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Rizzo (three RBIs) and Russell (two) were each 3-for-5 with a
homer to end deep postseason funks that saw them enter Game 4
with a combined 3-for-50 showing -- 2-for-26 for Rizzo and
1-for-24 for Russell. "We just got to keep fighting, and we know
that," Rizzo said afterward. "We know what we're capable of in
any inning. ... We have to keep going and keep believing and
keep pushing." Los Angeles played sloppily and committed four
errors in Game 4 but that didn't sway the decision announced
earlier in the day by manager Dave Roberts to not pitch ace
left-hander Clayton Kershaw again until Game 6 in Chicago.
Roberts reiterated after the contest that right-hander Kenta
Maeda will pitch Thursday as Roberts cited Kershaw was heavily
used (three starts, one relief appearance) over a 10-day span.
TV: 8:08 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Jon Lester (1-0, 0.64 ERA) vs. Dodgers
RH Kenta Maeda (0-1, 9.00)
Lester received a no-decision in Game 1 when he allowed one run
and four hits and wasn't thrilled when manager Joe Maddon pulled
him after six innings. "I don't get paid to make decisions,"
Lester said at a press conference. "I pitch as long as he tells
me to pitch. And as competitors in that particular moment,
you're not happy with the decision. That doesn't mean that I'm
going to go in there and yell at him or I don't trust him or I
don't like him or anything like that. That's just being a
competitor." Lester has a stellar 2.57 ERA in 18 postseason
appearances (16 starts) but owns only a 7-6 record.
Maeda has pitched poorly in two postseason starts, including
Game 1 when he gave up three runs and four hits in four innings.
He has pitched five or fewer innings in six straight outings
dating back to the regular season and admits his playoff
performance has been shaky. "I'm not going to be too careful,
even though I haven't been pitching well in the postseason,"
Maeda said during a press conference. "What I'm going to be
really focused on is just pitching well (Thursday) and not worry
too much about what I have done in the past."
WALK-OFFS
1. Cubs RF Jason Heyward was hitless in five at-bats Wednesday
to drop to 2-for-24 in the postseason.
2. Los Angeles 2B Chase Utley is hitless in 10 at-bats in the
series and 3-for-26 in the postseason.
3. Chicago RHP Carl Edwards Jr. (hamstring) departed Wednesday's
contest and his status isn't yet known.
PREDICTION: Dodgers 5, Cubs 3
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