Game One Hundred Twenty-Nine: Cubs (82-46) vs. Dodgers (72-57)
- Game Time – 3:10pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet, TBS – Radio: WSCR 670 The Score, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 185, 844
- Location – Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
Jon Lester, LHP (14-4, 2.81/1.07/3.67) vs. Brock Stewart, RHP (0-2, 11.25/2.25/8.65)
Jon Lester takes the hill today in the series and season series finale with the Dodgers. The Cubs have already won the season series (4-2) and will look to enjoy Meat Loaf with their onesies on the flight home to Chicago. The Cubs are 5-3 on the nine-game trip and six wins in nine games just sounds, and looks so much better than five (6>5). The Cubs have a seven-game homestand with the Pirates (Aug. 29-31) and Giants (Sept. 1-4) that begins Monday.
David Ross will be behind the plate today with Lester on the mound which is rather fitting considering this could be his last game at Dodger Stadium. The Cubs and Dodgers could see each other in October, and there is a good chance of that happening. This afternoon’s game will be special for Ross as he says good-bye to the iconic ballpark and all of the people he’s formed relationships with over the last two decades.
Comcast SportsNet will air Vin Scully’s call of the third inning of today’s game. Mr. Scully is retiring at the end of the season. Today is the final regular season game he will call between the Cubs and Dodgers. Mr. Scully is the greatest broadcaster of All-Time. The game will never sound the same once its best voice and storyteller is no longer behind the mic.
The Cubs face another Dodgers rookie starting pitcher today. Brock Stewart is making just his third big league start. The Cubs must make the Illinois native work and not let up, or give him outs, if the offense is able to get to him.
Today all starts with Jon Lester …
Jon Lester turned in a solid start his last time out in San Diego. Lester allowed one run on five hits with two walks and eight strikeouts in six innings. After a rough and inconsistent July, Lester has not allowed more than two earned runs in each of his last four starts.
Lester is 3-0 with a 2.10 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in his last four starts (25 2/3 innings). Lester has given up six runs on 19 hits with five walks and 29 strikeouts.
The Cubs are 7-0 the last seven games started by Jon Lester. And the veteran southpaw is 5-0 with a 2.28 ERA and 1.06 WHIP.
Outside of Wrigley this season, Lester is 7-2 in 13 starts with a 3.68 ERA and 1.21 WHIP.
Jon Lester takes on the Dodgers today for the second time on the season. Lester pitched a complete game at Wrigley against the Dodgers on June 1. The Cubs won the game 2-1 and Lester allowed one run on four hits with no walks and tied a season-high with 10 strikeouts.
For his career, Lester is 2-2 in four starts against the Dodgers with a 3.76 ERA and 1.03 WHIP.
Dodgers Career Numbers against Jon Lester
- Howie Kendrick: 7-for-38 with four doubles and one walk
- Carlos Ruiz: 0-for-14 with one walk
- Chase Utley: 2-for-12
- Kike Hernandez: 3-for-10 with one triple and one home run
- Josh Reddick: 2-for-9
- Justin Turner: 0-for-8 with one walk
- Adrian Gonzalez: 0-for-6
- Corey Seager: 1-for-4
- Yasmani Grandal: 1-for-3 with one double
- Joc Pederson: 0-for-3
The Cubs get their first look at right-hander Brock Stewart. The Dodgers’ rookie right-hander last pitched in the big leagues on Aug. 14. Today is Stewart’s third start in the majors and he’s really struggled in his first three games, two starts.
Stewart has allowed 15 runs, all earned, on 20 hits with seven walks and 10 strikeouts in 12 innings.
In nine starts this season with Triple-A Oklahoma City, Brock Stewart was 4-0 with a 2.49 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. And over three levels in the Dodgers’ system this season, Stewart was 9-3 with a 1.68 ERA and 0.86 WHIP. Stewart struck out 126 batters with 18 walks in 118 innings.
No one on Joe Maddon’s active roster has faced Brock Stewart in a regular season big league game.
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …