Nearly five months after playing to a Game 7 in the 2018 National League Championship Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers meet for the first time. Sunday’s matchup is the first of two Spring Training games between the clubs in the next four days.
The starters, Rich Hill and Zach Davies, each appeared in last year’s NLCS. Though, Davies was added by the Brewers to their active roster after Gio Gonzalez suffered a sprained ankle. The right-handed reliever allowed one hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning in Game 7.
Sunday’s game is the sixth of the year for Davies, and his fourth start (third in a row). He’s allowed at least three runs in two of his last three games, resulting in an inflated 5.40 ERA.
Meanwhile, Hill returns to Cactus League play after last starting in a Minor League game. He came just short of meeting the goal of stretching out to five innings but still resides as one of the Dodgers’ most built up starters in camp.
That’s key in the event Hill is needed to start on Opening Day, which is a possibility because Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler each are behind.
Hill is sporting a 1.42 ERA, a 0.79 WHIP and has seven strikeouts in 6.1 innings pitched across his three Cactus League starts. He’ll get to bat for the first time in a game setting this year.
The Dodgers’ lineup again features Joc Pederson in the leadoff spot, where he’s split time with A.J. Pollock. Though Max Muncy has downplayed any concern about his wrist/forearm soreness, he’s out of the lineup for a third consecutive day.
Meanwhile, capping off a weekend in which they faced former teammates Kyle Farmer, Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig, the Dodgers now get their first look at Yasmani Grandal since he departed via free agency. Grandal is batting .292 for the Brewers this spring.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Joc Pederson
3B: Justin Turner
RF: Cody Bellinger
CF: A.J. Pollock
2B: Kiké Hernandez
SS: Chris Taylor
1B: David Freese
C: Russell Martin
P: Rich Hill
Brewers lineup:
2B: Hernan Perez
CF: Christian Yelich
1B: Jesus Aguilar
3B: Travis Shaw
C: Yasmani Grandal
SS: Orlando Arcia
RF: Ben Gamel
LF: Cory Spangenberg
P: Zach Davies
