Dodgers Cubs Game One Preview

The Dodgers should probably get a hit before the ninth inning today.

Last night was nearly a disastrous beginning to the post-A.J. Ellis era. The Dodgers offense consisted of three walks for the first 26 outs. Corey Seager saved the Dodgers from getting no-hit, as a two-out single in the bottom of the ninth ruined Matt Moore‘s introduction to the Giant/Dodger rivalry. The Dodgers remain two up in the division, but welcome the best team in baseball to LA.

The Chicago Cubs can still finish the season with a losing record. A 36-game losing streak seems unlikely, but this is just a long way of saying they already have 81 wins. They have a seven-game lead on the Texas Rangers in the race for the best record in baseball. More importantly, they have a 14-game lead in the NL Central. The Cubs took three of four from LA in Chicago, but the Dodgers held the Cubs to four runs in the first three games.

Dodgers Starter

Bud Norris gets the ball for the Dodgers. This seems like a bad matchup. Norris made two appearances in Cincinnati; a start on Friday and a relief appearance in place of a bullpen on Monday. Neither went well, as he allowed seven runs in those 4.1 innings. The start against the Reds was Norris’ first Dodger start in which he failed to finish five innings, as he was pulled after 3.2.

Norris faced the Cubs as a Brave in June. He went seven innings and allowed four hits and one run. Don’t ever try to bring logic into baseball.

Cubs Starter

With John Lackey sidelined, Mike Montgomery gets the ball for the Cubbies. Montgomery was traded from Seattle to Chicago in June, and has been very good. He’s made 40 appearances this year, 37 of which have been out of the bullpen. In those three starts, Montgomery has thrown 15.2 innings and allowed five earned runs. This year, lefties are hitting .189/.282/.289 against Montgomery.

Dodgers Lineup

A surprisingly normal lineup with a lefty on the hill. Enrique Hernandez starts in center for the second straight day, but Josh Reddick is in the lineup. I’d probably prefer to see Joc Pederson in center and Kiké in right against lefties, but Reddick has had a few days off. This is only Chase Utley‘s second time starting against a lefty this season.

Carlos Ruiz will hit sixth in his Dodger debut. With a lefty on the hill and Yasmani Grandal starting the last five games and appearing in the last 11.

Brock Stewart was activated from OKC, but no corresponding move has been announced yet. Julio Urias will start tomorrow, so the Dodgers need a long relief guy. Sunday’s starter is still TBD, and Kenta Maeda will go Monday in Colorado. Clayton Kershaw threw another bullpen today and if all feels right, will face live hitters next.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PST and will be shown on Sportsnet LA