Although the Los Angeles Dodgers let a game slip away in the ninth inning, they head into their Father’s Day matchup with the Chicago Cubs still in position to earn a series win at Dodger Stadium. Even with Saturday’s loss, the Dodgers are 27-8 at home and on pace to set a franchise record.
Overall, the Dodgers have dropped just one series — when they were swept by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim — since losing two of three to the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park from April 29-May 1.
Sunday represents a bit of a swing game for the Dodgers and Cubs as it will decide who wins their seven-game season series, which could become a factor come the postseason. L.A. salvaged the April series at Wrigley Field by winning the finale of the three games to avoid being swept.
If the Cubs are going to earn a split at Dodger Stadium, they will need to do accomplish what few teams have succeeded in this season — solving Hyun-Jin Ryu. The left-hander enters 9-1 with a 1.36 ERA and 0.80 WHIP in 13 starts.
Ryu leads the Majors in ERA, ERA+ (312) and strikeout to walk ratio (15.40). He’s been dominant at Dodger Stadium throughout his career, and 2019 has added to that as he’s 6-0 with a 1.01 ERA in six starts.
The Cubs counter with Jose Quintana, who threw seven innings and allowed just two runs when he faced the Dodgers earlier this season. Quintana is coming off a bit of a shaky outing as he allowed four runs (three earned) to the Colorado Rockies in just 4.2 innings pitched.
Quintana has allowed at least three earned runs in three of his past four starts, including five runs to the Cincinnati Reds on May 26. Overall this season, Quintana is 4-6 with a 3.89 ERA and 1.31 WHIP.
Dodgers lineup:
CF: Kiké Hernandez
3B: Justin Turner
1B: David Freese
RF: Cody Bellinger
SS: Chris Taylor
2B: Max Muncy
C: Russell Martin
LF: Kyle Garlick
P: Hyun-Jin Ryu
Cubs lineup:
SS: Javier Baez
LF: Kris Bryant
1B: Anthony Rizzo
C: Willson Contreras
3B: David Bote
CF: Albert Almora Jr.
RF: Jason Heyward
P: Jose Quintana
2B: Addison Russell
