National League Championship Series Game 3: Cubs (103-58-1, 4-2) vs. Dodgers (91-71, 4-3)
- Game Time – 7:08pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: FS1 – Radio: WSCR 670 The Score, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 183, 844(Cubs), 89, 853(Dodgers)
- Location – Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
Jake Arrieta, RHP (18-8, 3.10/1.08/3.52) vs. Rich Hill, LHP (12-5, 2.12/0.99/2.39)
The National League Championship Series – Game 3
Best-of-Seven Series tied 1-1
The National League Championship Series restarts tonight in Los Angeles with the first of three straight games at Dodger Stadium. The best-of-seven series is tied at one and the Dodgers now have home field advantage in what is a best-of-five series.
The Cubs will face record high-temperatures Wednesday and Thursday in Los Angeles and will have to deal with the shadows while figuring out three left-handers. Former Cubs’ lefty Rich Hill gets the ball tonight followed by Julio Urias (Wednesday, Game 4) and Clayton Kershaw (Thursday, Game 5).
There could be small changes to the Cubs’ lineup tonight. One of those changes from Game 2 will be Miguel Montero behind the plate. For the second time this postseason, the Cubs will use three different catchers for the first three games of a playoff series.
Jake Arrieta returns to Dodger Stadium for the first time since no-hitting the Dodgers on Aug. 30, 2015. Arrieta put together the second most-dominating start in franchise history on that Sunday night against the Dodgers. The Cubs don’t need ‘No-Hit Jake’ tonight, but this would be a good time for the return of ‘Shutout Jake.’
Arrieta has allowed two hits and five walks with 20 strikeouts in 16 scoreless innings against the Dodgers in his last two starts versus Dave Roberts’ team.
This is the most important game for the Cubs since Game 2 of the NLCS.
Tonight all starts with Jake Arrieta …
Jake Arrieta is coming off a good start in Game 3 of the NLDS. Arrieta limited the Giants to two runs on six hits with a walk and five strikeouts in six innings. Arrieta put the Cubs in position to beat the Giants both on the mound and at the plate. Arrieta smacked a three-run homer off Madison Bumgarner that gave the Cubs an early 3-0 lead. The Cubs ended up losing in extra innings as the Giants extended the series to a Game 4.
The Cubs could use an even better version of Arrieta tonight in the pivotal Game 3 of the NLCS.
Arrieta faces the Dodgers for the second time this year. Arrieta received a no-decision on May 31 at Wrigley in his only start against the Dodgers this season. Arrieta completed seven shutout innings while allowing two hits (singles to Corey Seager and Adrian Gonzalez) with four walks and eight strikeouts. The Cubs lost the game 5-0 to close out the second month of the season.
Arrieta pitched his first no-hitter at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 30, 2015. Arrieta is 1-2 in four career starts against the Dodgers with a 3.24 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. And at Dodger Stadium, Arrieta is 1-1 in two starts with a 2.57 ERA and 0.86 WHIP.
Dodgers Career Numbers against Jake Arrieta
- Adrian Gonzalez: 6-for-21 with one double, one home run and one walk
- Chase Utley: 0-for-13
- Carlos Ruiz: 3-for-9 with one double and two walks
- Josh Reddick: 4-for-9 with one home run
- Andre Ethier: 1-for-7 with one double and one walk
- Howie Kendrick: 1-for-6 with two walks
- Yasmani Grandal: 0-for-4 with two walks
- Joc Pederson: 0-for-6
- Charlie Culberson: 0-for-2 with one walk
- Yasiel Puig: 2-for-3 with one double
- Corey Seager: 1-for-3
- Justin Turner: 0-for-2
Rich Hill had an excellent season with the A’s and then the Dodgers even with missing time due to blister issues. The veteran left-hander reinvented himself last year with the help of current Cubs’ director of pro scouting Jared Porter. Hill tweaked his delivery and should make a lot of money on the free agent market this off-season.
Hill appeared in two games of the NLDS against the Nationals. Hill allowed four runs on six hits with two walks and seven strikeouts on Oct. 9. Hill made one mistake to Jose Lobaton that cost him three runs. Dave Roberts had a short leash on him in Game 5 and lifted Hill in the third inning. Hill gave up one run on three hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
In two appearances in the NLDS, Hill allowed five runs on nine hits with four walks and 13 strikeouts in seven innings (6.43 ERA, 1.85 WHIP).
Rich Hill will look to do tonight for the Dodgers that he could not nine years ago for the Cubs … win Game 3 of a postseason series.
The Cubs front office knows Rich Hill much better than the players. The former Cubs’ lefty pitched for Theo Epstein in Boston during the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Jared Porter helped get Hill’s career back on track while he was with the Red Sox. And the Cubs were rumored to be very interested in acquiring Hill from the A’s before the trade deadline.
The Cubs have done their homework on this version of Rich Hill.
Hill made 14 starts for the A’s and was 9-3 with a 2.25 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. Hill and Josh Reddick were dealt to the Dodgers at the deadline. After missing time with blister issues, Hill was 3-2 with a 1.83 ERA and 0.79 WHIP in six starts with the Dodgers. Hill was 2-1 in three starts at Dodger Stadium this season with a 0.53 ERA and 0.88 WHIP. Hill allowed just one run on 12 hits with three walks and 18 strikeouts in 17 innings.
David Ross (1-for-13 with one double and one walk), Chris Coghlan (1-for-3 with one double), Ben Zobrist (1-for-2 with one walk) and Miguel Montero (0-for-1 with one walk) are the only four players on the Cubs’ NLCS roster that have faced Rich Hill during their career.
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