The Los Angeles Dodgers begin a six-game homestand Friday night with one celebration already scheduled. The team is holding a pregame ceremony in recognition of Tommy Lasorda’s 90th birthday.
By the end of the night, the Dodgers could be showering one another with beer and champagne. A win will clinch a fifth consecutive National League West title. So too will an Arizona Diamondbacks loss, and they face the Miami Marlins. First pitch at Chase Field is set for 6:40 p.m. PT.
Los Angeles can wrap up the division on their own accord with a third consecutive win against the San Francisco Giants. The Dodgers have won six of the last seven head-to-head meetings with their longtime rival.
Rich Hill did not start in the recent series at AT&T Park and faces the Giants for a third time this season. He’s 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in those games.
Since joining the Dodgers last season, Hill has gone 2-1 with a 1.69 ERA in five starts against San Francisco. Overall this season, the veteran left-hander is 10-8 with a 3.60 ERA, 3.99 FIP and 1.13 WHIP.
One string Hill is looking to snap is nine consecutive starts in which he’s allowed at least one home run. Only Brandon Belt and Hunter Pence have homered off Hill in their respective careers. Belt is out for the season as he recovers from concussion symptoms.
The Dodgers face Jeff Samardzija without Justin Turner, but do see the return of Corey Seager. Turner was hit by a pitch on his right hand in Thursday’s win, while Seager fouled a pitch off his ankle the night prior. X-rays on both players were negative.
Samardzija is 9-14 with a 4.42 ERA, 3.52 FIP and 1.14 WHIP in 30 starts this season. He allowed just one unearned run over eight innings in a May outing at Dodger Stadium. Logan Forsythe, who starts at third base in place of Turner, is a career 0-for-15 with one RBI and four strikeouts against the Giants righty.
Hill will look to cool off Joe Panik, who is 27-for-57 (.474 batting average) over his last 16 games. Panik walked in his lone plate appearance against Hill.
Dodgers lineup:
CF: Chris Taylor
SS: Corey Seager
1B: Cody Bellinger
RF: Curtis Granderson
LF: Andre Ethier
C: Yasmani Grandal
2B: Chase Utley
3B: Logan Forsythe
P: Rich Hill
Giants lineup:
CF: Gorkys Hernandez
2B: Joe Panik
1B: Buster Posey
RF: Hunter Pence
SS: Brandon Crawford
C: Nick Hundley
3B: Pablo Sandoval
LF: Mac Williamson
P: Jeff Samardzija
