Shohei Ohtani continues 50-50 pursuit as Dodgers face Cubs

The Chicago Cubs will be the next team to get an up-close look at Shohei Ohtani when they open a three-game road series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday.

Ohtani hit his 46th home run of the season Sunday against the Cleveland Guardians. He also has 46 stolen bases as he closes in on the first 50-50 season in MLB history with 19 regular-season games remaining.

Ohtani tied Alfonso Soriano (2006) for the most home runs during a 40-40 season.

"Man, you just don't see guys hitting the ball that far, as hard as he hits it," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "He's just locked in and 50-50, the chase is on, and I just really hope he does it at home."

As the historic milestone approaches, Ohtani continues to say it is all about the team, even though a 50-50 accomplishment could earn him his third MVP award and the first by a player who was primarily a designated hitter.

"It's something I will look back on at the end of the season," Ohtani said through an interpreter. "What is more important is to win the game and the series and fortunately we were able to do both (Sunday)."

The Dodgers won for the eighth time in their past 11 games and they have either won or tied a series in their past nine tries. The Dodgers (86-57) moved six games up on the second-place San Diego Padres in the National League West.

Los Angeles will send right-hander Walker Buehler (1-4, 5.67 ERA) to the mound Monday. Buehler has made 12 starts since returning from a two-year absence after his second Tommy John surgery and has given up just two earned runs in each of his past two outings.

In six career appearances (five starts) against the Cubs, Buehler is 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA.

The Cubs (73-70) will counter with right-hander Kyle Hendricks (3-11, 6.60), who hasn't pitched at Dodger Stadium since 2019.

Hendricks is coming off a strong outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday when he gave up two runs in five innings but ended up with the loss.

In seven career starts against the Dodgers, Hendricks is 3-3 with a 5.68 ERA, giving up nine home runs in 38 innings. In his three starts at Los Angeles, he is 1-2 with a 7.71 ERA and has allowed four home runs in 14 innings.

After going 8-1 to finish August and buoy their playoff hopes, the Cubs have lost four of their past six games. They dropped two of three at home against the New York Yankees when they scored two runs the entire series.

Monday begins a six-game road trip for the Cubs, who have just nine road games remaining this season. The Cubs have averaged 4.0 runs in 71 home games and 5.0 runs in 72 road games.

"Some of that is probably randomness, and some of that is probably the fact that the wind is blowing in (at home) virtually every day this year," Chicago president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said. "... I don't think you can really take all those things into account until the season's over and we can really make those (roster) adjustments."

--Field Level Media