The Los Angeles Dodgers split the first four games of their seven-game road trip, and go from facing the National League West-leading Colorado Rockies to the San Francisco Giants, who are next-to-last in the division.
Brandon McCarthy returns from the disabled list to make his first start since April 29. He missed the past couple weeks due to a dislocated left shoulder that he suffered in the weight room.
McCarthy was scheduled to start May 7, but the game at Petco Park was rained out and postponed to September. The Dodgers put the right-hander on the disabled list the following day, much to McCarthy’s chagrin.
In five starts this season he’s 3-0 with a 3.10 ERA, 3.56 FIP and 1.21 WHIP. McCarthy has 25 strikeouts to nine walks across 29 innings of work.
He has faced the Giants five times in his career, making four starts. The results have hardly been positive, with McCarthy yielding a 7.36 ERA. Hunter Pence has see the most success against McCarthy of any Giants player, but he was put on the 10-day DL Monday with a left hamstring strain.
Pence’s injury is the most recent for the Giants, who have lost several key players this season. Their most notable injury is ace Madison Bumgarner, who will be out until at least the All-Star break after getting injured in a dirt biking accident.
Veteran right-hander Matt Cain opposes McCarthy. In seven starts this season, Cain is 2-1 with a 4.54 ERA, 4.38 FIP and 1.51 WHIP. The 13-year veteran has a career 3.33 ERA at AT&T Park, compared to 3.87 ERA on the road.
Cain faced the Dodgers earlier this season and had his best start of the year, tossing six shutout innings, giving up just two hits in a victory.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts provide Justin Turner with his first night off after the third baseman made 13 straight starts. Kiké Hernandez starts in Turner’s place and bats eighth.
Hernandez has swung the bat well recently, going 3-for-7 with three walks and two RBIs in his last 10 plate appearances. With Turner out, Yasmani Grandal bats third in the lineup for the first time this season.
Grandal has three three-hit games in his last four starts, and is 11-for-17 with two walks, a home run and six RBIs in the last five games he’s appeared in.
Chase Utley is also swinging a hot bat as of late. After a slow start to the season, Utley is 8-for-16 with two doubles, two triples and five RBIs in his last six games. Utley is 11-for-30 (.367 batting average) with four home runs off Cain.
Brett Eibner was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City to make room for McCarthy to be added to the active roster. As a result, Los Angeles has a four-man bench.
The Dodgers are 3-4 against the Giants this season, including a four-game split at AT&T Park from April 24-27.
Dodgers lineup:
CF: Joc Pederson
SS: Corey Seager
C: Yasmani Grandal
1B: Cody Bellinger
RF: Yasiel Puig
1B: Chase Utley
2B: Chris Taylor
3B: Kiké Hernandez
P: Brandon McCarthy
Giants lineup:
CF: Denard Span
2B: Joe Panik
1B: Brandon Belt
C: Buster Posey
SS: Brandon Crawford
LF: Eduardo Nuñez
3B: Christian Arroyo
RF: Mac Williamson
P: Matt Cain
