Dodgers at Cubs
The Los Angeles Dodgers hope to continue their ascent toward first place in the National League West when they open a six-game road trip Monday against the surging Chicago Cubs. The Dodgers suffered a 4-1 loss against San Francisco on Sunday to finish a 6-2 homestand but have posted 21 wins in their last 28 contests to pull within 1 1/2 games of Arizona for the top spot in the division.
Joc Pederson is among the major-league leaders with seven homers in June while going 13-for-30 and Kike Hernandez has hit safely in six consecutive games (7-for-19) for Los Angeles, which owns the best OPS (.899) in baseball this month. Kenta Maeda makes his second start since missing two weeks with a hip injury for the Dodgers, while the Cubs counter with Tyler Chatwood in the series opener between the two teams with the most regular-season wins since 2015. Chicago missed a chance to move into first place in the NL Central on Sunday, managing just four hits in a 5-0 loss at St. Louis to spoil its hopes for a sweep, but the team is 14-6 in in its last 20 contests. Chicago could be without infielder Javier Baez for the series opener after he was hit by a pitch in the setback and left with a left elbow contusion that will require X-rays.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Kenta Maeda (4-4, 3.61 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Tyler Chatwood (3-5, 4.12)
Maeda put together his two best starts of the season - allowing four hits and striking out 20 over 14 2/3 innings - in late May but is winless in his last two turns. The 30-year-old native of Japan, who recorded only three strikeouts on those two outings, gave up two runs on five hits and three walks over five frames in a no-decision versus Texas on Wednesday. Maeda, who will be facing the Cubs for the first time, has registered 69 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings this year and is limiting right-handed hitters to a .196 average.
Chatwood is winless in his last six outings after giving up four runs on five hits and two walks over five innings in a loss at Milwaukee on Tuesday. The 28-year-old Californian has not completed more than 5 1/3 frames in any of his last eight starts and has posted a 5.19 ERA over the last two months after producing a 2.83 mark in April. Yasmani Grandal is 6-for-11 with a homer versus Chatwood, who is 5-9 with a 4.07 ERA in 15 career appearances (14 starts) against the Dodgers.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago OF Albert Almora Jr. recorded a pair of hits in Sunday's loss and is 18-for-50 with six RBIs this month.
2. Los Angeles 3B Justin Turner has hit safely in his last five contests, notching two doubles and a home run in that span.
3. Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo has gone five games without an RBI after recording 23 in his previous 22 contests with an at-bat.