Dodgers Cubs: LA faces fourth straight lefty at Wrigley
The Dodgers Cubs series opener at Wrigley Field puts Los Angeles against a fourth straight left-handed starter, with Justin Wrobleski facing Chicago's Matthew Boyd. After a weekend sweep by Boston, the Dodgers seek to stop a three-game skid while Kyle Tucker returns to Wrigley for the first time since joining L.A.
Key Takeaways
- Justin Wrobleski (11-2, 2.88 ERA) opposes Matthew Boyd as Los Angeles faces a fourth straight left-handed starter.
- Five of the six projected starters in this Dodgers-Cubs series are expected to be southpaws.
- Kyle Tucker returns to Wrigley Field for the first time since signing with the Dodgers, with a .757 OPS there.
- Both clubs bolstered their rotations before the trade deadline, with L.A. adding Tarik Skubal and Chicago adding Kevin Gausman.
Why does another lefty matter for the Dodgers Cubs series?
Los Angeles arrives at Wrigley Field looking to avoid a fourth consecutive loss after the Red Sox completed a weekend sweep at Dodger Stadium. The challenge is familiar: another left-handed starter. According to True Blue LA, five of the six projected starters across this matchup are southpaws, beginning with Wrobleski versus Boyd.
Boyd has allowed just two earned runs over his last three starts spanning 20 innings, including seven scoreless frames in his most recent outing. For more MLB buzz and breaking sports headlines, follow coverage on our Celebrity Breaking News hub.
Who has the edge on the mound Monday night?
Wrobleski enters at 11-2 with a 2.88 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP across 112.2 innings. The Chicago-area native leads the National League with 1.7 walks per nine innings, a strength that will be tested by a Cubs lineup that walks at a league-high 10.9 percent clip.
His last start was rough: a season-high four home runs against Seattle while allowing five earned runs over six innings. He did blank the Cubs earlier this season over six scoreless innings with four hits allowed. Boyd is 6-1 with a 3.41 ERA and has limited Dodgers hitters to a .200 average in 100 at-bats.
What else is at stake in this Dodgers Cubs clash?
The Dodgers (69-43) hold a 10-game lead in the National League West and are chasing a seventh straight road win. Chicago (63-49) sits in wild-card position after alternating results over its last six games and dropping a home series to the Yankees.
Tucker's Wrigley return is less charged than his Houston homecoming but still notable. He owns a .757 OPS at the Cubs' home park, below his career mark, though he has been stronger against lefties this season (.771 OPS versus LHP, .675 versus RHP).
Neither deadline acquisition starts Monday. Skubal is expected Tuesday for L.A., while Gausman and Aaron Civale join a Cubs staff that also welcomed Boyd back. First pitch is set for 8:00 p.m. ET on Marquee Sports Network and SportsNet LA in a potential playoff preview.