Baez batted .311 against left-handers this season, second on the Cubs to Kris Bryant, who batted .314 with 14 home runs.
Willson Contreras got the call at catcher, after David Ross started behind the plate in the opener. Contreras will bat seventh, ahead of Jason Heyward, who moved down from the six-hole with Kershaw starting for Los Angeles. Heyward, a left-handed batter, hit .207 against southpaws this season.
Chicago did not face Kershaw this season. Fowler has the most hits and at-bats against the Dodgers' ace, going 18-for-44 (.