The first game of the Mexico Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres was a memorable one, as four Dodgers pitchers tossed the first combined no-hitter in franchise history.
The Dodgers have now won three straight games, and will look to keep that going on Saturday evening when All-Star first baseman Cody Bellinger returns to the lineup.
Bellinger is not off to the torrid pace that he got off to in 2017, but he still has been a steady producer this season. He enters play batting .288/.336/.479 with four home runs, 16 RBI and 22 runs scored.
Taking the mound for the Dodgers is Kenta Maeda, who is making his sixth start on the season (seventh appearance). Overall he is 2-2 with a 3.76 ERA, 2.83 FIP and 1.48 WHIP while striking out 34 and walking 10 in 26.1 innings of work.
Maeda has seen mixed results in his career against San Diego. In 10 career games (nine starts), he is 4-3 with a 4.72 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. He faced them earlier this season, giving up eight hits and four runs in 5.2 innings while striking out 10 and walking two on April 18 at Petco Park.
The Padres counter with right-hander Bryan Mitchell, who has gotten off to a rough start to the season. In six starts, Mitchell is 0-3 with a 6.07 ERA, 6.41 FIP and 1.89 WHIP. His command has really been an issue, walking 23 hitters compared to just 14 strikeouts in 29.2 innings.
Mitchell’s only quality start on the season came on April 17 against the Dodgers when he pitched six innings of three-run ball, giving up five hits and walking three while striking out four.
Dodgers rookie Alex Verdugo picked up two more hits in Friday night’s game. He now has eight hits in 21 at-bats in his first six games, slashing .381/.435/.571 with four doubles.
Dodgers lineup:
SS: Chris Taylor
LF: Alex Verdugo
C: Yasmani Grandal
1B: Cody Bellinger
RF: Matt Kemp
CF: Joc Pederson
2B: Chase Utley
3B: Max Muncy
P: Kenta Maeda
Padres lineup:
CF: Travis Jankowski
1B: Eric Hosmer
3B: Christian Villanueva
RF: Franchy Cordero
C: Raffy Lopez
LF: Jose Pirela
SS: Freddy Galvis
2B: Carlos Asuaje
P: Bryan Mitchell
