The Los Angeles Dodgers at worst have won four consecutive series but they take the field Sunday in position to complete a weekend sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. The Diamondbacks are mired in a franchise-worst 16-game losing streak.
Mookie Betts gets a day of rest in the series finale and he’s supplanted in the leadoff spot of the Dodgers lineup by Chris Taylor. Saturday marked the five-year anniversary of the Dodgers completing their trade for Taylor, sending Zach Lee to the Seattle Mariners.
“I think he’s an All-Star player, like I said a few weeks ago. He is an everyday Major League player, which I think until you do it and plant yourself in that role, you don’t know,” manager Dave Roberts said.
“He’s never really had any panic in his game, can play all over the field and defend. I just think he’s accrued a lot of at-bats, had a lot of success and got a lot of big hits for us.”
Taylor hit a two-run home run in the Dodgers’ 9-3 win on Saturday. They now look to provide run support for Tony Gonsolin in his third start of the season.
Gonsolin has struggled with control and therefore failed to provide much length in either of his first two outings. “Limit some of those walks and I think I can go deeper in the game,” Gonsolin said after pitching 3.2 innings against the Philadelphia Phillies last week.
Gonsolin’s eight walks this season have already exceeded last year’s total.
Alex Young takes the mound for the Diamondbacks and looks to exploit the Dodgers’ troubles against left-handed pitching. The start is only Young’s second of the season, and he enters 2-4 with a 3.86 ERA in 27 games.
Young faced the Dodgers out of the bullpen on May 18 and allowed one run on two hits.
The Dodgers recalled Edwin Uceta and optioned Mitch White to Triple-A Oklahoma City before the game.
Dodgers lineup
CF: Chris Taylor
LF: AJ Pollock
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Albert Pujols
2B: Andy Burns
RF: Steven Souza Jr.
SS: Gavin Lux
C: Austin Barnes
P: Tony Gonsolin
Diamondbacks lineup
2B: Josh VanMeter
CF: Ketel Marte
3B: Eduardo Escobar
LF: David Peralta
1B: Asdrubal Cabrera
RF: Josh Reddick
C: Daulton Varsho
SS: Nick Ahmed
P: Alex Young
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and more!
