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The Dodgers open a four-game weekend series against the Cubs on Thursday night at Wrigley Field. The Dodgers have yet to play the Cubs this season but are 12-7 against National League Central teams, including 3-3 on the road. Here is a look at the pitching matchups and TV schedule for the weekend series in Chicago.
Thursday, 5:05 p.m. (Prime Ticket)
Ricky Nolasco won his first start as a Dodger but has yet to complete six innings in any of his three starts since, with a 3.94 ERA during that span, plus nine walks to go along with his 11 strikeouts. Nolasco is makinsddsg the start in the series opener on seven days rest against the team that drafted him in the fourth round in 2001. Rookie lefty Chris Rusin helped the Dodgers by allowing two total runs and five total hits in starts against the Diamondbacks and Giants in his last two starts, both won by the Cubs. Rusin, 26, has 30 career strikeouts and 15 walks in 45 innings, and is making his 11th big league appearance on Thursday night.
Friday, 1:05 p.m. (Prime Ticket, WGN)
Hyun-jin Ryu is coming off a nine-strikeout performance and on Friday will be making his fourth road start in his last five appearances. Travis Wood has allowed two or fewer earned runs in 13 of his 21 starts and hasn't had an ERA above 3.15 in any of the first four months of the season.
Saturday, 1:05 p.m. (Fox)
Chris Capuano is the scheduled starter, but there is a slight chance Stephen Fife could get the call. Capuano was great in his last start, on Sunday, but has been inconsistent and lost a starter spot to Fife before the All-Star break, though Fife went on the disabled list almost immediately. Fife has completed two rehab starts and is ready to return. It will be interesting to see what the Dodgers decide. Jeff Samardzija has lasted six innings in 17 of his 22 starts and has 146 strikeouts in 144 innings this season.
Sunday, 11:20 a.m. (Prime Ticket, WGN)
Zack Greinke is 3-2 with a 4.45 ERA in five career starts against the Cubs, which all came in 2011-2012 while with the Brewers. Both losses came at Wrigley Field, where he allowed 14 runs in nine innings in his two starts in Chicago. Since returning to the rotation on July 7 Carlos Villanueva has a 6.04 ERA in five starts, though the bulk of the damage was done in a single, seven-run start.