UPDATE (April 20, 4:40 p.m. PT): The series opener between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs is in a delay due to inclement weather. First pitch at Wrigley Field is not expected to be come until 5:45 p.m. PT, at the earliest.
After losing two of three to the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium than a week ago, the Los Angeles Dodgers see them again in the Windy City for the start of a road trip.
The series opener was expected to be a rematch between Michael Grove and Jameson Taillon, but the Cubs put their southpaw on the 15-day injured list with a left groin strain. The Cubs recalled Javier Assad from Triple-A Iowa to start in Taillon’s place.
Grove pitched 5.2 innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts but didn’t factor into the Dodgers’ 2-1 walk-off win. The outing was Grove’s first at full health this season after dealing with strep throat in his debut.
Grove takes the mound at Wrigley Field with a bloated 9.00 ERA that is slightly misleading. He did give up nine earned runs to the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 9, but has only allowed a combined four runs in two other outings.
Assad was briefly up with the Cubs last season and has made two relief appearances this year. He’s 2-3 with a 4.07 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 11 career games (eight starts). The right-hander has allowed three runs in each of his two games with the Cubs this season.
Thursday marks the start of the Dodgers’ second road trip this season. They are back below .500 at 9-10, don’t have more than two victories in a row and are just 4-6 in their last 10 games.
Meanwhile, Cubs enter play on a four-game winning and coming off their first series sweep of the year.
The Dodgers lineup has sputtered of late, failing to gain traction if they are not hitting home runs. Injuries, especially at the shortstop position, have been decimating.
Will Smith remains on the concussion injured list, Mookie Betts has returned from paternity leave but is not starting, and Chris Taylor (left oblique) is not healthy enough to resume starting. Jason Heyward is not starting in his first game back at Wrigley Field since being released by the Cubs last year.
What’s been an inconsistent Dodgers bullpen begins the series without Evan Phillips, who was put on the paternity list. Andre Jackson was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to take Phillips’ spot on the Dodgers active roster.
The Dodgers were outscored 12-6 by the Cubs in their matchup last week. L.A. scored two runs in each game, whereas Patrick Wisdom homered in each contest.
Dodgers lineup
RF: James Outman
1B: Freddie Freeman
DH: J.D. Martinez
3B: Max Muncy
CF: Trayce Thompson
LF: David Peralta
2B: Miguel Vargas
SS: Luke Williams
C: Austin Barnes
Cubs lineup
2B: Nico Hoerner
SS: Dansby Swanson
LF: Ian Happ
RF: Seiya Suzuki
CF: Cody Bellinger
3B: Patrick Wisdom
DH: Eric Hosmer
1B: Trey Mancini
C: Tucker Barnhart
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