Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs: Live updates, news, odds and score – Los Angeles Times

Julio Urías opened the sixth by striking out Anthony Rizzo for his 12th strikeout of the game. He then allowed a single to Javier Baez that marked the end of his day on the mound.

Urías showed improvement over his previous starts, allowing five hits, two earned runs, a walk and 12 strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings.

Joe Kelly came on in relief and struck out Patrick Wisdom and Jake Marisnick.

AJ Pollock doubled to the wall in the right-center field gap in the bottom of the inning, but was left stranded when Cubs reliever Dan Winkler got Zach McKinstry to ground out to second.

End of sixth: Cubs 2, Dodgers 2

Chicago’s Ian Happ hit a run-scoring double off Dodgers starter Julio Urías to tie the game 2-2 in the fifth inning.

Jason Heyward, who picked up his second hit of the game on a sizzler down the left-field line for an easy double, scored on the play. Happ’s pinch-hit double went into the right-field corner.

Before allowing Happ’s hit, Urías struck out Sergio Alcantara for his 10th punchout before notching strikeout No. 11 against Kris Bryant to end the inning.

In the bottom of the inning, Cubs reliever Brad Wieck retired the Dodgers in order, striking out Max Muncy and Justin Turner along the way.

End of fifth: Cubs 2, Dodgers 2

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Alec Mills throws during the first inning Saturday.

(Alex Gallardo / Associated Press)

Chicago’s Anthony Rizzo led off the fourth inning with a home run to right field off Julio Urías, making it 2-1 Dodgers in the fourth inning.

It was Rizzo’s 10th home run of the season and second hit allowed in the game by Urías, who responded by striking out the next three batters to up his strikeout total to nine.

In the bottom of the inning, the Dodgers whiffed on another prime scoring opportunity. For the second time in three innings, Willson Contreras picked off Chris Taylor at third, this time when Taylor bit too much while leading off the bag on a bunt attempt by Urías. Just like when he picked off Taylor on a stolen-base attempt in the second, Contreras made a fast and perfect throw.

Although Urías singled a short time later on grounded that got found a hole past Rizzo at first and second baseman Sergio Alcantara, he and Zach McKinstry were left stranded when Mookie Betts grounded out to third.

End of fourth: Dodgers 2, Cubs 1

The Dodgers miss out on a chance to grow their lead when Gavin Lux lined out to center field with the bases loaded to end the inning.

Justin Turner singled to left with two outs before Cubs pitcher Alec Mills walked Max Muncy and Will Smith.

Julio Urías finished the inning strong after allowing a leadoff single to Jason Heyward and walking Sergio Alcantara. He struck out pitcher Alec Mills and Willson Contreras before Kris Bryant flied out to center. Six strikeouts on 50 pitches for Urías so far.

End of fourth: Dodgers 2, Cubs 1

Dodgers co-owner Mark Walter speaks at a Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation event in 2019. Walter and Todd Boehly, another Dodgers co-owner, are purchasing a minority share of the Lakers.

(Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)

Mark Walter and Todd Boehly made a deal destined to be remembered as the last great big deal in the local cable sports wars. In 2013, those two members of the Dodgers ownership group persuaded Time Warner Cable to launch a new cable channel for the Dodgers, grant the team ownership of the channel, and pay the team $8.35 billion for rights to broadcast the games.

Since then, tens of millions of viewers across America have canceled subscriptions to cable and satellite providers. Some of those providers have gone out of business, or have been consumed in mergers. As Dodgers fans without Time Warner Cable found out the hard way, other providers have cut back or eliminated sports offerings to avoid paying pricey fees.

New streaming services seem to pop up every day. You have more freedom to pay for what you want to watch, rather than to pay for dozens of channels that corporations tossed into the package you had to buy to get the three or four channels you really wanted. Amazon can make a movie and stream it to you, all without a Hollywood production company or a cable partner.

Read more >>>

Chris Taylor led off the second with the Dodgers’ third double of the game — a leadoff laser into the left-field corner. Taylor, however, was picked off a short time later by Cubs catcher Willson Contreras while trying to steal third base. AJ Pollock struck out and Zach McKinstry grounded out to second to cap the inning.

Julio Urías stayed in control in the top of the inning, striking Patrick Wisdom and Jake Marisnick to give him four strikeouts for the day.

End of second: Dodgers 2, Cubs 0

Justin Turner, left, congratulates Mookie Betts for scoring on a double by Max Muncy against the Cubs in the first inning.

(Alex Gallardo / Associated Press)

Max Muncy hit a run-scoring double and Justin Turner singled in another run to give the Dodgers a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

Muncy’s deep hit off Cubs starter Alec Mills bounced off the wall in center field, getting past jumping Cubs center fielder Jake Marisnick. Mookie Betts, who led off with a standup double into the left-field corner, scored on the play.

With Turner at the plate, Muncy took third on a wild pitch by Mills before scoring on a single to right field by Turner.

Julio Urías got off to a good start, striking out Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo as part of a 1-2-3 inning.

End of first: Dodgers 2, Cubs 0

Cody Bellinger scores a run in front of Cubs catcher Willson Contreras during the Dodgers’ win on Friday.

(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

Cody Bellinger’s single in the second inning Friday against the Cubs was his only hit in three games since coming off the injured list from a hamstring injury Wednesday. He followed it by stealing second on the next pitch, advancing to third base on a groundout and scoring the Dodgers’ first run on a fielder’s choice en route to a 6-2 win.

It was an encouraging sign for Bellinger, whose last two regular seasons have been mired in frustration since being named the 2019 NL MVP. Last year, he batted .239 with 12 home runs and a .789 on-base-plus-slugging percentage in 56 games. This season, two stints on the injured list have limited him to 83 plate appearances in 19 games. He’s batting .217 with one home run and a .654 OPS.

“I just want to help the team win, you know what I mean?” Bellinger said this week. “And I think, with that mentality, numbers will come. But at the end of the day, for myself, I just want to play good baseball and help the team win. That’s truly it.”

Bellinger’s presence in center field allows Roberts to move Chris Taylor to left field or the infield, further solidifying the defense with a plus defender in another spot. Taylor played center field Saturday as Bellinger was given a scheduled day off.

Offensively, Bellinger has batted fourth, but the Dodgers have shown a willingness to move him down in the order as they see fit over the years. For now, he’s working his way back, hoping to unearth his peak form for long stretches.

“I think he’s handling it extremely well,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “And he understands that his four at-bats a night is something that is certainly of value but so is the defense.

“We have a lot of good players around him and you can’t get it all back in one night or one week. So I think that he matures as a big-league ballplayer, he’s realized that and so you certainly do look at the stat sheet or the scoreboard and there’s just still a lot of baseball and we can look out here in a week and he puts together a good week and all the stat line lines up.”

Max Muncy celebrates after hitting a two-run home run for the Dodgers against the Cubs on Friday.

(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

The Dodgers’ best chance to defeat the Chicago Cubs on Friday, the previous three months suggested, was to pound Jake Arrieta before the gate to the Cubs’ vaunted bullpen opened.

Arrieta began the night with a 5.45 earned-run average in 14 starts. The Cubs’ bullpen is the best in the majors this season. The path to victory seemed obvious.

But the Dodgers bungled the game plan a night after getting no-hit in Thursday’s series opener. Arrieta surrendered two runs on five innings. The chances of snapping their four-game losing streak dwindled. Then the Dodgers’ bats woke up with two bangs in the eighth inning for a 6-2 win.

AJ Pollock and Max Muncy each supplied a two-run home run in a four-run eighth. Pollock’s home run — a sky-high fly ball off right-hander Ryan Tepera just over the left-field wall — broke a 2-2 tie. It was the third home run Tepera has surrendered this season.

Read more >>>

Kenley Jansen struck out former Dodgers teammate Joc Pederson on a 97-mph sinker to preserve a 6-2 win over the Chicago Cubs. The Dodgers end their four-game losing streak and beat the Cubs for the first time this season.

Chicago’s Jason Heyward led off the ninth with a first-pitch single to right field before Jansen struck out Jake Marisnick and got Sergio Alcantara to ground out.

The Dodgers improved to 45-31 and the Cubs fell to 42-34.

AJ Pollock and Max Muncy hit a pair of two-run home runs in the eighth inning to give the Dodgers a 6-2 lead.

Pollock’s tie-breaking home run off Cubs reliever Ryan Tepera plated Gavin Lux, who led off with a walk. It was Pollock’s sixth homer of the season.

Later in the inning, Mookie Betts hit a two-out single to left off reliever Tommy Nance and stole second before Max Muncy crushed his 15th home run of 2021 into the right-field pavilion.

In the top of the inning, Blake Treinen allowed a single to Javier Baez but then struck out Anthony Rizzo and Willson Contreras before Eric Sogard lined out to center.

Kenley Jansen will pitch the ninth for the Dodgers.

End of eighth: Dodgers 6, Cubs 2

Chicago Cubs left fielder Joc Pederson drove in a run on a sacrifice fly off Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen to tie the game at 2-2 in the seventh inning.

Pederson’s fly to right-center field scored Jason Heyward, who drew a walk against Dodgers reliever Jimmy Nelson to open the inning. Nelson then gave up a single to Jake Marisnick, who moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sergio Alcantara.

With Nelson struggling to find the strike zone, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts replaced him with Treinen. After Pederson’s flyball, Kris Bryant flied out to AJ Pollock in left to keep Marisnick stranded at third.

In the bottom half, Cubs reliever Andrew Chafin got Justin Turner and Will Smith to fly out and struck out Cody Bellinger.

End of seventh: Cubs 2, Dodgers 2

Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly got Javier Baez to groundout and struck out Anthony Rizzo before hitting Willson Contreras with a 98-mph pitch off the left hand.

Incredibly, Contreras managed to take first as Kelly was relieved by David Price. Patrick Wisdom grounded out to short to strand Contreras, who managed to stay in the game at catcher in the bottom of the inning.

At the plate, the Dodgers couldn’t generate much against Cubs reliever Keegan Thompson, who relieved starter Jake Arrieta. Mookie Betts drew a walk, but Max Muncy flied out on the next at-bat for the third out.

Arrieta allowed five hits, two earned runs, walked three and struck out four over five innings.

End of sixth: Dodgers 2, Cubs 1

Chicago’s Jason Heyward hits a broken-bat single in the fifth inning against the Dodgers.

(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

Victor González and Joe Kelly defused a scoring opportunity for the Cubs in the fifth inning after the inning got off to a rocky start.

Jason Heyward singled to shallow left on a broken-bat flare off Gonzalez before Jake Marisnick drew a walk. Joc Pederson’s grounder to first forced out Marisnick at second and put runners on the corners with two outs as Joe Kelly entered to relieve Gonzalez.

Kelly then struck out Kris Bryant on four pitches, throwing a pair of 99-mph strikes before punching him out on an 89-mph changeup.

In the bottom half of the inning, the Dodgers couldn’t plate a run despite loading the bases. Max Muncy reached base on a head-scratcher of an error by Cubs second baseman Ian Happ on a routine fly ball, then Justin Turner singled to left. Jake Arrieta walked Will Smith, but got Gavin Lux to ground out to first to cap the inning.

End of fifth: Dodgers 2, Cubs 1

Dodgers starter Tony Gonsolin delivers a pitch during the first inning Friday.

(Michael Owens / Getty Images)

Tony Gonsolin continues to make amends for his first-inning home run, striking out Javier Baez and Willson Contreras as part of a 1-2-3 inning.

Since allowing a home run to Kris Bryant on the game’s second pitch, Gonsolin has retired 11 consecutive batters, striking out seven on 69 pitches. Victor González will come on in relief to start the fifth.

AJ Pollock looped a one-out hit into left field near the foul line, stretching it into a double with confident baserunning. But he was left stranded there when Jake Arrieta struck out Zach McKinstry and Steven Souza Jr. grounded out to short.

End of fourth: Dodgers 2, Cubs 1

Zach McKinstry hit a first-pitch home run to straightaway center field off Chicago Cubs starter Jake Arrieta to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead in the third inning.

It was McKinstry’s first home run since April 14 and his fourth of the season.

On the next at-bat, Tony Gonsolin drew a walk and then moved to third two at-bats later when Justin Turner shoveled a pitch into the right-field corner for a standup double.

After falling behind 3-0 to Cody Bellinger, Arrieta intentionally walked the center fielder to load the bases. Cubs second baseman then grabbed a line drive by Will Smith to stymie a prime scoring chance for the Dodgers.

In the top half of the inning, Gonsolin retired the Cubs in order.

End of third: Dodgers 2, Cubs 1

Dodgers center fielder Cody Bellinger scores a run during the second inning against the Cubs on Friday.

(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

Gavin Lux drove in Cody Bellinger from third on a groundout to first to tie the game 1-1 in the second inning.

Cody Bellinger singled off Cubs starter Jake Arrieta to lead off the top of second, his first hit since returning from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for nearly two weeks. It also snapped the Dodgers’ 10-inning hitless streak.

Bellinger stole second and advanced to third on a groundout to short by Will Smith.

Tony Gonsolin, making his fourth start of the season, struck out Rafael Ortega to lead off the second before issuing a walk to Jason Heyward. Ian Happ followed with a pop out to right field before Gonsolin struck out out Willson Contreras.

End of second: Cubs 1, Dodgers 1

Kris Bryant hit a solo home run off Dodgers starter Tony Gonsolin to give the Chicago Cubs a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

The 414-foot blast to left field was Bryant’s 15th homer of the season and it came on the game’s second pitch. Former Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson popped out on the first at-bat.

The Dodgers’ aspirations to end their four-game losing streak is off to a poor start. Dodgers starters have given up first-inning home runs in five consecutive games.

In the top of the inning, Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta, who threw a no-hitter against the Dodgers in 2015, retired Mookie Betts, Max Muncy and Justin Turner.

End of first: Cubs 1, Dodgers 0

Josiah Gray throws during a spring training game between the Dodgers and Chicago Cubs on March 4.

(Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press)

Josiah Gray, the Dodgers’ top-ranked pitching prospect, threw a live batting practice session for triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday. It was his first time facing hitters since he was shut down with a shoulder impingement in early May.

Roberts said he didn’t know Gray’s timetable for a return to games.

Gray started Oklahoma City’s first game and hasn’t pitched since. The 23-year-old right-hander’s unavailability hamstrung the Dodgers’ suddenly shallow starting pitching depth.

The club went over a month without a fifth starter when Dustin May tore the ulnar collateral ligament May 1. The Dodgers were left without viable healthy options to replace May and opted for bullpen games in the fifth starter’s spot until Gonsolin came off the injured list earlier this month.

David Price and Jimmy Nelson have extensive histories as starters – both veterans are full-time relievers for the first time this season – but Roberts said neither is currently an option to start games.

Price is the next choice on the depth chart, but the team prefers to stay away from converting him back to starter because it would take a considerable amount of time to stretch him out. The 35-year-old Price has given up 12 runs – 11 earned – in 24 2/3 innings over 20 games this season.

Roberts said Nelson’s role has recently shifted from multi-inning reliever to a one-inning option because he’s had trouble recovering from the heavier workloads. Nelson has been one of the Dodgers’ top relievers this season. The 32-year-old right-hander has a 1.90 ERA in 23 2/3 innings across 21 outings.

“We also take into consideration what he’s done in recency as far as the last couple of years,” Roberts said. “He’s been banged up so how can we get him from here through the end of the season impacting our club and that’s kind of right now where we see it and Jimmy’s on board, too.”

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, left, and catcher Austin Barnes hold the Commissioner’s Trophy after winning the World Series in October.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

In another sign that the country is inching towards pre-pandemic life, the Dodgers hope to resume the tradition of professional sports league champions visiting the White House during their upcoming trip to Washington D.C.

They would be the first professional sports team to go to the White House since the COVID-19 pandemic began and the first with President Joe Biden in office. The team is tentatively scheduled to visit Thursday before beginning a four-game series against the Nationals that night.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said “a smaller number” of people would be allowed to attend because of coronavirus protocols in place at the White House.

“We still don’t have complete finality, but I know that I’m personally excited if the opportunity presents itself,” Roberts said Friday. “I think our coaches and players are as well. I hope Vice President Kamala [Harris] is there. I’d love to meet her, as well as the president. But it’s an honor. …It’s something that I’ve always dreamt about.”

The Dodgers last visited the White House as champions in 1988 in Ronald Reagan’s final days in office. The team didn’t go after winning the 1981 World Series.

The Nationals visited President Donald Trump in the White House in November 2019, days after beating the Houston Astros in seven games to win the World Series. They were the last team to visit the White House.

The White House in February – shortly after President Biden took office — said the Lakers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – the reigning NBA and Super Bowl champions – were invited to the White House once it was deemed safe. Neither team has gone.

Dodgers pitcher Tony Gonsolin throws against the Colorado Rockies on March 1.

(Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press)

Justin Turner is back in the lineup Friday after not starting Thursday in the Dodgers’ deflating loss to the Cubs. The Dodgers not only lost their fourth consecutive game, but they failed to record a hit by Zach Davies and three relievers.

It was the 20th time the Dodgers were no-hit in franchise history and the ninth time since moving to Los Angeles. It was the first no-hitter thrown against the Dodgers since Jake Arrieta pulled it off by himself for the Cubs in August 2015.

Arrieta won the National League Cy Young Award that season. Six years later, he’ll take the mound against the Dodgers again Friday with a 5.45 ERA in 14 starts in his first season back with the club after spending three with the Phillies.

Tony Gonsolin will counter Arrieta. The right-hander is expected to be limited to 60 pitches in his fourth start of the season as he continues to rebound from shoulder soreness. Gonsolin, who missed first first two months of the season with a shoulder injury, had his velocity drop considerably in his last start against the Diamondbacks on Sunday before he was pulled at 46 pitches.

“Was just some soreness,” Gonsolin said Thursday. “Overall, feeling a lot better going into this start.”

DODGERS (44-31, +92)

Mookie Betts RF

Max Muncy 1B

Justin Turner 3B

Cody Bellinger CF

Will Smith C

Gavin Lux SS

AJ Pollock LF

Zach McKinstry 2B

Tony Gonsolin P

Jake Arrieta will start for the Chicago Cubs against the Dodgers on Friday.

(Frank Franklin II / Associated Press)

The Dodgers look to snap their four-game losing streak after being held hitless against the Chicago Cubs in Thursday’s series opener.

Tony Gonsolin will get get the start for the Dodgers, his fourth since returning from the injured list. Since his return, Gonsolin has yet to complete four innings in a game.

The Cubs will counter with starter Jake Arrieta, who prior to the team’s combined no-hitter on Thursday, was the last pitcher to no-hit the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Opponents are hitting .285 off Arrieta in his eight starts away from Wrigley Field. He enters the game with a 6.51 ERA and 2.2 home runs allowed per nine innings.

(VSiN)

The Dodgers have scored three or fewer runs in four straight games. The Cubs have scored four runs or fewer in 10 of their last 11 games.

The Cubs have the second-best record on the run line in the National League at 42-33, behind only the San Francisco Giants. Chicago is 14-12 in its last nine road games after starting the year 2-8 away from Wrigley Field.

VSiN, the Sports Betting Network, offers more expert sports betting content in a free daily email at VSiN.com/email.

As dominant as Walker Buehler has been throughout much of a 23-game unbeaten streak dating back to September 2019, the Dodgers right-hander knows his franchise record-tying mark was hardly a solo performance.

“To me,” Buehler said, “that’s a team number that doesn’t happen unless the offense has saved me a bunch of times, which they have.”

There was no life-preserver tossed Buehler’s way Thursday night. Buehler delivered a quality start, but his teammates delivered nothing, failing to notch a hit against Chicago Cubs starter Zach Davies and three relievers in a 4-0 loss before 52,175 in Dodger Stadium.

Davies walked five and struck out four in six no-hit innings and, with his pitch count already at a season-high 95, was pulled by manager David Ross for a pinch-hitter in the seventh.

Right-hander Ryan Tepera walked one in a hitless seventh, left-hander Andrew Chafin walked one in a hitless eighth, and closer Craig Kimbrel, after walking Chris Taylor to open the ninth, struck out Cody Bellinger, Albert Pujols and pinch-hitter Will Smith to end the game.

It marked the 10th time in Los Angeles history and 20th time in franchise history that the Dodgers were no-hit, the last one tossed by Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta in Dodger Stadium on Aug. 30, 2015.

Ninth inning

Cubs: Sogard popped to second. Marisnick walked. Sergio Alcantara, batting for the pitcher, grounded to third, Marisnick to second. Bryant struck out swinging.

Dodgers: Right-hander Craig Kimbrel now pitching for the Cubs. Taylor walked on four pitches. They have no hits, but the Dodgers have had plenty of baserunners tonight. Eight walks. Bellinger struck out swinging. Pujols struck out swinging. Will Smith, batting for Cleavinger, struck out swinging. The Dodgers get no hits.

Final score: Cubs 4, Dodgers 0

No-hitters that have been thrown at Dodger Stadium:

1. Bo Belinsky, Angels

May 5, 1962

Angels 2, Baltimore Orioles 0

2. Sandy Koufax, Dodgers

June 30, 1962

Dodgers 5, New York Mets 0

3. Sandy Koufax, Dodgers

May 11, 1963

Dodgers 8, San Francisco Giants 0

4. Sandy Koufax, Dodgers

September 9, 1965

Dodgers 1, Chicago Cubs 0

(Perfect game)

5. Bill Singer, Dodgers

July 20, 1970

Dodgers 5, Philadelphia Phillies 0

6. Fernando Valenzuela, Dodgers

June 29, 1990

Dodgers 6, St. Louis Cardinals 0

7. Dennis Martinez, Montreal

July 28, 1991

Montreal Expos 2, Dodgers 0

(Perfect game)

8. Kevin Gross

August 17, 1992

Dodgers 2, San Francisco Giants 0

9. Kent Mercker, Atlanta

April 8, 1994

Atlanta Braves 6, Dodgers 0

10. Ramon Martinez, Dodgers

July 14, 1995

Dodgers 7, Florida Marlins 0

11. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers

June 18, 2014

Dodgers 8, Colorado Rockies 0

12. Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs

August 30, 2015

Chicago Cubs 2, Dodgers 0

13. Zach Davies (six innings), Ryan Tepera (one inning), Andrew Chafin (one inning), Craig Kimbrel (one inning)

June 24, 2021

Chicago 4, Dodgers 0

Cubs: Left-hander Garrett Cleavinger now pitching for the Dodgers. Steven Souza Jr. in left field. Rizzo was hit by a pitch. Contreras grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Brandon Wisdom, batting for Ortega, walked on six pitches. Heyward lined to center.

Dodgers: Left-hander Andrew Chafin, who looks like he walked on an 1860s “Wanted: Dead or Alive” poster, now pitching for the Cubs. Wisdom in at third. Bryant moves to left. Souza flied to left. Betts walked on eight pitches. Muncy grounded to first. Rizzo stepped on the bag and threw to second, where Betts was tagged out.

Score after eight innings: Cubs 4, Dodgers 0

Cubs: Left-hander David Price now pitching for the Dodgers. Heyward reached on an infield single and took second on a throwing error by Taylor, who tried to make a play when there was no play to make. Sogard singled to short, Heyward to third. Jake Marisnick, batting for Davies, who has a no-hitter through six, singled to right, scoring Heyward, Sogard to second. Pederson was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Bryant struck out looking. Right-hander Phil Bickford replaced Price. Baez grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. It’s 4-0 Cubs.

Dodgers: Right-hander Ryan Tepera now pitching for the Cubs. Marisnick in at center. Ortega to left. Pujols flied to center. Pollock grounded to third. Lux walked on four pitches. Dodgers have six walks, no hits. Barnes lined to second.

Score after seven innings: Cubs 4, Dodgers 0

Zach Davies of the Cubs has thrown six no-hit innings against the Dodgers. He was pinch-hit for in the top of the seventh. Can the Dodgers be no-hit for only the 20th time in their existence? Here are the first 19:

1. Amos Rusie, New York Giants

July 31, 1891

at New York 6, Brooklyn Bridegrooms 0

2. Jack Stivetts, Boston Beaneaters

August 6, 1892

Boston 11, at Brooklyn Bridegrooms 0

3. Walter Thornton, Chicago Orphans

August 21, 1898 (Second game of doubleheader)

at Chicago 2, Brooklyn Bridegrooms 0

4. Johnny Lush, Philadelphia Phillies

May 1, 1906

Philadelphia Phillies 6, at Brooklyn Superbas 0

5. Nick Maddox, Pittsburgh Pirates

September 20, 1907

at Pittsburgh 2, Brooklyn Superbas 1

6. Rube Marquard, New York Giants

April 15, 1915

at New York 2, Brooklyn Robins 0

7. Paul Dean, St. Louis Cardinals

September 21, 1934 (Second game of doubleheader)

St. Louis 3, at Brooklyn 0

8. Johnny Vander Meer, Cincinnati Reds

June 15, 1938

Cincinnati 6, at Brooklyn

(His second of two consecutive no-hitters)

9. Jim Tobin, Boston Braves

April 27, 1944

at Boston 2, Brooklyn 0

10. Vern Bickford, Boston Braves

August 11, 1950

at Boston 7, Brooklyn 0

11. Don Larsen, New York Yankees

October 8, 1956 (World Series Game 5)

at New York 2, Brooklyn 0

(Perfect game)

12. John Candelaria, Pittsburgh Pirates

August 9, 1976

at Pittsburgh 2, Dodgers 0

13. Nolan Ryan, Houston Astros

September 26, 1981

at Houston 5, Dodgers 0

(Fifth no-hitter for Ryan, breaking Sandy Koufax’s record)

14. Tom Browning, Cincinnati Reds

September 16, 1988

at Cincinnati 1, Dodgers 0

(Perfect game)

15. Dennis Martinez, Montreal Expos

July 28, 1991

Montreal 2, at Dodgers 0

(Perfect game)

16. Kent Mercker, Atlanta Braves

April 8, 1994

Atlanta 6, at Dodgers 0

17. Kevin Millwood (six innings), Charlie Furbush (2/3 inning), Stephen Pryor (1/3 inning), Lucas Luetge (1/3 innings), Brandon League (2/3 inning), Tom Wilhelmsen (1 innings), Seattle Mariners

June 8, 2012

at Seattle 1, Dodgers 0

18. Mike Fiers, Houston Astros

August 21, 2015

at Houston 3, Dodgers 0

19. Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs

August 30, 2015

Chicago 2, at Dodgers 0

20. Zach Davies (six innings), Ryan Tepera (one inning), Andrew Chafin (one inning), Craig Kimbrel (one inning)

June 24, 2021

Chicago 4, at Dodgers 0

Cubs: Bryant walked on six pitches. Baez flied to left. Rizzo struck out swinging. Bryant stole second. Contreras homered to left. Buehler is not locating his fastball well, and the Cubs have made him pay twice for that. Roberts came out to talk to Buehler, which is unusual because he almost always pulls the pitcher when he comes out. Ortega flied to right.

Dodgers: Muncy grounded to third. Taylor grounded to third. Bellinger struck out swinging.

Score after six: Cubs 3, Dodgers 0

Cubs: Ortega struck out looking. Heyward singled to first, barely beating Buehler to the bag. Buehler was a step behind because had to make sure Heyward’s bat, which broke, didn’t hit him. Sogard struck out swinging. Davies singled to center, Heyward to third. Pederson popped to third.

Dodgers: Barnes fouled to first. Buehler grounded to short. Betts flied to left.

Score after five: Cubs 1, Dodgers 0

Cubs: Baez struck out swinging. Rizzo hit a sinker to right that sank under Betts’ glove for a single. Contreras grounded to third, forcing Rizzo at second. During these two at-bats, Dave Vassegh interviewed Andre Ethier, who was sitting in the home runs seats in left field. Unfortunately, Vassegh tried to turn it into the Dave Vassegh comedy hour and made a lot of inside references that ruined what could have been a good interview. Contreras was caught stealing.

Dodgers: Ethier is signing autographs and taking selfies with fans. What a treat for fans out there. Bellinger walked on nine pitches. Pujols lined to short. Pollock lined to third. Lux grounded to first.

Score after four: Cubs 1, Dodgers 0

Cubs: Zach Davies popped to second. Pederson struck out swinging. Bryant struck out swinging.

Dodgers: Betts walked on seven pitches. Betts was picked off first. My dream no-hitter one day is a guy walks 27 batters and they all get picked off first. Muncy flied to right-center. Taylor struck out swinging.

Score after three: Cubs 1, Dodgers 0

Cubs: Willson Contreras flied to right. Rafael Ortega flied to center. Jason Heyward walked on six pitches. Eric Sogard flied to right-center. Bellinger had to run a long way to make the catch.

Dodgers: AJ Pollock grounded to third. Gavin Lux walked on seven pitches. Austin Barnes struck out swinging. Walker Buehler struck out looking.

Score after two: Cubs 1, Dodgers 0

Chicago Cubs outfielder Joc Pederson received a roaring standing ovation Thursday night when the former Dodgers slugger was presented with his 2020 World Series ring in an on-field ceremony about 15 minutes before the game.

A highlight video of Pederson played on the stadium video boards as Pederson approached the plate, where he exchanged hugs with former teammates Clayton Kershaw, Justin Turner, Cody Bellinger and AJ Pollock and Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman.

Pederson took the ring out of the box, placed it on his finger and raised his fist to salute the fans.

While similar presentations have taken place during batting practice, Pederson, a fixture in the Dodgers outfield and a fan favorite in Chavez Ravine, preferred a public setting.

“I think it’s cool to incorporate the fans,” Pederson said. “We didn’t get to celebrate with them after the World Series. We didn’t get a parade. They were there along the way, so I just want to embrace all the memories we had.”

Pederson, who signed a one-year, $7-million deal with the Cubs last winter, hit .230 with an .806 OPS, 130 homers and 330 RBIs in seven years with the Dodgers.

He hit three homers in the 2017 World Series against Houston and two in last year’s World Series against Tampa Bay. He hit .272 with an .852 OPS, nine homers and 20 RBIs in 64 career playoff games.

“Joc has meant a lot to the organization,” manager Dave Roberts said. “The relationships he’s had, playing well on the biggest of stages and helping us win a championship … I know he made our club better, and the fans really related to Joc, what he did on the field, the energy he brought and the things he did off the field.”

Cubs: Right-hander Walker Buehler on the mound for the Dodgers. Joc Pederson popped to second. Kris Bryant grounded to third. Javy Baez homered to left-center. Anthony Rizzo grounded to short.

Dodgers: Right-hander Zach Davies on the mound for the Cubs. Mookie Betts flied to center. Max Muncy walked on seven pitches. Chris Taylor lined to deep center. Cody Bellinger walked on eight pitches. Albert Pujols grounded to short.

Score after one: Cubs 1, Dodgers 0

Corey Seager earlier this season.

(Associated Press)

Corey Seager was originally scheduled to begin a minor league rehabilitation stint this weekend, the final step in the Dodgers shortstop’s return from a right-hand fracture that has sidelined him since May 16.

Instead, the reigning National League Championship Series and World Series most valuable player is still taking at-bats and working out at the team’s spring-training site in Phoenix, his rehab moved to a slower track out of an abundance of caution.

“Everything is where it needs to be as far as the body,” manager Dave Roberts said before Thursday night’s game against the Chicago Cubs in Dodger Stadium. “We’re just being very mindful of not having any setbacks, because until it is completely healed, we’ve learned that you could have a setback.

“So, I think for us, where we’re at in the season, we have time to make sure he’s 100% ready so he doesn’t have a setback.”

The left-handed-hitting Seager broke the fifth metacarpal when he was hit on the back of the right hand by a fastball from Miami’s Ross Detwiler on May 15, an injury that was expected to sideline him for four to six weeks.

Roberts remains confident that Seager, who hit .265 (39 for 147) with a .783 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, four homers, seven doubles, two triples, 22 RBIs and 20 runs in 37 games, “will be back with us in early July,” whether he needs a minor league stint or not.

Seager didn’t necessarily have a setback, Roberts said, but a recent bone scan revealed that the fracture hasn’t completely healed.

“Each time, there’s less and less soreness in the swing,” Roberts said. “But there’s still soreness, and if there’s some soreness, then we know it’s not 100% healed.”

Joc Pederson is back, but in a different uniform

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Right fielder Mookie Betts, who left Tuesday night’s game in San Diego because of flu-like symptoms and did not play in Wednesday night’s series finale against the Padres, is back in the Dodgers lineup for Thursday night’s opener of a four-game series against the Chicago Cubs in Chavez Ravine.

The leadoff man received several bags of intravenous fluids in Petco Park Wednesday afternoon but was sent back to Los Angeles before the game started to get some more rest.

Justin Turner is not in the Dodgers lineup after playing in the past six games, manager Dave Roberts saying it is a scheduled day off for the veteran third baseman.

Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler, who took a no-hitter into the eighth inning of last Saturday night’s game in Arizona, will oppose Cubs right-hander Zach Davies in the 7 p.m. game.

Buehler, who is 7-0 with a 2.38 ERA this season, is unbeaten in 23 consecutive regular-season starts, a streak dating back to Sept. 21, 2019, when he lost a game to the Colorado Rockies.

Buehler’s streak tied a franchise record set by Kirby Higbe, a right-hander who pitched for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1941-43 and in 1946.

Former Dodgers slugger Joc Pederson will play left field and lead off for the Cubs in his first game in Chavez Ravine since signing a one-year, $7-million deal with Chicago over the winter.

The Dodgers will present Pederson with his 2020 World Series championship ring before the game. Roberts said Turner, Clayton Kershaw and Cody Bellinger will take part in the presentation, but he didn’t know if it would be private or take place on the field closer to game time so fans can witness it.

Pederson hit .230 with an .806 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, 130 homers and 330 RBIs in seven years with the Dodgers and hit several memorable post-season homers, including two in the team’s run to the 2020 title.

“Joc has meant a lot to the organization,” Roberts said. “The relationships that he’s had, playing well on the biggest of stages and helping us win a championship. I know that he made our club better, and the fans really related to Joc, to the stuff he did on the field, the energy he brought on the field, and the things he did off the field. Some were documented. A lot of them weren’t. He is one of the really, really good Dodgers.”

DODGERS LINEUP: RF Mookie Betts, 2B Max Muncy, 3B Chris Taylor, CF Cody Bellinger, 1B Albert Pujols, LF AJ Pollock, SS Gavin Lux, C Austin Barnes, RHP Walker Buehler.

CUBS LINEUP: LF Joc Pederson, 3B Kris Bryant, SS Javier Baez, 1B Anthony Rizzo, C Willson Contreras, CF Rafael Ortega, RF Jason Heyward, 2B Eric Sogard, RHP Zach Davies.

Andrew Toles in 2018

(Associated Press)

Although baseball and the Dodgers are great ways to distract ourselves from the day-to-day struggles of the real world, sometimes we have to take a step back and remember that major league players have their struggles, too. Case in point: Andrew Toles.

If you remember, Toles was arrested last year after he was discovered sleeping behind a building at Key West International Airport in Florida. He was homeless and taken to a mental health facility.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today recently caught up with Toles’ family, and you can read his column about that here. Some of the highlights:

—Toles is in the care of his father, Alvin, who says Andrew, 29, is in a “zombie-like” condition.

—Toles is unaware that the Dodgers won the World Series last year.

Read more > > >

Trevor Bauer stands on the mound after giving up a sole home run to Jake Cronenworth.

(Associated Press)

SAN DIEGO — As the National League standings currently stand, the Dodgers would have to beat the San Diego Padres in the wild-card game to keep their hopes of repeating as World Series champions alive.

That would be the consolation prize for not winning the division for the ninth consecutive season. It’s an uneasy possibility. One mistake, one bad night, one dominant start on the other side and it’s all over. The good news is there are 87 games left on the Dodgers’ regular-season schedule to avoid that scenario. The bad news is the Padres have had their way with them and aren’t going away.

The Padres competed a three-game sweep of the Dodgers with a 5-3 win at a sold-out Petco Park on Wednesday. The Dodgers (44-30) have dropped seven of eight games to the Padres (45-32) after winning the season’s first two meetings. The Padres moved within a half-game of the second-place Dodgers with the first-place San Francisco Giants are four games ahead of them. The clubs don’t meet again until late August.

“They absolutely kicked our ass from an intensity standpoint,” Dodgers starter Trevor Bauer said. “They came to play, we didn’t. That’s what happens in baseball. You try to attack the other team and win and when you don’t have that mindset, you get rolled. And we got rolled.”

Read more > > >