Preview: Cubs at Dodgers
Gracenote
Jun 26, 2018
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been on a roll since losing the final two contests of a three-game set in the Windy City last week and look to keep it going when they continue their four-game set against the visiting Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. After totaling one run in back-to-back losses at Chicago, the Dodgers have won four straight - including a 2-1 triumph in the series opener.
Both of Los Angeles' runs on Monday came on solo homers, giving the club 48 blasts in June - five shy of tying the franchise record for most in one month (53 in June 2017). Chris Taylor, who is nursing a hamstring injury, was kept out of the starting lineup for a third consecutive game but belted a shot as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning for what proved to be the winning run. Chicago has gone the opposite way since winning two straight against the Dodgers as it enters Tuesday having lost five in a row. The Cubs, who managed only seven singles in the series opener, hope to have Kris Bryant back in the lineup as the former National League Rookie of the Year and MVP has missed the last three games with a sore shoulder.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, ESPN, WGN (Chicago), SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Jon Lester (9-2, 2.10 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Ross Stripling (6-2, 1.99)
Lester is hoping to produce a repeat performance after limiting the Dodgers to five hits over seven scoreless innings in a victory on Wednesday. The 34-year-old native of Washington has won five consecutive starts and seven of his last eight decisions, with the only loss being a seven-frame effort against Cleveland on May 23 in which he gave up just one run. With his latest triumph, Lester evened his record at 3-3 with one complete game and a 3.33 ERA in eight career starts versus Los Angeles.
Stripling has revenge on his mind as he took the loss opposite Lester on Wednesday after yielding three runs and eight hits over six innings. The 28-year-old Pennsylvanian had won six straight starts and gone unbeaten in his previous nine turns before falling in Chicago. Stripling, who made three relief appearances against the Cubs prior to Wednesday's start, is 4-0 with a 1.82 ERA in 10 games (five starts) at home this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Cubs placed Tyler Chatwood on the paternity list and recalled fellow RHP Duane Underwood Jr., who started Monday and allowed one run over four innings in his major-league debut, from Triple-A Iowa.
2. Los Angeles leads the NL and ranks seventh overall in the majors with 104 home runs.
3. Chicago RHP Yu Darvish (triceps) allowed one run and three hits with five strikeouts in five innings of a rehab start for Single-A South Bend on Monday and could return from the disabled list on the weekend.
PREDICTION: Cubs 4, Dodgers 2
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Preview: Rockies at Giants
Gracenote
Jun 25, 2018
The Colorado Rockies were not happy with the way their homestand ended on Sunday and are out to prove they can compete in the National League West when they begin a six-game road trip by visiting the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday. The Rockies, who head to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers after finishing up the three-game set against the Giants, dropped into fourth place in the West after the tough weekend.
Colorado began its homestand by taking three of four from the New York Mets and moved to .500 by blasting the Miami Marlins 11-3 on Friday, but losses on Saturday and Sunday ensured that they would enter the week behind San Francisco in the standings. "It's not a good homestand," third baseman Nolan Arenado told reporters. "Winning homestand or not, we lost a series here the way we did (Sunday) and the way we have the last couple of days is not good. We've got to win series. Homestands don't mean nothing until you win the series." The Giants are enjoying their current homestand after winning five of the first seven to jump one game over .500 at 40-39. San Francisco will try to stay hot behind veteran lefty Derek Holland while the Rockies counter with right-hander Chad Bettis.
TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado), NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Chad Bettis (5-1, 5.23 ERA) vs. Giants LH Derek Holland (5-7, 4.48)
Bettis continues to get bailed out by the Colorado offense while struggling on the mound and will try to stop a string of five straight starts allowing five or more runs on Tuesday. The worst start in that span came against the New York Mets on Wednesday, when the Texan was ripped for eight runs on nine hits and five walks across 4 2/3 innings without factoring in the decision. Bettis served up five runs and 10 hits over six innings against San Francisco on May 28, but was again left out of the decision.
Holland allowed three or fewer runs in each of his last four starts and picked up a win against Miami on Wednesday, when he yielded three runs and seven hits in six frames. The 31-year-old failed to complete seven innings in any of his 15 starts and did not get through the sixth in four straight prior to Wednesday's outing. Holland went up against Colorado at home on May 18 and suffered the loss while surrendering four runs and six hits in six frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. Giants CF Gorkys Hernandez is 4-for-13 over the last three games, with all four hits going for extra bases.
2. Arenado is 11-for-25 with five home runs and 13 RBIs in his last six games.
3. Colorado LHP Jake McGee allowed a total of seven runs and nine hits over five innings in his last six appearances.
PREDICTION: Giants 5, Rockies 4
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