Major League Baseball usually celebrates Jackie Robinson Day on April 15, the day he broke the color barrier in 1947, although with the season being pushed back due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, teams across the league will instead be recognizing it on Friday.
With everything going on in the country and in baseball with many teams recently boycotting games to draw attention to racial injustice, Friday seems like the perfect day to celebrate Robinson and everything he stood for.
Given the strange nature of this year’s schedule, the Los Angeles Dodgers will not be at home on Jackie Robinson Day this year, instead beginning a three-game series against the Texas Rangers at their new stadium, Globe Life Field.
As is normally the case, all players on both teams will be wearing Robinson’s No. 42, which is retired across baseball on every other day.
Taking the mound for the Dodgers is Dustin May, who is looking to continue his strong rookie season. In six starts, May is 1-1 with a 2.79 ERA, 4.40 FIP and 1.17 WHIP with 20 strikeouts and seven walks in 29 innings.
This marks his first career start against the Rangers, who come in struggling, losers of 10 of their last 11 games.
They send lefty Mike Minor to the mound, who has struggled to begin the season. In six starts, Minor is 0-5 with a 6.75 ERA, 5.30 FIP and 1.40 WHIP while striking out 29 and walking 10 in 29.1 innings.
He has had some success against the Dodgers in his career though as in eight games (seven starts), Minor has posted a 2.62 ERA and 1.10 WHIP against them. Additionally, the Dodgers haven’t had much success against southpaws this season, posting a .663 on-base plus slugging percentage against them, which is 22nd in the league, compared to .861 against righties, which is first.
Justin Turner has been solid for the Dodgers against lefties and enters play with a 20-game on-base streak. During that span, he is hitting .300/.417/.429 with a pair of home runs and 11 RBI.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
DH: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
CF: Cody Bellinger
LF: AJ Pollock
SS: Chris Taylor
1B: Max Muncy
C: Will Smith
2B: Kiké Hernandez
Rangers lineup
DH: Shin-Soo Cho
LF: Nick Solak
C: Jose Trevino
RF: Joey Gallo
3B: Todd Frazier
1B: Danny Santana
2B: Rougned Odor
SS: Isiah Kiner-Falefa
CF: Leody Taveras
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