Game of the Week: May 4: LAD @ CHC

[Commissioner Erick]

Los Angeles Dodgers (17-12) @ Chicago Cubs (15-13)


LAD: Jonathan Holden (1-3, 6.35)
CHC: Landon Leach (1-2, 3.32)


Dodgers 5 Key Stats


25: Willie Calhoun's RBI total, second in the league. Calhoun continues to be a premier run producer and is on pace for 140.

3-0: Nick Burdi's record in 12 games for the Dodgers. He has a 0.77 ERA and has 23 strikeouts to two walks. Burdi's been one of the best reliever signings this year.

8: Amin Valdez's stolen base total without a single time caught. He's second in the NL.

.593: Jeren Kendall's OPS in 28 games. After a huge 2025 postseason and 2026 WBC, Kendall's struggled to begin the 2026 PBA season. Kendall's walked just twice since April 10.

29: Luis Robert's Games played. Robert's been oft-injured in the past, but his ability to stay healthy thus far is a main reason the Dodgers are 17-12.


Cubs 5 Key Stats


.331: Chad Kersey's OPS in 87 Plate Appearances. He's been one of the most inept PBA hitters of all time and has a -10 OPS+.

.576: Kevin Smith's Career OPS. Smith is the most likely candidate to replace All-Star Manny Machado in the lineup as he recovers from a high ankle sprain. With Machado out, the Cubs once potent offense in past years now may have four players with sub-.700 OPSs.

2: The number of attempted stolen bases Chicago has taken all year. The Cubs were successful both times, but have just two attempts.

13.7%: Landon Leach's strikeout rate. Leach has not allowed many home runs, but his 3.32 ERA is a result of a .212 BABIP. He allowed 25 home runs last year, and has 12 walks in 21.2 innings this year, so he's threading shaky ground.

.333: Dominic Smith's batting average. With four homers and eight doubles, Smith continues to club the ball and be one of the best run producers in the league.


Questions for the GMs:


For Ben Vincent, Luis Urias is dealing with a bruised finger. Will he play today?

Mike Serrano is on rehab from elbow surgery and has 4.2 innings in Oklahoma City. Will he be recalled today?

Alex Verdugo has been dropped to the eight spot in the lineup. Is he no longer a member who can be a middle-order hitter?

For Brandon Hillebrand, Manny Machado will be out for six weeks. How will you replace his presence in your lineup?

Tim Portwood is out for the year. Who will replace him in the lineup?

Chad Kersey has been awful at the plate. How much can you overcome his poor offense in the lineup?


TRIVIA: Which player has the lowest batting average in PBA history with at least 1,000 career plate appearances.

[Ben_Dodgers]

Luis Urias is dealing with a bruised finger. Will he play today?

Mike Serrano is on rehab from elbow surgery and has 4.2 innings in Oklahoma City. Will he be recalled today?

Alex Verdugo has been dropped to the eight spot in the lineup. Is he no longer a member who can be a middle-order hitter?

Urias will be a game time decision by the manager bot, but I expect him to play. He's been a key part of our offense thus far, and with Bregman out, I want to see him in there.

I'm going to give Serrano another week at least to rehab. He's been out almost a year and I don't want to rush him back.

Verdugo is off to a slow start this year, but he's still got all the tools to be an all-star. I've dropped him in the order to take some of the pressure off and see if he can get it going. I'm considering giving Ramos some more starts to spell Verdugo and Kendall - the off days might help them. But for now I'm just shuffling the lineup.

[Commissioner Erick]

Dodgers 6 - Cubs 2


WP: J. Holder (2-3)
LP: L. Leach (1-3)


Los Angeles Dodgers starter Jonathan Holder was in a rhythm all game. He led his team to a win over the Chicago Cubs, 6-2. Los Angeles goes to 18-12.

Jorge Ramos, the 22-year old center fielder , had a direct impact on the outcome. Ramos contributed a 2-run home run in the top of the first inning to put Los Angeles up, 4-0.

"Win or lose, we pick each other up in this clubhouse," Ramos told the Los Angeles Bulletin.


Questions for the GMs:


For Ben Vincent, Jorge Ramos had another home run for you. Will you increase his playing time going forward?

Fidel Mejia went 1-4 with a caught stealing. How did he look to you?

Jeren Kendall hit second for you and went 2-5 with a home run. Will he bat their more often going forward?

For Brandon Hillebrand, Rafael Jimenez went 0-4 with three strikeouts and is now batting .156. How much can you survive his struggles.

The 5-9 hitters for your team went 3-16. How much can you survive such a poor bottom of the lineup?

Landon Leach has had a good season, but fueled by a deflated BABIP. The Dodgers really hit him around. How much do you trust him against a good team?


TRIVIA: Rafael Jimenez had 20 home runs last season, the most homers for a primary Cubs Center Fielder in a season. Who is second?

[Commissioner Erick]

Trivia 2: Daniel correctly guessed Darryl Wilson

[Commissioner Erick]

Trivia 1: Nonnie Williams was the answer

[Ben_Dodgers]

Oops, I missed this.

I’d like to get Ramos more playing time but there’s not an obvious spot to put him. While he’s slugged well, he has the lowest BA and OBP of anyone he’d replace. And he’s still learning to hit lefties. So he’ll stay as a backup for now.

Mejia has been a capable backup for me for a while now. He can play competently all over the infield and isn’t an embarrassment at the plate. That’s exactly what I need from him.

I don’t see Kendall hitting in the 2-hole very often. He can definitely have hot streaks but he strikes out way too much to rely on him in the heart of the order.