Only one series remains before the All-star break for the Los Angeles Dodgers as they welcome the San Diego Padres to town for a four-game series that begins Thursday.
For the first time since October 2014, the Dodgers send Hyun-Jin Ryu to the mound as he makes his return from last May’s surgery that repaired a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder. While it was expected he’d miss the remainder of 2015, Ryu’s return was delayed by multiple setbacks.
In his first two seasons with the Dodgers, the southpaw went 28-15 with a 3.17 ERA and 1.20 WHIP; he won 14 games in each season.
In eight rehab starts this season between Rancho Cucamonga and Oklahoma City, Ryu had a 4.23 ERA in 27.2 innings. He struck out 23 batters and walked just one.
Ryu said earlier this week he feels prepared for his debut after spending time working on his pitches.
The left-hander has been dominant against the Padres in his career, going 4-0 with a 0.84 ERA in five starts (32.1 innings). He also has a career 2.93 ERA at Dodger Stadium, compared to a 3.38 ERA on the road.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts doesn’t have an innings or pitch limit on Ryu, though the rookie skipper said he will keep a close eye on his velocity as the outing wears on.
The Padres also send a left-hander to the mound in Drew Pomeranz, who has turned into San Diego’s ace this season. The 27-year-old is 7-7 with a 2.65 ERA, 3.21 FIP and 1.10 WHIP in 16 starts to go along with 109 strikeouts and 39 walks in 95 innings.
In seven career games against the Dodgers (five starts) he is 0-4 with a 4.39 ERA. Pomeranz last faced Los Angeles on May 1, going seven innings while giving up just three hits and one run, but still suffered a tough-luck loss at Dodger Stadium.
Yasmani Grandal is 3-for-8 with a home run off Pomeranz in his career, however he is not in the lineup as A.J. Ellis has worked with Ryu in the past. Adrian Gonzalez has also enjoyed some success off Pomeranz, going 3-for-10 with three RBIs.
Howie Kendrick is batting leadoff for the Dodgers for the third time this season. He is 3-for-9 with a walk and three runs scored previously in that role. Meanwhile, Corey Seager, who was officially named to the Home Run Derby, enters play with a 19-game hitting streak.
He’s batting .392 (31-for-79) with 10 doubles, two triples, two home runs and five RBIs during the stretch. Coming off a 14-inning game, the Dodgers recalled Carlos Frias and optioned Luis Avilan to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Howie Kendrick
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
RF: Yasiel Puig
CF: Trayce Thompson
LF: Scott Van Slyke
C: A.J. Ellis
P: Hyun-Jin Ryu
Padres lineup:
CF: Melvin Upton Jr.
1B: Wil Myers
RF: Matt Kemp
3B: Yangervis Solarte
C: Derek Norris
LF: Alex Dickerson
SS: Alexei Ramirez
2B: Ryan Schimpf
P: Drew Pomeranz
