True Blue LA - April 16: Cubs 3, Dodgers 2Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2023-04-16T16:00:55-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/234494822023-04-16T16:00:55-07:002023-04-16T16:00:55-07:00Back-to-back homers off Urías doom low-scoring Dodgers
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<p id="U6uwtW">Back-to-back <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> home runs spoiled an otherwise solid start from Julio Urías, proving enough to beat an anemic <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> offense 3-2 on Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p id="6PYYQq">With two outs in the sixth inning, Urías got ahead of Patrick Wisdom 0-2, just one pitch away from pitching exactly six innings in each of his four starts this season. But then Patrick Wisdom homered into the left field pavilion, breaking a 1-1 tie. Two pitches later, Cody Bellinger deposited a ball well up the right field pavilion to widen Chicago’s advantage.</p>
<p id="KLtjyc">Wisdom homered in all three games of the weekend series, giving him six on the season. Bellinger was hitless in 12 at-bats against left-handed pitchers this season before that home run, his 80th career homer at Dodger Stadium, <a href="https://stathead.com/tiny/aELLA">10th-most in the 62-year history of the ballpark</a>.</p>
<p id="iDXdHX">Urías never got that final out of the sixth, but finished with six strikeouts and a walk while allowing three runs, two of them earned. </p>
<p id="Q38DSN">That proved insurmountable for a Dodgers offense that scored six runs in the three-game series against the Cubs, with Los Angeles scoring two or fewer runs in four of their last five games.</p>
<p id="ZeDv6j">Chris Taylor’s solo home run in the third inning was the only run scored against left-hander Drew Smyly, continuing a theme for the weekend. Cubs starters allowed three runs on nine hits in 17⅔ innings, with 18 strikeouts and five walks.</p>
<p id="n8F73J">Even when Chicago provided gifts, like in the seventh when Seiya Suzuki <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsNetLA/status/1647724764012892160">lost a Mookie Betts pop fly in the sun</a> to score one run, and when Dansby Swanson couldn’t field a grounder to the hole by J.D. Martinez (ruled an infield single), Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy sandwiched Martinez with strikeouts to end the inning.</p>
<p id="fH0Ewc">Betts reached on an infield single with two outs in the ninth, but Freddie Freeman struck out looking to end the game, <a href="https://stathead.com/tiny/aY1Ut">Freeman’s fourth strikeout of the day to match his career high</a>, his first four-strikeout game with the Dodgers. </p>
<h3 id="DCtXI9">Stolen moments</h3>
<p id="OQj9X4">Miguel Vargas couldn’t cleanly field a grounder in the fifth inning, allowing Bellinger to reach. Bellinger took advantage by stealing second, advanced to third on a grounder, and scored on an infield single.</p>
<p id="96JxTK">Chicago ran wild on the Dodgers all weekend, stealing nine bases in three games. Two of those came against Urías, which is a rarity. Sunday was the fifth time Urías allowed two steals in one game; two came <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/WAS/WAS201607210.shtml">as a rookie</a> <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2016/9/2/12779526/padres-rally-dodgers-loss-adam-liberatore-recap">in 2016</a>, and <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SEA/SEA202008190.shtml">two more</a> <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN202009060.shtml">in 2020</a> before this one.</p>
<p id="M2UioA">Urías also picked off Nico Hoerner in the first inning. In 141 games and 105 starts in his career, Urías has allowed only 28 stolen bases, at a 62-percent success rate.</p>
<h3 id="dxPmtH">Finding equilibrium</h3>
<p id="BybW4J">The Dodgers this season have followed every winning “streak” immediately with losses in equal measure. That’s a convoluted way of saying in addition to five different wins followed by losses, they also followed a three-game win streak immediately with a three-game losing streak.</p>
<p id="kzmTfk">The Dodgers this season have been 1-1, 2-2, 5-5, 6-6, 7-7, and now 8-8.</p>
<h3 id="RXlitP">Sunday particulars</h3>
<p id="4w9RkE"><strong>Home runs</strong>: Chris Taylor (4); Patrick Wisdom (6), Cody Bellinger (3)</p>
<p id="rjXsHe"><strong>WP — Drew Smyly (1-1)</strong>: 5⅔ IP, 4 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts</p>
<p id="qNVL6i"><strong>LP — Julio Urías (3-1)</strong>: 5⅔ IP, 8 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 1 walk, 6 strikeouts</p>
<p id="0PANuv"><strong>Sv — Brad Boxberger (1)</strong>: 1 IP, 1 hit, 3 strikeouts</p>
<h3 id="AHzabB">Up next</h3>
<p id="M20Z9S">In between two weekend series with the Cubs, the Dodgers will welcome the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a> to Los Angeles for a three-game series. Dustin May starts the opener Monday night (7:10 p.m.; SportsNet LA, MLB Network), with left-hander David Peterson on the mound for New York.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2023/4/16/23685443/julio-urias-home-runs-dodgers-offense-mia-cubs-recapEric Stephen2023-04-16T12:44:00-07:002023-04-16T12:44:00-07:00Dodgers vs. Cubs Game III chat
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<figcaption>Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="zlZeHf">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> and <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> conclude their three-game series on Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here is today’s starting lineup for the rubber match vs. LA!<br><br>Tune in: <a href="https://t.co/Gs2hZXyTjH">https://t.co/Gs2hZXyTjH</a> <a href="https://t.co/YH2sa8vpEW">pic.twitter.com/YH2sa8vpEW</a></p>— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1647646984881205251?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2023</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Today's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dodgers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dodgers</a> lineup vs. Cubs: <a href="https://t.co/egNHhfsAzc">pic.twitter.com/egNHhfsAzc</a></p>— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/1647657502920839169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2023</a>
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<h3 id="GoSRG8">Game info</h3>
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<li id="ZL3WE1">Teams: Dodgers vs. Cubs</li>
<li id="tQFNfP">Stadium: Dodger Stadium</li>
<li id="ipxAAz">Time: 1:10 p.m. PT</li>
<li id="yx3Lxu">TV: SportsNet LA, MLB Network (out of market)</li>
<li id="dwj5Kq">Radio: AM 570 (English); KTNQ 1020 (Spanish)</li>
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https://www.truebluela.com/23682933/dodgers-cubs-game-chatEric Stephen2023-04-15T22:22:14-07:002023-04-15T22:22:14-07:00Will Smith to undergo tests, injured list possible
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<figcaption>Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="7KeZ3V">LOS ANGELES — <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> catcher Will Smith missed his second straight game on Saturday with an illness, and he’ll miss Sunday’s game, too. </p>
<p id="ki1SRZ">“We’re going to try to run some more tests and try to figure this thing out. Obviously, we’re probably going to make a move,” manager Dave Roberts said Saturday night. “I don’t know what that’s gonna be. But just doesn’t look good. We’ll evaluate tomorrow and see where he’s at.”</p>
<p id="neGJv1">The actual injury to Smith hasn’t yet been fully diagnosed, though Roberts before Saturday’s game said it was not a tissue injury.</p>
<p id="jqoumo">Smith was still with the team through Saturday’s game, but was not available to pinch-hit. But the implied threat of Smith being available <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2023/4/15/23684738/dodgers-offense-david-peralta-walk-off-michael-grove-bounce-back-cubs">helped the Dodgers in their walk-off win</a>. David Peralta delivered the two-run single with first base open, and Austin Barnes on deck.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ross on plan v Peralta: The decision is to pitch around him, walk him. Barnes -- they’ve got some pinch-hitters on the bench. Who knows what Will Smith is, where he’s at. We can guess on that all day long. You got an open base, trying to be careful, jumped a cutter & found a hole</p>— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) <a href="https://twitter.com/sahadevsharma/status/1647463628520714240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2023</a>
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<p id="2mIkO5">Diego Cartaya is the only other Dodgers catcher <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2023/2/16/23596648/dodgers-roster-2023-transactions">on the 40-man roster</a>, but the 21-year-old has only played five games at Double-A Tulsa to date. </p>
<p id="PjmyLz">At Triple-A Oklahoma City, the Dodgers have Hunter Feduccia, who impressed during spring training as a non-roster invitees, leading the team in innings caught thanks to Smith and Barnes being away for two weeks at the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/world-baseball-classic">World Baseball Classic</a>. Veteran Patrick Mazeika is also in Triple-A, and was with the Dodgers as a non-roster invitee in camp as well.</p>
<p id="IgBbri">Feduccia played Saturday night for Oklahoma City at home against Sugar Land <a href="https://www.milb.com/gameday/space-cowboys-vs-dodgers/2023/04/15/721799#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=box,game=721799">in a game that ended at 7:44 p.m. PT</a>. For what it’s worth, Cartaya did not play Saturday for Tulsa.</p>
<p id="z5X0oM">The Dodgers have some flexibility in adding someone to the 40-man roster, as pitcher Alex Reyes isn’t expected to be ready any time soon, <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2023/3/30/23630669/dodgers-injured-list-tony-gonsolin-daniel-hudson-ryan-pepiot-alex-reyes-opening-day-roster">still rehabbing from last year’s shoulder surgery</a>. Transferring him to <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2023/3/30/23630044/los-angeles-dodgers-injured-list-tracker-2023">the 60-day injured list</a> would mean the earliest date he could possibly return would be May 29.</p>
<p id="tqt5CW">But they feasibly can’t go too long with effectively one active catcher on the active roster, which is why Roberts mentioned a likely incoming move. </p>
<p id="xiGbT0">“We have tonight to try and think about it,” Roberts said. “I don’t know how it’s going to shake out.”</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2023/4/15/23685141/will-smith-illness-dodgers-injured-list-possibleEric Stephen2023-04-14T05:02:00-07:002023-04-14T05:02:00-07:00Dodgers vs. Cubs series info
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<p>Cody Bellinger’s return to Dodger Stadium</p> <p id="U37GoL">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> are back home to face the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> for a three-game weekend series at Dodger Stadium, with Friday night the return of Cody Bellinger to Los Angeles.</p>
<p id="5RnHvO">Expect a nice standing ovation for the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2019/11/14/20965498/cody-bellinger-receives-nl-mvp-award-dodgers-bbwaa">former National League MVP</a>, <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2017/11/13/16636438/cody-bellinger-rookie-of-the-year-dodgers-national-league-bbwaa">Rookie of the Year</a>, two-time All-Star who <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2020/10/18/21522051/cody-bellinger-home-run-julio-urias-legend-dodgers-game-7-nlcs-pennant">hit a pennant-winning home run for the Dodgers in 2020</a>. Bellinger, who <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2022/11/18/23457353/cody-bellinger-non-tendered-dodgers-free-agent">was non-tendered by the Dodgers in November</a>, after two down seasons, <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2022/12/6/23479437/cody-bellinger-cubs-free-agent-contract">signed a one-year deal with the Cubs in December</a>.</p>
<p id="6atiGI">So far this season, Bellinger is hitting .238/.298/.405 with two home runs and nine RBI in 11 games for Chicago.</p>
<p id="GxbGyR">This is the second of two consecutive weekend series between the Dodgers and Cubs, who will also play four games next weekend at Wrigley Field in Chicago.</p>
<p id="w2LK0x">The Dodgers will <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2023/4/13/23681153/dodgers-offense-left-handed-pitching-trayce-thompson-chris-taylor">face a pair of left-handed starters to bookend the series</a>.</p>
<h3 id="12RgWK">Dodgers vs. Cubs series info</h3>
<p id="MArPuX"><strong>Friday, 7:10 p.m.</strong><br>Noah Syndergaard vs. Justin Steele (L)<br><em>SportsNet LA</em></p>
<p id="IPwtaH"><strong>Saturday, 6:10 p.m.</strong><br>Michael Grove vs. Jameson Taillon<br><em>SportsNet LA</em></p>
<p id="GmCMSk"><strong>Sunday, 1:10 p.m.</strong><br>Julio Urías vs. Drew Smyly (L)<br><em>SportsNet LA, MLB Network (out of market)</em></p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2023/4/14/23682909/dodgers-schedule-cubs-game-time-tv-pitchingEric Stephen