Chicago @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 4, 2013 ) LA Dodgers 1, Chi. Cubs 0

The Los Angeles Dodgers are in the unfamiliar position of picking themselves back up after a series loss. The Dodgers, who had gone 18 straight series without dropping one before losing two of three to the Boston Red Sox over the weekend, will try to rebound against the visiting Chicago Cubs in the opener of a three-game set on Monday. Los Angeles is trying to avoid its first three-game losing streak since June 8-10.

The Cubs battled for 15 innings before falling at San Diego 3-2 on Sunday. That game was scoreless until each team sprang for two runs in the 13th, and Chicago’s offense is scraping by on an average of 3.4 runs this month. The Dodgers, who lead the National League West by 9 1/2 games over the Arizona Diamondbacks, posted a pair of shutouts in taking four straight at Chicago to begin August while holding the Cubs to a total of six runs in the series.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, CSN Chicago, PRIME (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Jake Arrieta (2-2, 5.75 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Zack Greinke (12-3, 2.91)

Arrieta made a strong first impression on the Chicago fans with two strong starts after being recalled from the minors, totaling one run allowed on four hits in 13 innings. But the 27-year-old ran into trouble last time out, when he was kicked around for six runs on five hits and four walks in four innings by Washington. Arrieta, who came over in a trade from the Baltimore Orioles, made one previous start against Los Angeles and allowed five runs on two hits and five walks in four innings.

Greinke is aiming for his fifth straight win and owns a 0.96 ERA in his last four starts. The former AL Cy Young Award winner has allowed two or fewer runs in eight of his last nine outings. Greinke is making his sixth career start against Chicago and owns a 3-2 record with a 4.45 ERA in the previous five chances.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Dodgers’ streak of 18 straight unbeaten series (14-0-4) was a franchise record.

2. Cubs SS Starlin Castro recorded two hits on Sunday fro his first multi-hit game since Aug. 11.

3. Los Angeles RF Yasiel Puig went 6-for-10 with a homer and four runs scored in three games at Chicago earlier this month.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 7, Cubs 2