Despite having a modest two-game winning streak snapped, the Los Angeles Dodgers are in position to start the 2020 regular season off with a series victory against the San Francisco Giants. The four-game series finale is another national broadcast, airing on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball.
Saturday’s loss snapped the Dodgers’ seven-game winning streak against the Giants, but they are still 15-4 when facing a National League West opponent since last September. L.A. goes for a series win behind Julio Urias on the mound and Mookie Betts in the leadoff spot.
It marks a second time Betts is atop the Dodgers’ order, with both instances being when an opponent started a left-handed pitcher. While the Giants had been unusually late with announcing their starter and lineup, they did so with more than enough time Sunday.
When asked about their tactics, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, “I think it’s a little bit of gamesmanship, we’ll call it. To each their own.”
As for matters on the mound, Urias is looking to have a better 2020 debut than Alex Wood did. If there is anything Urias can glean from the outing, Wood expressed a belief the Giants’ lineup matches up well against left-handed pitchers and he lamented not being aggressive enough in the early stages of his outing.
This season marks the first time Urias has secured a permanent spot in the starting rotation. He went 4-3 with a 2.49 ERA in 37 games (eight starts) last season. Urias set career highs with four saves, 79.2 innings pitched, ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. He’s yet to earn a win against the Giants (0-2) but has a lifetime 1.34 ERA.
Smyly has allowed two runs in nine innings (2.00 ERA) in his three previous games facing the Dodgers, one of which came Opening Day. Smyly went five innings in a start against L.A. during the 2016 season.
AJ Pollock is back with the Dodgers after not being on hand Saturday so he and his wife could take their baby home from the hospital for the first time. Their daughter was born three months premature and had been in the hospital since that point.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
2B: Max Muncy
3B: Justin Turner
CF: Cody Bellinger
LF: Chris Taylor
SS: Corey Seager
2B: Kiké Hernandez
DH: AJ Pollock
C: Will Smith
Giants lineup
LF: Mike Yastrzemski
2B: Wilmer Flores
1B: Darin Ruf
DH: Hunter Pence
3B: Donovan Solano
C: Tyler Heineman
RF: Jaylin Davis
SS: Brandon Crawford
CF: Mauricio Dubón
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