Any momentum the Los Angeles Dodgers may have generated from a blowout win over the Milwaukee Brewers has since been halted as they were swept by the Chicago Cubs in a doubleheader. L.A. now looks to snap their two-game losing streak and avoid a series sweep on Wednesday.
This is now a third consecutive series in which the Dodgers need a win in the finale to avoid being swept. They have lost 12 of 16 games since opening the season at 13-2, though still are just 1.5 games back of the San Francisco Giants for first place in the National League West.
“No one feels sorry for us,” Justin Turner said Tuesday night. “Can’t take anything for granted, we’ve got to show up and do all the little things, play the game the right way and the bottom line is we just need to play better.”
Turner’s message was similar to what Mookie Betts expressed last weekend when acknowledging there is still a long season ahead but that the Dodgers could not afford to “keep wasting time.”
If the Dodgers are to emerge from their slump, one area that must improve is the offense. They will look to provide run support for Walker Buehler, who has been delayed in taking the mound because of the series opener getting postponed.
Rather than start Buehler in one of the doubleheader games, the Dodgers took the opportunity to provide the right-hander with extra rest. “I just think it’s more of we’re going to take care of all of our starters at some point,” manager Dave Roberts explained.
“This is just an opportunity to kind of push Walker back a couple days. I think he gets an extra day his next turn as well. It’s just an opportunity we felt to give him a blow. As the season progresses, I’m sure we’re going to do that with other starters as well. That’s all there is to it.”
Buehler is 1-0 with a 3.16 ERA this season and is coming off a start in which he had a season-high 10 strikeouts but also allowed five runs to the Cincinnati Reds over 6.1 innings. Buehler has logged at least six frames in each of his five starts this year and seen a recent increase in strikeouts.
The Cubs counter with Adbert Alzolay as he starts in place of Jake Arrieta as he was put on the 10-day injured list. Alzolay is 1-2 with a 4.71 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in four starts this season. He’s allowed at least two earned runs in each outing.
Prior to the game the Dodgers placed Edwin Rios on the 10-day IL due to right shoulder inflammation and recalled Edwin Uceta.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Max Muncy
C: Will Smith
CF: Chris Taylor
LF: Matt Beaty
2B: Gavin Lux
P: Walker Buehler
Cubs lineup
LF: Joc Pederson
1B: Kris Bryant
SS: Javier Baez
C: Willson Contreras
RF: Jason Heyward
2B: David Bote
3B: Matt Duffy
CF: Jake Marisnick
P: Adbert Alzolay
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