Game One Hundred Twenty-Eight: Cubs (73-54) vs. Dodgers (71-56)
- Game Time – 8:10pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: WGN-TV Ch. 9, MLB Network – Radio: WBBM 105.9 FM, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 184, 844
- Location – Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
Jon Lester (8-9, 3.44/1.20/3.13) vs. Mat Latos (4-9, 4.81/1.27/3.54)
The Cubs look to snap their three-game skid tonight behind Jon Lester. This is the type of game the Cubs signed Lester for in the off-season. Stop a losing streak and put the team back in the right direction. Lester will have to get the job done without David Ross. Ross left the team to deal with a family matter, he should return next week. Miguel Montero will be behind the plate tonight catching Lester for the second time. Lester will have to keep the baserunners to a minimum without Ross to pick him up.
Joe Maddon will run out his left-handed heavy lineup tonight with Mat Latos on the hill, the first right hander the Cubs have faced since Wednesday. Lefties (.290/.333/.422) have hit Latos rather well this season compared to right-handers (.233/.283/.333).
One of Mat Latos’ best starts of the season came against the Cubs, and he has really dominated every Cubs team he has faced throughout his career. The Cubs must not allow Latos to get comfortable or gain any confidence. If Latos settles in, it could be another long, frustrating night for the offense.
Tonight all starts with Jon Lester …
Jon Lester took a shutout into the ninth inning Monday in the makeup with the Indians at Wrigley. Lester could not finish off the Tribe and turned it over to Hector Rondon with the game tied at one, two outs and the go-ahead run on third base. Rondon got the final out and Kris Bryant provided the walk-off music. Lester pitched an excellent game that turned off the criticism for five days. Lester allowed one run on six hits with a walk and six strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings on a day the wind was howling out at Wrigley.
For as poorly as sections of the mainstream media and fan base think Lester has pitched since the break, he is 4-1 in seven starts with a 3.09 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. Lester has allowed 16 runs on 40 hits with 10 walks and 50 strikeouts in his last 46 2/3 innings.
Thanks to the rain out in Pittsburgh, Lester makes his first official start outside of Wrigley tonight since July 18. Lester is 2-2 in eight road starts this year with a 3.24 ERA and 1.16 WHIP.
Jon Lester is looking to make up for the bad start he had against the Dodgers back on June 25. Lester had issues early, the Dodgers scored four runs and he was gone after four innings when Maddon rolled the dice on a pinch-hitter with runners in scoring position. Lester allowed four runs on four hits with four walks and five strikeouts in four innings, which at the time was his shortest outing of the year.
Lester is 1-1 in two career starts versus the Dodgers with a 3.97 ERA and 1.32 WHIP. Lester makes his second start at Dodger Stadium tonight. Jon Lester is 1-0 at the second oldest ballyard in the National League with a 1.23 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. Lester and the Sox beat the Dodgers on Aug. 24, 2013. Lester allowed one run on three hits with four walks and six strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings.
Dodgers Career Numbers against Jon Lester
- Carl Crawford: 9-for-40 with one double and four walks
- Jimmy Rollins: 3-for-13 with one walk
- Chase Utley: 2-for-12
- A.J. Ellis: 0-for-3 with two walks
- Andre Ethier: 1-for-3
- Adrian Gonzalez: 0-for-3
- Yasmani Grandal: 1-for-3 with one double
- Kike Hernandez: 1-for-3 with one triple
- Yasiel Puig: 1-for-2
- Alex Guerrero: 0-for-2
- Justin Turner: 0-for-1 with one walk
- Scott Van Slyke: 0-for-2 with two walks
Mat Latos has struggled since the trade from the Marlins last month. Latos was skipped the last time through the rotation and he will be out to prove he should be included in the Dodgers’ starting five tonight. Latos was rocked by one his former teams on his start back on Aug. 13. The Reds scored five runs, four earned, on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. Latos walked one and struck out seven.
Mat Latos is 0-2 in three starts with the Dodgers. Latos has allowed 12 runs, 11 earned, on 18 hits with three walks and eight strikeouts (6.75 ERA, 1.43 WHIP).
One of Latos’ best starts of the season came against the Cubs on July 5 at Wrigley Field. Latos allowed one run on seven hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in seven innings. The Cubs beat Latos and the Marlins 2-0.
Mat Latos has pitched extremely well against the Cubs over the course of his career. Latos is 7-3 in 10 starts with a 2.76 ERA and 1.06 WHIP.
Cubs Career Numbers against Mat Latos
- Starlin Castro: 8-for-33 with one walk
- Dexter Fowler: 4-for-20 with one double, one triple, one home run and one walk
- Miguel Montero: 4-for-20 with one walk
- Chris Coghlan: 3-for-15 with two walks
- Anthony Rizzo: 2-for-15 with two walks
- Kris Bryant: 1-for-3
- Jonathan Herrera: 1-for-3
- Tommy La Stella: 1-for-3
- Addison Russell: 0-for-2
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …