Preview: Dodgers Host Athletics In First Interleague Matchup Of Regular Season
Dodger Stadium view, 2018 Opening Series, Los Angeles Dodgers
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

After splitting a two-game, rain-shortened series with the San Francisco Giants, the Los Angeles Dodgers return home for a two-game Interleague set against the Oakland Athletics. It’s the first series between the two teams at Dodger Stadium since 2015.

Hyun-Jin Ryu makes his second start of the season a day earlier than initially expected, with Alex Wood pushed back to Wednesday because of an illness. Ryu struggled in his first start of the season against the Arizona Diamondbacks, allowing 10 baserunners and three earned runs over just 3.2 innings pitched.

In his career at Dodger Stadium, the left-hander owns a 3.25 ERA and 1.24 WHIP across 229.2 innings with 206 strikeouts to 51 walks. The Athletics counter with fellow southpaw Sean Manaea.

The 26-year-old has seen excellent results through two starts this season. In 15.2 innings of work, he has posted a minuscule 1.15 ERA, 2.84 FIP and 0.51 WHIP with 11 strikeouts to one walk.

Manaea went eight innings in his last start against the Texas Rangers, yielding just three hits and one earned run with four punch outs.

Trayce Thompson, who was designated for assignment by the Dodgers prior to the start of the season, figures to make his Athletics debut. Against left-handed pitching, he owns a .753 on-base plus slugging percentage with nine doubles and five home runs over 156 plate appearances.

Although they snapped a four-game losing streak with their extra-innings win, the Dodgers are still looking to get on track at the plate. Manager Dave Roberts called on his team to match their quality of at-bat from a season ago that proved so successful.

Corey Seager is among those who have struggled, though the two-time Silver Slugger Award winner believes he’s not far off from regaining his expected form. Seager will be presented with his 2017 Silver Slugger hardware prior to first pitch.

Dodgers lineup:

CF: Chris Taylor
SS: Corey Seager
RF: Yasiel Puig
2B: Kiké Hernandez
LF: Matt Kemp
1B: Cody Bellinger
3B: Logan Forsythe
P: Hyun-Jin Ryu

Athletics lineup:

SS: Marcus Semien
3B: Matt Chapman
2B: Jed Lowrie
LF: Khris Davis
1B: Matt Olson
C: Jonathan Lucroy
RF: Stephen Piscotty
CF: Jake Smolinski
P: Sean Manaea