Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers: NLCS Game 3 GameThread

Chicago was 23-0 in Jake Arrieta’s starts between July 30, 2015 and May 25, 2016, when the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Cubs in one of his outings in Wrigley Field.

Arrieta was (20-0) over that stretch, which included a no-hitter against Los Angeles on August 30, 2015 in Dodger Stadium.

The Cubs’ starter returns to the Dodgers’ home park tonight, for his first outing against the Dodgers in LA since he no-hit them.

Arrieta is set to start for the Cubs in Game 3 of the NLCS.

Dodgers’ skipper Dave Roberts wasn’t there for Arrieta’s no-hitter in Los Angeles, but he talked about how his hitters approached the Cubs’ right-hander earlier this season in Wrigley, and how they would tonight.

“He's a very good pitcher, and obviously, yeah, we beat him over there,” Roberts said, “but it just seems so far in the distance, that outing that day in Chicago.

“But we're going to have our work cut out for us. And I think that I've said it pretty redundantly that if the opposing pitcher executes, it's going to be a tough night for us. But we've got to have an approach, a plan, which I know we will, and when they do make mistakes, we've got to capitalize. So I think that's as simple as it can possibly be.”

Rich Hill starts for the Dodgers in Game 3 after giving up nine hits, four walks and five runs in seven innings on the mound in LA’s NLDS matchup with Washington, which saw Nationals’ hitters put up a .310/.429/.414 line against him.

Arrieta told reporters last night that he liked pitching in Los Angeles. What does he like about Dodger Stadium?

“Well, I think just the environment, the weather overall allows for just a tremendous playing surface,” he said.

“The grounds crew does a great job of keeping this place pristine and ready each and every night. The mound is one of the best in the league.

“You've got to give credit to their crew for doing such a good job and making sure that thing's ready to go and consistent pretty much every night.

“So hat's off to them for creating such a great playing surface for us to play on here every night. You know, when you feel confident about your positioning or your footing as a pitcher or a position player, it really helps your confidence that night.”

Arrieta has made just two starts in the Dodgers’ home in his career, including the no-hitter. He makes his third tonight.

Here are the lineups for Game 3 of the NLCS: