Chicago Cubs call upon Jake Arrieta to take on Kazmir, Dodgers on ESPN

After extending their winning streak to six games, the Chicago Cubs will send Jake Arrieta to the mound to take on Scott Kazmir and the Los Angeles Dodgers on ESPN. Can Arrieta keep his hot streak going? Or will the Dodgers redeem themselves after being 1-hit last night?

Let’s all look back on the last time Jake Arrieta took the mound against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was on the road in late August of last year. A game that really set the tone for not only Arrieta’s chances at the N.L. Cy Young but the Cubs (35-14) who would later make the postseason.

Arrieta (9-0, 1.72 ERA) admitted that he entered the game a little iffy after warming up but it didn’t show. In the very first inning of the ballgame, third baseman Kris Bryant hammered his 21st home run of the season with Alex Wood on the mound.

Wood squared off against Jason Hammel in yesterday’s contest until Hammel left the game and was replaced by Travis Wood. A battle of the Wood’s that would go in favor of the veteran southpaw and bullpen who pitched seven perfect innings.

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With Arrieta holding an early two-run lead, it was lights out from there. Jake cruised through that Dodger (27-25) lineup, issuing only one walk and recording 12 strikeouts on the evening to record his first career no-hitter.

All three men who stepped to the plate in the ninth — Justin Turner, Jimmy Rollins, and Chase Utley, struck out to end the game. The scene of Arrieta being mobbed by his teammates is still shown and will be shown throughout his career.

Did I mention that it happened on ESPN?

Now after a strong start to the 2016 campaign, Arrieta gets another shot at making history, against. He pitched his second career no-hitter in the 16-0 blowout of the Cincinnati Reds on Apr. 21 but has lost a few battles since then.

After holding five teams to four earned runs in April, Arrieta has been tagged for nine in his previous four starts against the Washington Nationals, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals.

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The Cardinals got the best of him, tallying four runs on seven hits, including a home run while drawing one walk and striking out four times. He still managed to pick up the win.

Tonight, Joe Maddon‘s former southpaw, Scott Kazmir is looking to shut him down. Kazmir (4-3, 4.84 ERA) is off to a bit of a rocky start, to say the least. In 10 starts, teams have lit him up for 31 earned runs on 53 hits, 12 big flies in 57 2/3 innings of work.

He’ll definitely have his hands full with this lineup that features former teammate Ben Zobrist who is swinging a hot bat and has himself a lengthy hitting streak going.

First pitch for tonight’s contest is set for 7:10 p.m. central time and will air on ESPN (out of market), ABC7, 670 The Score AM.

Here is a look at the starting lineups for both the Cubs and Dodgers: