LOS ANGELES - Chicago Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta no-hit the Los Angeles Dodgers the last time he pitched at Dodger Stadium.
Although Arrieta isn't banking on duplicating the feat, which occurred Aug. 30, 2015, the 2015 Cy Young Award winner believes he can use it to his benefit when he and the Cubs face the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series on Tuesday.
"You try to tackle them accordingly," Arrieta said Monday. "Use some knowledge that I have from the past to kind of help (Tuesday). But it's just another game on a big stage, and we're all prepared for it."
Arrieta and Dodgers lefty Rich Hill will square off in Game 3 of the best-of-seven series, which is even at one game apiece. Arrieta (0-0, 3.00 ERA in the postseason) will try to tame a Dodgers' squad brimming with confidence after a 1-0 win in Game 2 and with the next three games in the City of Angels.
However, the Dodgers will have their work cut out for them against Arrieta, who has blanked them in his last two starts, including seven scoreless innings on May 31 at Wrigley. Los Angeles, though, won that game 5-0.
"We know he's tough," said Dodger second baseman Chase Utley, who is 0-for-13 against Arrieta. "He's got electric stuff. For every good pitcher, you try to capitalize on their mistakes. They all make mistakes, some more than others, and you have to try to be ready for those mistakes and try to take advantage of those."
Arrieta will be on the hill for the first time since Game 3 of the NLDS on Oct. 10 against the San Francisco Giants. In that game, Arrieta allowed two runs in six innings and received a no-decision in a game the Cubs eventually lost 6-5 in 13 innings. Arrieta, though, hit a three-run homer off Giants' ace Madison Bumgarner.
A favorable outing by Hill (0-1, 6.43), a former Cub, would be a big boost for the Dodgers.
"For me, I go out there and give everything that I have, that's it," Hill said. "That's the bottom line. Your effort is everything."
Hill is 0-2 in three career starts in the playoffs but has never faced the Cubs. In his last postseason start, Hill worked only 2 2/3 innings, allowed a run on three hits and received a no-decision in the Dodgers' 4-3 victory over the Washington Nationals in the decisive Game 5 of the NLDS on Oct. 13.
Hill struck out six and walked two on 55 pitches before being yanked early due to manager Dave Roberts' creativity with his bullpen. Roberts brought in closer Kenley Jansen in the seventh for 2 1/3 scoreless innings, and then ace Clayton Kershaw closed the deal by getting the final two outs.
In Game 2 of the NLDS, Hill suffered the loss when he gave up four runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings, striking out seven and walking two on 55 pitches.
Hill's other postseason defeat came when he pitched for the Cubs. In a 5-1 win by the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 3 of the 2007 NLDS, Hill gave up three runs on six hits in three innings with three strikeouts and two walks.
