Chicago Cubs ace Arrieta still not in 'command'

Chicago Cubs ace Jake Arrieta will face the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night for the first time since he no-hit them, last Aug. 30 at Dodger Stadium.

Arrieta is 9-0 with a 1.72 ERA. Since that no-hitter, he threw another, on April 21 at Cincinnati.

Even with those numbers and a second no-hitter, Arrieta admits to not having his best command this season.

"I'm really close to that feel and that precision I was in last season," he said Monday. "That's a good sign. I look forward to continuing to build on that and try to be as good timing wise as I can every time out."

Arrieta explained what it does look like when he is locked in.

"When you're locked in, your misses are very, very small, and you're able to pitch to not only the corners but to different quadrants of the strike zone, up-and-in, up-and-away versus down-and-in and down-and-away. When my timing's good, I can throw to all four spots in the strike zone with pretty good efficiency."

Cubs manager Joe Maddon attributed any small struggles Arrieta has had to command issues.

"He'll feel it in his delivery," Maddon said. "All of a sudden, it's just going to click, really almost like that. He'll just feel it in his delivery, and the ball's going to go exactly where he wants it to go, and it could happen tomorrow.

"But while he's searching a little bit, his numbers aren't bad for the year. I've watched him, just doing his workout routine, and it's insane what this guy does.

"He's going to find it. It's going to take off like it did last year. It would be nice to get it going tomorrow. Again, his numbers have been fabulous. He's pitching really well. But we know, command wise, there's another level there."

Fowler sits out:

Center fielder Dexter Fowler did not start Monday because of what the Cubs said was a sore heel that he has been "managing" for a few days.

Jason Heyward moved from right field to center, with Ben Zobrist moving from second base to right. That enabled Maddon to give Javier Baez a start at second base.

Cubs miss Kershaw:

The Cubs will not have to face Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw in this series. He pitched against the New York Mets on Sunday night.

"It's nice to match up against a guy like that," Jake Arrieta said. "I don't know if our hitters would necessarily like to face a guy like him. I think everybody appreciates who he is and what he's done in his career.

"He's going to go down as one of the greatest ever. I think that's already evident by what he's done in his career. He's a role model for kids who watch this game and strive to make it to this level. He's a really good guy to watch and follow. He does everything the right way. He's a good person. He's a special talent."