Winners in seven of their past nine games, including a modest two-game winning streak, the Los Angeles Dodgers open a three-game set Monday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
They do so with Alex Wood on the mound, who makes his previously scheduled turn in the rotation. The Dodgers considered starting Brandon McCarthy, who had his outing rained out on Sunday, but instead placed the right-hander on the disabled list.
Wood is making his fifth start and seventh appearance of the season. The 26-year-old is 2-0 with a 3.28 ERA, 2.43 FIP and 1.10 WHIP, while striking out 27 and walking nine in 24.2 innings pitched.
In six career games (five starts) against Pittsburgh, Wood is 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. Wood last faced them on Aug. 9, 2015, when he gave up five hits and three runs in five innings of work.
The Pirates turn to Trevor Williams in place of Jameson Taillon, who underwent surgery for suspected testicular cancer. Williams is making just his second career Major League start and first since September of last season.
The 25-year-old has made six appearances out of the bullpen so far this season, yielding a 5.40 ERA, 5.31 FIP and 1.63 WHIP in 11.2 innings of work. He has struck out 10 and walked seven so far on the season.
After being drafted by the Miami Marlins in the second round in 2013 out of Arizona State, Williams was traded to the Pirates in October 2015. In 24.1 career big league innings he owns a 6.66 ERA.
The Pirates will have the tough task of trying to cool off Dodgers rookie and National League Player of the Week, Cody Bellinger. The 21-year-old went 9-for-21 with eight runs, one double, a triple, three home runs, 12 RBI and stole the first base of his career over five games last week.
Bellinger has two multi-home run games in just 11 career games and is batting .357/.413/.786 with five home runs and 14 RBIs. Andrew Toles has gotten hot in recent weeks.
In his last nine games Toles is 12-for-32 (.375 batting average) with two home runs, seven RBIs and nine runs scored. Toles, Bellinger, Corey Seager and Yasiel Puig are tied for the team lead with five home runs apiece.
The Pirates are still without All-Star outfielder Starling Marte, who is serving an 80-game suspension for a positive PED test.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Andrew Toles
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Cody Bellinger
CF: Joc Pederson
2B: Chris Taylor
C: Yasmani Grandal
RF: Yasiel Puig
P: Alex Wood
Pirates lineup:
3B: Josh Harrison
SS: Jordy Mercer
CF: Andrew McCutchen
LF: Gregory Polanco
RF: José Osuna
1B: Josh Bell
C: Francisco Cervelli
2B: Max Moroff
P: Trevor Williams
