 7-2 with a 1.67 ERA in the past 11 games — though he is expected to be limited to 75 to 80 pitches. It was Chicago’s bats that delivered a 7-6 win Wednesday, as Javier Baez and Jason Heyward blasted a pair of three-run homers in the sixth inning. The Dodgers also got homers from Cody Bellinger — his 12th — and Alex Verdugo, but they lost to the Cubs for the second straight game after winning seven of eight entering the series. Bellinger has 82 total bases, tied for third all-time in the months of March and April, three behind Chase Utley’s record in 2008.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SportsNet Los Angeles, NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Ross Stripling (1-1, 3.07 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jon Lester (1-0, 2.57)
Stripling is headed to the bullpen with Rich Hill expected to return Sunday, but it’s not as if the 29-year-old deserves a demotion. He had his shortest outing of the season Friday at Milwaukee, allowing two runs over 4 2/3 innings, but also racked up a season-high eight strikeouts. Stripling is 0-1 with a 2.12 ERA in five games (two starts) against the Cubs.
Lester was off to a great start before straining has hamstring running the bases against Pittsburgh on April 8. The 35-year-old recorded quality starts in each of his first two outings of the year and got through two scoreless innings before having to leave his third start against the Pirates. Lester is 4-3 with a 3.35 ERA in nine career starts against the Dodgers.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Cubs’ win Wednesday was their first when trailing after five innings. They had been 0-9.
2. Dodgers C Russell Martin (strained lower back) is slated to catch a simulated game Friday before being activated Saturday.
3. Chicago 1B Anthony Rizzo has reached base safely in 12 of 21 plate appearances over the past five games.