Mookie Betts makes his first career start at shortstop
CHICAGO — Mookie Betts is living out a dream today, making his first major league career start at shortstop, the position he grew up playing a kid.
“He’s excited about this opportunity,” manager Dave Roberts said. “He’s a Gold Glover out there in right field, but he can do some things on the dirt.”
Sunday will mark the third time this week Betts will have played the position, after entering as a midgame replacement on Thursday and Friday. For now, the Dodgers are moving Betts around to compensate for Miguel Rojas’ IL stint. But Betts could make longer-term sense at the position this year if Rojas and Chris Taylor continue to struggle.
Clayton Kershaw (2-1 this season, 200-88 overall), will start for the Dodgers.
The Cubs, meanwhile, will close out the series with RHP Marcus Stroman (2-1) on the mound.
Too many home runs? Long-ball reliance isn’t fazing Dodgers after series win
CHICAGO — This hasn’t exactly been the offense the Dodgers had in mind.
The club might not have gone all-in on maximizing Major League Baseball’s new rules, designing a roster only partially suited to small-ball tactics such as stolen bases and slap hitting.
Still, one month into the season, the Dodgers also didn’t expect to be so home run reliant.
“When we put together this ballclub, we felt that the [batting] average, that the hit tool, was going to play a little bit more than it has and maybe kind of cut into the homers,” manager Dave Roberts said.
Brusdar Graterol gets out of a jam to close out Dodgers’ win over Cubs
Brusdar Graterol remained on the mound in the ninth to close out the game for the Dodgers with a comfortable four-run lead.
Patrick Wisdom reached a full count before hitting a single to centerfield. Trey Mancini reached first and Wisdom advanced to second on a catcher’s interference call.
Luis Torrens flied out to left center and runners remained on first and second with one out.
Yan Gomes hit a single to shallow right field, loading the bases for the Cubs with one out.
Graterol then pitched to Nick Madrigal, who hit to shortstop for a routine double play that closed out the win for the Dodgers.
Final: Dodgers 7, Cubs 3.
Mookie Betts’ double extends the Dodgers’ lead in ninth
Michael Fulmer took the mound for the Cubs to start the ninth inning.
Jason Heyward flied out to left and David Peralta flied out to center.
Miguel Vargas singled to left field. Austin Barnes walked and Vargas advanced to second.
As Mookie Betts walked to the plate, the Cubs manager David Ross visited the mound. He left Fulmer in the game after the chat.
After tossing two balls to Betts, Fulmer’s catcher stopped play to talk with him on the mound. Betts then hit the ball left the corner of left field, allowing Vargas and Barnes to score.
Freddie Freeman then struck out, stranding Betts on second.
Middle of the ninth: Dodgers 7, Cubs 3
Dodgers give up double to Cody Bellinger, but hold Cubs scoreless
Brusdar Graterol took over for Dodgers in the bottom of the eighth as the bullpen works to protect the lead and close out a win.
Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson both grounded out to third.
Cody Bellinger hit what seemed to be a sure fly out, but three Dodgers converging on the play, including late charging shortstop Mookie Betts, caused just enough interference for the ball to hit the grass. Bellinger advanced to second.
Seiya Suzuki grounded out to second to close out the inning.
End of eighth: Dodgers 5, Cubs 3
Keegan Thompson keeps Dodgers scoreless in the eighth
Keegan Thompson continued pitching for the Cubs at the start of the eighth inning.
Max Muncy flied out to center, J.D. Martinez struck out looking and James Outman grounded out to second.
Middle of the eighth: Dodgers 5, Cubs 3
Justin Bruihl takes over for Clayton Kershaw, protects lead
Justin Bruihl took over for Clayton Kershaw in the seventh inning.
Trey Mancini batted in place of Eric Hosmer and earned a walk after seven pitches.
Luis Torrens struck out swinging, Yan Gomes flied out to center while Mancini stayed on first and Nick Madrigal grounded into a fielder’s choice. Mookie Betts gathered the ground ball and fired it to second, where Mancini was tagged out to end the inning.
End of the seventh: Dodgers 5, Cubs 3
Dodgers strand Mookie Betts on first in seventh inning
Keegan Thompson took the mound for the Cubs at the top of the seventh.
Miguel Vargas and Austin Barnes both flied out to center.
Mookie Betts then took six pitches and earned a walk.
Freddie Freeman was up next and struck out swinging.
Middle of the seventh: Dodgers 5, Cubs 3
Clayton Kershaw holds Cubs scoreless in sixth inning
Clayton Kershaw remains in the game for the Dodgers and rolled through the bottom of the sixth without issue.
Cody Bellinger lined out to right, Seiya Suzuki grounded out to third and Patrick Wisdom flied out to left.
Kershaw has tossed 88 pitches.
End of sixth: Dodgers 5, Cubs 3
Back-to-back homers put Dodgers back on top in sixth
The Dodgers have Clayton Kershaw’s back.
The bats came alive at the top of the sixth inning to help the team quickly reclaim the lead.
Freddie Freeman walked to start the inning, then Max Muncy homered to right, bringing in two runs.
J.D. Martinez then hit a solo homer to left center.
The Cubs replaced Marcus Stroman on the mound, with Brandon Hughes taking over.
James Outman grounded out to second, Jason Heyward struck out swinging and David Peralta struck out swinging.
Middle of the sixth: Dodgers 5, Cubs 3
Clayton Kershaw gives up lead in fifth
Clayton Kershaw gave up a home run that put the Cubs back on top in the fifth inning.
Yan Gomes opened the inning with a home run, hitting the ball 377 feet to left center.
Nick Madrigal lined out to right, Nico Hoerner flied out to right and Dansby Swanson grounded out to third.
End of the fifth: Cubs 3, Dodgers 2
Dodgers bats remain quiet in the fifth inning
Miguel Vargas grounded out to third, Austin Barnes struck out looking and Mookie Betts took six pitches before grounding out to third to close out the top of the fifth inning.
Clayton Kershaw has thrown 65 pitches while Marcus Stroman has tossed 84.
Middle of the fifth: Dodgers 2, Cubs 2
Clayton Kershaw steady through five innings
Clayton Kershaw continues to be efficient after a difficult first inning.
Patrick Wisdom struck out looking, Eric Hosmer flied out to left and Luis Torrens struck out swinging.
Middle of the fifth: Dodger 2, Cubs 2
Dodgers can’t build on Jason Heyward’s single in the fourth
Marcus Stroman moved quickly through the Dodgers order in the fourth.
David Peralta struck out, Jason Herward singled to center, James Outman grounded out to the pitcher and J.D. Martinez flied out to right.
Middle for the fourth: Dodgers 2, Cubs 2
Clayton Kershaw holds Cubs scoreless during third innning
Nico Hoerner walked to open the bottom of the third inning, but Clayton Kershaw worked his way through the next three hitters to strand Hoerner on base.
Cody Bellinger fouled out to the catcher, Dansby Swanson struck out swinging and Seiya Suzuki grounded out shortstop.
End of third: Dodgers 2, Cubs 2
Mookie Betts homer helps Dodgers erase early deficit
Miguel Vargas grounded out to the Marcus Stroman to start the third.
Austin Barnes singled to right, bringing up Mookie Betts with one out and a runner on first.
Betts made the most of the opportunity, hammering the ball to left centerfield for a two-run homer that tied the game.
Freddie Freeman was next up and forced nine pitches before striking out.
Max Muncy flied out to center to close out the inning for the Dodgers.
Middle of the third: Dodgers 2, Cubs 2
Clayton Kershaw regroups and quickly rolls through three Cubs batters during second inning
Clayton Kershaw rebounded from giving up two runs in the first, shutting out the Cubs in the second.
Luis Torrens fouled out to the catcher, before Mookie Betts flashed his shortstop skills. Betts smoothly collected a ball hit by Yan Gomes to short and fired it to first base for the second out. And Nick Madrigal popped out to Kershaw.
End of the second: Cubs 2, Dodgers 0
James Outman a bright spot for the Dodgers during scoreless second inning
James Outman continues to deliver offensive consistency for the Dodgers.
J.D. Martinez opened the second inning striking out, but Outman then doubled to right.
Jason Heyward lined out to center.
Facing two outs, David Peralta worked the count but ultimately grounded out to first to close out the top of the second.
Middle of the second: Cubs 2, Dodgers 0
Cubs pounce, take 2-0 lead in first inning
Nico Hoerner pounced on the Dodgers’ miscues during a rough first inning for Clayton Kershaw.
Hoerner reached second base on a fielding error by Dodger Max Muncy.
Dansby Swanson then struck out swinging.
Cody Bellinger singled to center, Hoerner scored and Bellinger advanced to second on the play.
Seiya Suzuki singled to left, bringing Bellinger home.
Trailing 2-0, Kershaw dug in the got Patrick Wisdom and Eric Hosmer struck out swinging to close out the inning.
End of first: Cubs 2, Dodgers 0
Dodgers go three up and three down to open the first inning
The Cubs’ Marcus Stroman rolled through the Dodgers’ lineup, with Max Muncy grounding out to second, Freddie Freeman grounding out to shortstop and Mookie Betts striking out swinging.
Middle of the first: Dodgers 0, Cubs 0
Tony Gonsolin likely to rejoin Dodgers rotation next week
CHICAGO — Tony Gonsolin’s return from a sprained ankle seems imminent. The pitcher rejoined the Dodgers in Chicago on Sunday and is likely to start Wednesday’s game in Pittsburgh, manager Dave Roberts.
Gonsolin’s season debut had been delayed by a sprained ankle he suffered in spring training. Last week, he made what was supposed to be the first of several rehab starts with triple A Oklahoma City.
However, after Michael Grove went on the injured list this week, the Dodgers decided to bring Gonsolin back early, even though he’s only built up to about four innings and 60 pitches.
Stan Kasten: Dodgers ‘not swayed’ by rise of Mets, Padres and other big spenders
As he milled around near the visitors’ dugout at Dodger Stadium on Monday night, Steve Cohen made a bigger on-field presence at Chavez Ravine than any Dodgers owner has all year.
In town to watch his surging New York Mets take two of three games against the struggling Dodgers, Cohen’s every move was followed by eyeballs and cameras.
He held court behind the plate during batting practice. He chatted up his players and staff when they walked by. He visited with prominent agent Scott Boras, spending several minutes with another of the sport’s biggest powerbrokers in plain sight.
It was a reflection of the hands-on, hyperaggressive reputation Cohen has cultivated since his $2.4-billion purchase of the club in 2020 — splurging on signings, smashing payroll records and seemingly prompting a league-wide free-agent binge this offseason.
Recap: James Outman and Max Muncy power Dodgers past Cubs
CHICAGO — Max Muncy homered twice, tying him for the major league lead with 10 on the season.
James Outman added his own pair of bombs, breaking a franchise rookie record with seven before the start of May.
As has often been the case for the homer-happy Dodgers, it was the long ball that led them to a 9-4 victory Saturday over the Chicago Cubs, adding four to their National League-leading total 40 over the season’s first month.
Dodgers TV schedule for the 2023 regular season
Here’s a look at the Dodgers TV schedule for the 2023 regular season. All times and broadcast/streaming options are subject to change.
