LOS ANGELES—Two questions hovered over Dodger Stadium in the coolness of an early-spring late afternoon as the buses carrying the Cubs’ traveling party pointed south toward San Diego.
The first was this, inspired by the multitude of fans still snaking around the field after the game: How will the home team’s infield survive the pounding feet of the estimated 13,000 kids who ran the bases after the game Sunday afternoon?
Somewhere in the bowels of the stadium, it was possible to imagine the head groundskeeper, weeping bitter tears.
The second will require some time before the answer is fully revealed: Will the Cubs be back here to play meaningful games in October after the “Back-to-Back World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers”—it’s almost a requirement here to refer to them by that handle—recovered from a startling comeback loss Friday night to soundly beat the Cubs in both weekend matinees, 12-4 on Saturday and 6-0 on Sunday.
We should have a better idea by early August, when the Dodgers jet to Chicago for three games in Wrigley Field, the only other regular season rendezvous scheduled. But while this late-April exercise gave fans an excuse to contemplate autumn possibilities, the teams parted company knowing nothing certain other than it would do well for them to keep an eye on each other.
“The Dodgers have a fantastic team,’’ said Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga, who never recovered from a three-run yield in the first inning generated by a couple of walks, a throwing error by catcher Carson Kelly, a sacrifice fly, and back-to-back doubles by Kyle Tucker and Miguel Rojas.
“But I think when you look at the Cubs,’’ Imanaga continued, “look at all my teammates, we have fantastic players. And I want to be part of that, and be a fantastic player with the Cubs. And hopefully, we can make it out here.’’
Neither Imanaga nor the Cubs approached their fantastic best Sunday. Imanaga was touched up for a couple more runs in the sixth, and the Cubs, despite putting the leadoff man on base in each of the first eight innings, could not crack the scoreboard against starter Justin Wrobleski and three relievers.
Wrobleski ran his record to 4-0 despite walking four and giving up four hits in six innings. He dodged a bases-loaded, one-out jam by striking out Nico Hoerner, with the help of an ABS reversal of a 3-and-1 pitch to a strike, and inducing Alex Bregman to tap of short.
The Cubs could not take advantage of the absence of Mookie Betts, who is out with a strained oblique and did not play this weekend, and catcher Will Smith, who had back stiffness and missed the last two games.
They did, however, manage to allay some early-season angst about Shohei Ohtani and Tucker.
Ohtani avoided going hitless in four straight games for the first time as a Dodger when he singled in his first at-bat Saturday, ending an 0 for 12 skid. He walked in his next two at-bats, scoring both times, and Sunday was on base all four times he came to the plate, walking, singling and—in the seventh inning—hitting a solo home run off Cubs reliever Hoby Milner. That ended a streak of 59 plate appearances without a home run, an eternity for Shohei watchers.
Then there is Tucker, who was supposed to be a difference-maker in Chicago last season, hurt a hammy and wasn’t the same player when he returned. Tucker’s lasting impact on Cubs annals will warrant just a mention, if that.
The Dodgers gave him a four-year, $240 million deal to leave, but his desultory play early on here has raised eyebrows, California Post reporter Jack Harris calling him “the most glaring issue in the Dodger lineup.’’ Manager Dave Roberts dropped him from the No. 2 hole to fourth, and Sunday he batted fifth against Imanaga.
Now that will be a riveting October storyline should it come to pass: Whose off-season move will generate the greatest payoff, the Dodgers signing Tucker or the Cubs signing Bregman.