The Dodgers held their own this past weekend, winning two of three games against the Guardians despite a very ominous start to the series. Teoscar Hernandez was forced to leave the first game of the series after being hit on the ankle in the first inning, and the offense scored just one run for the second straight game. They bounced back from that tough opener, outscoring Cleveland 11-2 in the final two games and moving six games ahead of the Padres in the West.

Today the Dodgers begin a three-game series with the Cubs to close out this home game. The two teams met in Chicago in April and it was a pretty nightmarish series for the Dodgers. They won the middle game of the series, but Bobby Miller And Gavin Steen were blown out in the first and last games for a series loss. The Cubs were 6-3 after the series and are now three games above .500 at 73-70. They ended August hot, winning nine of 10, but have since lost four of six games in their last two series. They have followed the same pattern in those two series, losing the first two games before averting the sweep with a win in the finale. They have been eliminated in three of those four losses.

	7:10 PM		Los Angeles
LF	Happy (S)	DH	Ohtani (L)
SS	Swans	RF	bets
DH	Suzuki	1B	Freeman (left)
RF	Bellinger (left)	3B	Muncy (left)
3B	Parades	C	Blacksmith
1B	Busch (left)	CF	Edman (S)
2B	Hoerner	2B	Luxury (L)
CF	Crow Armstrong (left)	SS	Red
C	Amaya	LF	Tailor
P	Hendriks (R)	P	Buehler (R)

Hiker Buehler looks to build on a solid start in Anaheim last time out. Buehler went five solid innings, allowing five hits and two runs (both solo homers). His six strikeouts were the most he’s had in a game since late May, and it was the first time he’s completed five innings in his last four starts. Buehler hasn’t faced the Cubs since 2022, and that start was debatable the last time he was Walker F. Buehler. He began that start with back-to-back shutouts (one CGSO against Arizona and five shutouts against Detroit. Buehler held the Cubs to one run on four hits in seven innings, dropping his ERA to 1.96 after six starts. He’d make six more starts that season, posting a 6.67 ERA over those 28 1/3 innings before a flexor injury escalated into a second Tommy John surgery.

Kyle Hendriks is making his 26th appearance and 21st start of the season. It was easily the worst season of his 11-year career, with a 6.60 ERA and 5.22 FIP over 107 2/3 innings. His ERA is nearly two runs higher than his previous worst (4.80 in 2022). This is actually the third-best ERA he’s had after a start this season, only worse than the 6.33 and 6.35 he had after two starts in August. He’s coming off back-to-back starts against the Pirates with varying degrees of success. In Pittsburgh, Hendricks allowed six runs and eight hits in just 1 2/3 innings. The last time he appeared in Chicago, he allowed two runs and five hits in five innings. He started the first game against the Dodgers when they traveled to Chicago in April and struggled, allowing five runs and eight hits in just four innings. Miller and Michael Bosje got even worse and eventually the Cubs won that game.

Hendricks has never been a strikeout pitcher, but he currently has the lowest strikeout rate of his career (15.6 percent, third-lowest among 100+ inning pitchers). His 7.0 percent walk rate isn’t outrageous, but it’s tied for the worst he’s ever posted. Hendricks has the lowest average fastball velocity in baseball at just 87.9 MPH. It’s his least used pitch (12.6 percent) and despite its low entry velocity, it has the highest average exit velocity of his four pitches (93.5 MPH). Overall, he’s still excellent at limiting exit velocity (85.5 MPH exit velocity overall, second-lowest among starters in baseball). He’s primarily a sinker/changeup pitcher, throwing a sinker 36.7 and changeup 37.4 percent of the time. He’s also mixed into a curve 13.4 percent of the time.

Hernandez remains out of the lineup, with Chris Taylor today the start in left get. Old friends Cody Bellinger And Michael Busch for the Cubs at right and first base respectively.

——

Hernandez could return today, but is instead targeting tomorrow.

Theoscar Hernández‘s left foot is still “a little sore,” he said. But is going through his normal routine today, and if all goes well, he should be available tomorrow night. https://t.co/QoI0hAh1cq

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) September 9, 2024

He is reportedly still experiencing some muscle soreness, but he could be back on the field tomorrow against Shota-ImanagaThe Dodgers could face lefties in three of the next four games (ESPN has Chris Sales (as the likely starter on Saturday in Atlanta), so they’ll need Teo back sooner rather than later.

Some additional updates on Brusdar Rasp And Tyler Glasnow.

#Dodgers updates of Dave Roberts:

— Brusdar Graterol will likely be active on Wednesday (there are some schedule gyms that have delayed its activation)

— Tyler Glasnow is still scheduled for another bullpen tomorrow, and then a mock game on Friday if all goes well

— Dodgers still…

— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) September 9, 2024

Graterol is expected to be activated Wednesday as the Dodgers figure out how to handle an already crowded bullpen. Glasnow survived his first bullpen and will throw another tomorrow. If that goes well, he will throw a sim game on Friday.

——

Earlier today, Mookie Betts was named the Dodger nominee for the Roberto Clemente Price.

Making big plays, on and off the field.

Congratulations Mookie on being named the Dodgers nominee for the 2024 Roberto Clemente Award! Vote for Mookie as the league-wide winner through 9/29 at https://t.co/TIAUSm27si. photo.twitter.com/tE9E3npcJr

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 9, 2024

Imagine being the team that drafts him and you’re like, “No, we’re good.”

——

The first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. PT and will be broadcast on SportsNet LA.