After overcoming early deficits and defeating the Chicago Cubs in back-to-back games, the Los Angeles Dodgers are now in position to come away with a series win should they once again stand victorious on Saturday.
The club will have to overcome a familiar face in Yu Darvish, who makes his first start at Dodger Stadium since Game 7 of the 2017 World Series. Pitching for the Dodgers at the time, he was charged with the decisive loss after allowing the same amount of runs (five) as outs recorded against the eventual champion-Houston Astros.
For what Darvish considers the worst day of his life, he hopes to exorcise past demons with a successful start against Los Angeles. Though, he will likely be reminded of that forgettable November night by the Dodger Stadium faithful in the form of unforgiving boos.
Darvish did not have an opportunity to face his former team last season, as he was limited to only eight starts due to persistent elbow pain that prematurely ended his 2018 campaign.
Now healthy again, the 32-year-old still has endured a disappointing first half of the 2019 season. He enters with a 2-3 record, 4.98 ERA, 5.29 FIP and 1.48 WHIP with 81 strikeouts and a league-leading 44 walks in 72.1 innings (14 starts).
Darvish has pitched considerably better as of late, posting a 3.64 ERA and 1.04 WHIP over his last 17.1 innings of work (three starts). In that span, he has struck out 14 batters while walking six.
Darvish has additionally fared much better on the road this season, accumulating a 4.04 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 35.2 innings pitched (seven starts). That’s in contrast to a 5.89 ERA and 1.58 WHIP over seven starts at Wrigley Field.
The Dodgers counter with Walker Buehler, who is coming off one of his best outings of the season. In seven shutout innings against the San Francisco Giants, he allowed just five hits while striking out nine batters.
Over his last two starts, Buehler is 2-0 with a minuscule 0.60 ERA and 0.53 WHIP in 15 innings pitched. In the midst of the stretch, he has struck out 20 batters in comparison to issuing just one free pass.
The 24-year-old enters with a 7-1 record, 3.35 ERA, 3.03 FIP and 0.98 WHIP in 13 starts this season. He makes his third career appearance against the Cubs and looks for better results, having compiled a 10.80 ERA and 1.80 WHIP in 6.2 innings.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Joc Pederson
CF: Alex Verdugo
3B: Justin Turner
RF: Cody Bellinger
2B: Max Muncy
1B: Matt Beaty
SS: Kiké Hernandez
C: Austin Barnes
P: Walker Buehler
Cubs lineup:
LF: Kyle Schwarber
3B: Kris Bryant
1B: Anthony Rizzo
SS: Javier Baez
CF: Jason Heyward
C: Victor Caratini
RF: Carlos Gonzalez
P: Yu Darvish
2B: Addison Russell
