True Blue LA - May 26: Dodgers 4, Cubs 0Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2017-05-26T22:37:10-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/154667732017-05-26T22:37:10-07:002017-05-26T22:37:10-07:00Wood continues his May to remember as Dodgers top Cubs
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<img alt="MLB: Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qDvE1YBm-ikBZSVKlB5WUrIZNxc=/0x0:3120x2080/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54977363/usa_today_10074518.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Utley, Gonzalez homer in win</p> <p id="N1h8xM">LOS ANGELES — <span>Alex Wood</span> continued his magnificent May, and the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> backed him with some big shots against <span>Jake Arrieta</span> to take the opener against the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a>, 4-0 on Friday night at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p id="ABa0qA">Wood continued his pattern of success, striking out eight in his five innings while inducing four ground outs and no fly ball outs. Wood held the Cubs scoreless in his five innings, running his scoreless streak to 25⅓ consecutive innings, the longest streak in the majors this season.</p>
<p id="h3YMqG">“It’s nice when you can get the ball on the ground, these days with guys trying to elevate so much,” Wood said.</p>
<p id="S8dwhX">With the five scoreless frames on Friday, Wood is the first Dodgers pitcher with four consecutive scoreless starts since <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?t=p&id=kershcl01&year=2015#229-232-sum">from July 8 to Aug. 1, 2015</a>.</p>
<p id="ABDneX">Wood in May has made five starts, allowed five total runs (four earned), and has five wins, to go with 41 strikeouts and seven walks for the month.</p>
<p id="SATPWR">“He’s as confident as any player I’ve ever been around,” manager Dave Roberts said. </p>
<p id="ol6NlW"><span>Chase Utley</span> hit a solo home run in the third inning against Arrieta, the second home run in as many days for Utley, for his first two home runs of the season. Utley also later stole a base, joining <span>Yasiel Puig</span> (twice) and <span>Cody Bellinger</span> as the <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/tiny/oOad8">only Dodgers to hit a home run and steal a base in the same game in 2017</a>.</p>
<p id="JBI67z">After a <span>Corey Seager</span> walk in the fourth inning, <span>Yasmani Grandal</span> continued his own torrid May with an RBI double, his career-best 10th of this month.</p>
<p id="FYXnfy"><span>Adrian Gonzalez</span> added some insurance with a two-run shot in the sixth inning, a no-doubter to dead center clubbed 429 feet for his first of the season. </p>
<p id="WMtpwM">“I really haven’t seen him to get into a ball like that in a couple years,” Roberts said. “It’s just coming off [his bat] a lot better. Hopefully he’s figured something out.”</p>
<p id="urewAc">It snapped a drought this season of 35 games and 131 plate appearances, both the longest of Gonzalez’s career.</p>
<p id="LoaXyx">Since his return from the disabled list on May 18, five of Gonzalez’s seven hits are for extra bases.</p>
<p id="XyFj9N">“If I’m healthy, I feel like I can do things. If I’m not, I feel like I’m fighting myself more than I’m fighting the pitcher,” Gonzalez said. “It’s still not 100%, but it’s getting better.”</p>
<p id="n40dH8">About the only negative for Wood on Friday was that he needed 91 pitches to complete five innings, and was removed for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the fifth in what was at the time a two-run game.</p>
<p id="1EsNXT">But the bullpen was more than up to the task, with <span>Pedro Baez</span> contributing two scoreless innings and <span>Chris Hatcher</span> did the same to close out the win.</p>
<p id="KSFFat">Wood even saw seven pitches in his one at-bat, striking out in the third inning against Arrieta. Wood has averaged 4.3 pitches per plate appearance this season, a mark topped on the team only by Logan Forsythe and Joc Pederson. Wood’s explanation was pretty simple.</p>
<p id="clwSaP">“When I swing, I’m just not hitting it as often,” Wood said, laughing.</p>
<p id="d1uHn4">These two teams have split four games this season, but thanks to Friday the Dodgers now lead the Cubs in total runs scored in their contests, eight to seven.</p>
<h3 id="pRO9aC">Up next</h3>
<p id="sVS2N4"><span>Brandon McCarthy</span> takes the mound on Saturday afternoon, a tweener 4:15 p.m. PT start because of the national Fox broadcast. He will face <span>John Lackey</span>, who ranks <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/GS_active.shtml">third among active pitchers with 425 career starts</a>.</p>
<h3 id="gniAAK">Friday particulars</h3>
<p id="jxr4Se"><strong>Home runs</strong>: Chase Utley (2), Adrian Gonzalez (1)</p>
<p id="KVqCVX"><strong>WP - Alex Wood (6-0)</strong>: 5 IP, 2 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts</p>
<p id="fLFRuW"><strong>LP - Jake Arrieta (5-4)</strong>: 6 IP, 5 hits, 4 runs, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2017/5/26/15703612/alex-wood-scoreless-streak-mister-may-dodgers-cubs-recapEric Stephen2017-05-26T15:22:53-07:002017-05-26T15:22:53-07:00Yasmani Grandal enjoying a strong May
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<img alt="St Louis Cardinals v Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kL3BKPHcgSEt1UruCktp0olQ5qE=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54974855/687507190.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Harry How/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="JrL81C">LOS ANGELES — <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> catcher <span>Yasmani Grandal</span> is behind the plate on Friday night, looking to continue one of the finest months of his career.</p>
<p id="RkEZ3Y">Grandal is hitting .292/.359/.496 on the season with five home runs and 15 walks in 41 games. Over at FanGraphs, Travis Sawchik — who had Grandal seventh on his NL MVP ballot, the lone vote Grandal received — <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/yasmani-grandal-is-doing-it-again/">wrote about Grandal’s exceptional 2017 earlier Friday</a>.</p>
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<p id="udtV87">Grandal this season already has 13 doubles, his average of the last two full seasons, and just six shy of his career high, set in 2014 with San Diego. Nine of those doubles have come in May, two more than he has hit in any other month of his career.</p>
<p id="powWWG">So far in May, Grandal is hitting .364/.400/.591 with 15 RBI in 18 games. </p>
<p id="uKGVja">He is 1-for-6 in his career with two walks against <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> starter <span>Jake Arrieta</span>, and the one hit was a two-run home run hit in Game 3 of the 2016 NLCS.</p>
<p id="B8WaUQ">After not starting on Thursday night, <span>Logan Forsythe</span> is back in the Dodgers’ lineup on Friday, leading off and playing third base. Forsythe started at third base Tuesday and Wednesday in his first two games back off the disabled list, then played the final three innings on defense at second base on Thursday.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2017/5/26/15702854/yasmani-grandal-may-dodgers-cubs-lineupsEric Stephen2017-05-26T13:30:02-07:002017-05-26T13:30:02-07:00Dodgers, Cubs meet again amid slow climbs
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<img alt="MLB: Miami Marlins at Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dSTgWOkVwBwJL7haDwwIev7Hvno=/0x72:1615x1149/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54971347/usa_today_10064946.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="RklcOZ">LOS ANGELES — The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> and <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> meet for a second and final time in the regular season in 2017, with both teams looking for more offense than in their first matchup.</p>
<p id="uSl8L1">Back in April, the Cubs took two of three against the Dodgers, one win for each ceremony they had during the series, and outscored them 7-4 in a low-scoring affair.</p>
<p id="iYs0hu">Both have rebounded after sluggish starts. The Dodgers were 14-13 after losing on May 1, but since then are 14-7, averaging 5.86 runs per game.</p>
<p id="eH0pJd">The Cubs were under .500 as late as May 14 (18-19), but have won seven of nine since, outscoring opponents 59-39 during that span. Their last nine games have been at Wrigley Field, but now the Cubs start a road trip, having lost their last three series away from home.</p>
<p id="vibESI"><span>Jake Arrieta</span>, whose <a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2015/8/30/9230141/jake-arrieta-dodgers-no-hitter-cubs-cmon"><em>one</em>-hitter at Aug. 30, 2015 at Dodger Stadium</a> was the first of his two career no-hitters, has struggled so far this season, with a 4.80 ERA and 3.92 FIP in nine starts. Opposing batters are hitting .281/.333/.468 against Arrieta this season, including .301/.360/.500 in his six road starts.</p>
<p id="JUrWRb">Left-handers are hitting .288/.370/.513 against Arrieta in 2017.</p>
<p id="pzC9cN"><span>Kris Bryant</span> is hitting .296/.412/.648 with seven home runs in May, with <span>Ben Zobrist</span> (.323/.389/.554, seven extra-base hits) and <span>Javier Baez</span> (.310/.324/.606, six HR) also hot this month.</p>
<p id="S2l3Jg">Both the Dodgers and Cubs have seen extraordinary debuts from rookies. <span>Cody Bellinger</span> is hitting .283/.342/.604 with nine home runs in 28 games for the Dodgers, while switch-hitting outfielder <span>Ian Happ</span> is hitting .297/.409/.622 with two home runs, four doubles, and a triple in 11 games for Chicago.</p>
<p id="ha21Me"><span>Alex Wood</span> enters Friday having thrown three consecutive scoreless starts, and has an active scoreless streak of 20⅓ innings, with 29 strikeouts and four walks during that span.</p>
<p id="piF4gj">The last Dodgers pitcher with <em>four</em> straight scoreless starts was <span>Clayton Kershaw</span>, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?t=p&id=kershcl01&year=2015#229-232-sum">from July 8 to Aug. 1, 2015</a>.</p>
<h3 id="WwKVxQ">Game info</h3>
<p id="aOH1sx">Time: 7:10 p.m. PT</p>
<p id="bPBJ52">TV: SportsNet LA, MLB Network</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2017/5/26/15701700/dodgers-cubs-alex-wood-jake-arrieta-previewEric Stephen2017-05-26T13:29:02-07:002017-05-26T13:29:02-07:00Dodgers-Cubs series snapshot
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<img alt="MLB: NLCS-Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7bz8xSoI8hRch2_45-fixreyo1w=/0x0:3173x2115/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54970669/usa_today_9619678.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="edPqJX">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> and <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> renew their NLCS rematch with a weekend showdown at Dodger Stadium, the second and final time these two teams will play each other during the regular season in 2017. Here is an overview look at both teams heading into the three-game set.</p>
<p id="hWdnR0">Teams: Dodgers (28-20) vs. Cubs (25-21)</p>
<p id="UnqoJM">Split records: Dodgers 18-8 at home, Cubs 11-10 on road</p>
<p id="5HSNAt">Run differential: Dodgers +64 (1st in NL), Cubs +22 (5th in NL)</p>
<p id="sJapKI">Runs scored: Dodgers 4.96 per game (8th), Cubs 5.02 (7th)</p>
<p id="Omf9Gb">OPS+: Dodgers 105 (2nd), Cubs 99 (6th)</p>
<div class="c-float-right"><div id="uA1u4q"><div data-anthem-component="table:465088"></div></div></div>
<p id="TiHBXi">wRC+: Dodgers 107 (2nd), Cubs 97 (7th)</p>
<p id="af8OfR">Runs allowed: Dodgers 3.62 (1st), Cubs 4.54 (5th)</p>
<p id="BKqXf1">ERA+: Dodgers 122 (2nd), Cubs 109 (5th)</p>
<p id="emNSnK">Last 10 games: Dodgers 6-4, Cubs 7-3</p>
<p id="RTHrnk">2017 head-to-head record: 2-1 Cubs</p>
<p id="xXqiza">2016 head-to-head: 4-3 Cubs (2-1 Dodgers in LA)</p>
<p id="kil4tY">Cubs SB Nation site: <a href="http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Bleed Cubbie Blue</a></p>
<h3 id="xdThOZ">Pitching matchups</h3>
<p id="BFZQKK"><a href="http://www.truebluela.com/2017/5/26/15701250/dodgers-cubs-probable-pitchers-tv-schedule"><em>More details</em></a></p>
<p id="YDdhZk">Friday: <span>Alex Wood</span> vs. <span>Jake Arrieta</span><br>Saturday: <span>Brandon McCarthy</span> vs. <span>John Lackey</span><br>Sunday: <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> vs. <span>Jon Lester</span></p>
<h3 id="OLQKwF">Series schedule</h3>
<p id="UYVBCa">Friday, 7:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA, MLB Network)<br>Saturday, 4:15 p.m. (Fox)<br>Sunday, 1:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA, MLB Network)</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2017/5/26/15701488/dodgers-cubs-schedule-statisticsEric Stephen2017-05-26T11:08:34-07:002017-05-26T11:08:34-07:00Dodgers-Cubs probable pitchers
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<img alt="MLB: Miami Marlins at Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2uvAj4_6u-YteRgl7-A-OFJVRTc=/0x0:4512x3008/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54969105/usa_today_10068682.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="vYEYjA">LOS ANGELES — The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> won their first two series on this 10-game homestead, and now welcome the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> to town for three games. Here is a look at the pitching matchups and schedule for the weekend series at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<h3 id="1iUO2q">Friday, 7:10 p.m. PT (SportsNet LA, MLB Network)</h3>
<p id="GrzCok"><span>Alex Wood</span> in May is 4-0 with a 1.54 ERA in four starts, with 33 strikeouts and five walks in 23⅓ innings. <span>Jake Arrieta</span> had a streak of seven straight starts allowing three or more runs, but snapped that last Sunday, allowing just one unearned run in six innings against Milwaukee.</p>
<h3 id="BdZZsn">Saturday, 4:15 p.m. (Fox)</h3>
<p id="Dx1slO"><span>Brandon McCarthy</span> at 40⅔ innings in 2017 has already pitched his most innings in his three seasons as a Dodger. John Lackey has 55 strikeouts against only 15 walks in his 52⅓ innings this season, but has also allowed 12 home runs and sports a 4.82 ERA.</p>
<p id="eFRJfo">This is an exclusive Fox broadcast, shown to 64% of the country, with Joe Buck, <span>John Smoltz</span>, and Ken Rosenthal on the call.</p>
<h3 id="ysK5vg">Sunday, 1:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA, MLB Network)</h3>
<p id="sg4AFQ"><span>Clayton Kershaw</span> has a 1.93 ERA in five home starts this season, with 41 strikeouts and two walks. Since the start of 2016, <span>Jon Lester</span> has a 1.06 ERA in five starts against the Dodgers — four runs in 34 innings — and the Cubs have won four of those five games.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2017/5/26/15701250/dodgers-cubs-probable-pitchers-tv-scheduleEric Stephen