Dodgers Face Uphill Battle Versus Jake Arrieta and Cubs

The Windy City will host Major League Baseball on Tuesday when the Los Angeles Dodgers visit the Chicago Cubs in a National League showdown. The current line has Chicago favored at -215, with Los Angeles at +198 and the over/under run total not yet released.

Entering this game, Los Angeles has an overall record of 27-25 and 14-13 on the road. The Dodgers are 6-4 over their past 10 games played. Chicago overall on the season is 35-14 and 18-6 at home. The Cubs over their past 10 games played are 7-3.

The most recent time that Jake Arrieta pitched versus the Dodgers, he tossed the first no-hitter of his career. Arrieta must pitch deep into the game on Tuesday after Chicago burned through its bullpen on Monday. Chicago had to go to the bullpen after just two innings.

The relievers came through big tossing seven innings of perfect baseball and winning a one-hitter 2-0. Chicago has won six consecutive games since losing three straight and has allowed a combined five runs over the last four games played.

The loss on Monday was only the second over the past eight games for Los Angeles. The Dodgers have allowed two runs or fewer in six of the past seven games they have played.

Arrieta on the season has a perfect record of 9-0 with an ERA of 1.72. Los Angeles will counter Arrieta with Scott Kazmir. The veteran southpaw on the season is 4-3 with an ERA of 4.84.

Kazmir has struggled with consistency this season. His command of the strike zone has been very erratic. He had 12 strikeouts in his last start, but walked seven in the start before that. Last Wednesday, he gave up just one run on four hits during six innings of work to win.

Kazmir has a career record of 1-0 with an ERA of 2.53 in his two starts versus the Cubs.

Chicago has won the past 23 starts by Arrieta, which ties a record in the majors. Arrieta has won 20 consecutive decisions.

Cubs’ second baseman Ben Zobrist has 26 hits in his past 61 at bats during a current 16-game hitting streak, which is his career best.

Los Angeles second baseman Chase Utley has no hits in 10 at bats in his career versus Arrieta.

Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward is currently on a hitting streak at home of 10 straight games where he has 14 hits in 40 at bats.

Prediction: Lean heavily on the Cubs.