Arrieta looks to swing momentum back to Cubs in Game 3 of NLCS
The last time Jake Arrieta took the mound against Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium, he pitched a no-hitter.
The game started at 7 p.m. Chicago time.
Arrieta returns to Dodger Stadium Tuesday night for Game 3 of the National League championship series, and first pitch is again 7 p.m.
Is the Chicago Cubs' right-hander thinking about a repeat performance?
"It's going to be a different game, different experiences all the way around," Arrieta said at Monday's NLCS workout in Los Angeles. "But I'll use some of the experience from my last time out here moving into tomorrow. At the same time, it's a completely different game, obviously, being in the postseason. It's going to be a little different feel. But for the most part, it's just about the same lineup.
"You try to tackle them accordingly. Use some knowledge that I have from the past to kind of help me. But it's just another game on a big stage, and we're all prepared for it."
The Cubs need a strong effort from Arrieta after losing to Dodgers and ace Clayton Kershaw 1-0 in Game 2 Sunday night at Wrigley Field.
With Arrieta taking the ball, they appear to be in very good shape. During the regular season, Arrieta made 1 start against Los Angeles and he pitched 7 shutout innings in the Cubs' 5-0 win at Wrigley Field on May 31.
In the playoffs, Arrieta started Game 3 of the NL division series against the Giants and allowed 2 runs in 6 innings. He also hit a 3-run homer off San Francisco ace Madison Bumgarner in the second inning.
"Having the past experience of pitching in postseason games and in big games really helps us moving forward," Arrieta said. "The emotions that are involved in games like this at times can be hard to deal with. But when you've been in these situations before, it makes it a lot easier just to kind of take that deep breath, focus on your execution and go from there."
Arrieta faces lefty curveball specialist Rich Hill, who was acquired in an Aug. 1 trade from the Oakland A's. Hill was 3-2 with a 1.83 ERA in 6 starts for the Dodgers while dealing with a troublesome blister on his left middle finger.
Hill, who pitched for the Cubs from 2005-08, made 2 starts in the NLDS and allowed 5 runs on 9 hits and 4 walks in 7 innings.
"You've got to look at the situation," Hill said. "You've got to look at where we were at in those games and for me looking back, it's putting us in a position to succeed and win those games. I go out there and give everything that I have, that's it. That's the bottom line. Your effort is everything."
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Temperature check
With Game 3 of the National League championship series on deck, a quick look at Cubs hitters in the postseason.
Who's hot:
Javy Baez
Batting .391 overall, the flashy second baseman has hit safely in all six postseason games and his OPS is a cool 1.025.
Kris Bryant
Following up a regular season that has MVP credentials, the third baseman is hitting .333 with 4 doubles, a home run and 4 RBI.
Willson Contreras
The rookie catcher never seemed to be intimidated during the regular season, and the same holds true in the playoffs. With 5 hits in 9 at-bats, Contreras is pushing hard for more playing time.
Who's not:
Jason Heyward
The nightmarish debut season with the Cubs has spilled into the playoffs. With runners on first and second and two outs in the fifth inning of Game 2, his weak popout to third base looked bad.
Anthony Rizzo
He scuffled in the playoffs last season and, off to a 1-for-23 start this year, you have to start wondering how much the pressure of postseason baseball is bothering the standout first baseman.
Addison Russell
The shortstop didn't hit for a high average (.238) during the regular season but he made up for it with 21 homers and 95 RBI. Russell's also not hitting in the playoffs (1-for-22), and he's not producing runs either.