The Los Angeles Dodgers are currently in the midst of one of their worst stretches of the season, losing five straight games, with the last four coming in the ninth inning.
They host the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night not only looking to avoid being swept by their rivals at home but also looking to avoid matching their season-long losing streak.
Getting the start on the mound for Los Angeles is Hyun-Jin Ryu, who returns from the disabled list and takes a big league mound for the first time since May 2 when he went down with a groin injury.
Ryu was in the midst of his best Major League season before suffering the injury, going 3-0 with a 2.12 ERA, 3.13 FIP and 0.86 WHIP while striking out 36 and walking 10 in 29.2 innings in his first six starts.
He has faced the Giants 13 times in his career, posting a 4-6 record with a 3.36 ERA and 1.32 WHIP. Ryu has also fared well at the friendly confines of Dodger Stadium in his career, yielding a 3.07 ERA at home compared to 3.57 on the road.
Opposing Ryu is fellow southpaw Derek Holland, marking the sixth left-handed starter combined between the two teams in the three-game series.
The 31-year-old is 6-8 with a 3.97 ERA, 3.95 FIP and 1.28 WHIP in 26 games (22 starts) this season. He has struck out 125 and walked 44 in 124.2 innings.
The Dodgers offense has struggled greatly over the past week, but they have hit Holland well in the past as he is 0-3 with a 6.38 in his career against Los Angeles.
Dodgers second baseman Brian Dozier has fared well against Holland in his career, going 5-for-16 (.313 batting average) with a home run. Matt Kemp and Kiké Hernandez have also homered off him in the past.
No Dodger player is hotter than Justin Turner though, who comes into the game sporting a nine-game hit streak. During that span, he has slashed .471/.514/.794 with a home run and six doubles.
Giants All-Star shortstop is back in the lineup after being removed from Monday night’s game and missing Tuesday’s. He ran into his teammate chasing after a blooper in short left field, although he was able to work his way through the concussion protocol and avoid a disabled list stint.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Brian Dozier
3B: Justin Turner
SS: Manny Machado
LF: Matt Kemp
CF: Chris Taylor
1B: Kiké Hernández
RF: Yasiel Puig
C: Austin Barnes
P: Hyun-Jin Ryu
Giants lineup:
RF: Andrew McCutchen
1B: Brandon Belt
3B: Evan Longoria
C: Buster Posey
CF: Gorkys Hernandez
SS: Brandon Crawford
LF: Hunter Pence
2B: Alen Hanson
P: Derek Holland
