The Los Angeles Dodgers begin the second three-game series on their homestand and see the return of Justin Turner from the 10-day disabled list. Turner is hitting third in Dodgers manager Dave Roberts’ lineup. Brett Eibner was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Los Angeles enters play 2.5 games behind the first-place Colorado Rockies in the National League West. The Cincinnati Reds find themselves just two games back of first place in the NL Central.
Making his seventh start of the season is Rich Hill, who looks to improve on a relatively disappointing outing against the Milwaukee Brewers last Monday. While Hill allowed just the two runs, he struggled with his command and failed to exceed four innings in a start for the third time this year.
For the season, the 37-year-old has pitched to a 4.15 ERA and 5.38 FIP in 26 innings, with his home runs and walks per nine innings ratios more than doubling his 2016 totals.
In his career against the Reds, Hill owns a 4.05 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 40 innings with 46 strikeouts to 18 walks.
Cincinnati counters with a southpaw of their own in Amir Garrett. He was rocked in his last start against the Atlanta Braves. In just 2.2 innings, Garrett allowed nine runs (eight earned) on three home runs with three walks to one strikeout.
The rookie is making his first career start against the Dodgers and has posted a 7.17 ERA, 7.16 FIP and 1.47 WHIP in 47.2 innings thus far.
Dodgers starting pitchers lead the Majors with a 3.48 ERA, while the Reds starters have the highest ERA in baseball at 5.81. Overall, the Dodgers pitching staff sports an MLB-best 3.16 ERA.
Turner batted .333/.435/.373 with a pair of doubles in 63 plate appearances during the month of May. He’s part of a lineup that’s heavy on right-handed batters, including Franklin Gutierrez in left field, Chris Taylor in center, and Kiké Hernandez in right.
The start is Gutierrez’s 12th this season. He’s 7-for-31 with three doubles, one home run and two RBI against left-handed pitching.
The Dodgers see a pair of the organization’s former prospects in Jose Peraza and Scott Schebler. Peraza is batting .248/.281/.330 with six doubles and 17 RBI. He’s stolen 14 bases and only been caught twice.
Schebler is tied with Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman for the NL lead with 17 home runs. Overall, Schebler is hitting .249/.324/.554.
In addition to activating Turner, the Dodgers reinstated Luis Avilan, and placed Sergio Romo on the 10-day DL with a left ankle sprain.
Dodgers lineup:
CF: Chris Taylor
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
LF: Franklin Gutierrez
2B: Logan Forsythe
C: Austin Barnes
1B: Cody Bellinger
RF: Kiké Hernandez
P: Rich Hill
Reds lineup:
CF: Billy Hamilton
SS: Zack Cozart
1B: Joey Votto
3B: Eugenio Suarez
RF: Scott Schebler
LF: Patrick Kivlehan
2B: Jose Peraza
C: Tucker Barnhart
P: Amir Garrett
