The Los Angeles Dodgers are coming off a disappointing 1-6 road trip only to face the same Arizona Diamondbacks who swept them in a three-game series last week at Chase Field. In addition to a rematch coming within a short time, the Dodgers are sticking with the same starters who were hit hard.
Rich Hill once again gets the ball in the series opener, followed by Hyun-Jin Ryu on Tuesday and Kenta Maeda in the series finale. The trio allowed a combined combined 19 runs on 24 hits in 10.2 innings in the last three games with Arizona.
“It doesn’t matter,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of the previous results and how much it potentially factors into this weeks’s series.
“They just didn’t pitch well. We’re going to be at home, and they’re going to pitch better. As far as the matchup, We’re not concerned about the matchup.”
The first inning was particularly problematic for the trio of starters, as Hill allowed five runs in the opening frame, Ryu was tagged for three and Maeda two. Although Maeda gave up the fewest runs in the first inning, he was the only of the group to also allow the Diamondbacks to score in the second and third innings.
Maeda’s seven runs permitted were more than Hill (six runs allowed in 3.2 innings) and Ryu (six in four). The Dodgers enter the series on a three-game losing streak and having dropped eight of their last nine contests.
Conversely, the Diamondbacks are on a 10-game winning streak that’s provided them with a cushion in the National League Wild Card race. Beginning Monday, the Dodgers play half of their final 26 games against playoff opponents (Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies and Washington Nationals).
