Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers preview, Wednesday 9/11, 9:10 CT
COULD THEY ACTUALLY SWEEP?: This is the Cubs’ 120th series at Los Angeles since the Dodgers moved there to begin the 1958 season. It is the 104th of at least three games. The Cubs have swept only four of those series: four games in 1971 and three games in 1992, 1995 and 2005. In six other series, they won the first two games and lost the third. Four of those were three-game series: in 1959, 1961, 1970 and 1974. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
PCA IS MORE THAN JUST DEFENSE: Pete Crow-Armstrong, last 19 games since Aug. 21: .373/.421/.567 (25-for-67) with four doubles, three home runs, 18 RBI and 17 runs scored.
ALSO A HOT HITTER: Nico Hoerner, last 15 games since Aug. 24: .357/.419/.464 (20-for-56) with six doubles, five walks, five stolen bases and 12 runs scored.
WHAT A RELIEF: Nate Pearson, 12 games since joining the Cubs: 1.86 ERA, 0.621 WHIP, 17 strikeouts and two (!) walks in 19⅓ innings.
Jordan Wicks has made two starts since his return from the IL. The first, against the Nationals, was very good. In the second, against the Yankees, he struggled with control and walked four in five innings.
Wicks faced the Dodgers Apr. 6 at Wrigley Field. He allowed two runs in 4x innings and struck out seven.
That’s about all I’ve got for now. Hopefully, he’s got better command tonight than he had last time out.
Bobby Miller is a Chicago-area native (McHenry HS in McHenry) and was the Dodgers’ No. 1 pick out of Louisville in 2020. He had a good rookie year in 2023 but has struggled this year, including missing two months with a shoulder injury.
The Cubs hit him pretty hard Apr. 5 at Wrigley Field, five runs in fewer than two innings, including a home run by Dansby Swanson. Miller also got hit hard in his last start, Sept. 4 against the Angels — seven runs in five innings. Miller has allowed 15 (!) home runs in just 49⅔ innings this year. He throws hard, though, as you can see below.
