A win Tuesday night guaranteed the Los Angeles Dodgers will leave Petco Park still in first place in the National League West, regardless of the outcome of the series finale against the San Diego Padres.
L.A. had been planning to start Dustin May for the first time since he was hit in the left foot by a line drive, but altered their plans and will use Brusdar Graterol as an opener. It marks a third time the Dodgers have deployed a bullpen game this season.
There was some concern May was potentially headed for the 10-day injured list despite reported improvement in his foot, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts quelled those by explaining the rookie would pitch out of the bullpen.
Roberts further explained he liked the matchup of Graterol seeing the top of the Padres’ lineup. Graterol’s last appearance also was as an opener in a first career MLB start. Graterol allowed a base hit but otherwise struck out three in a scoreless inning.
The arrangement is essentially the Dodgers getting a look at May as a relief pitcher in preparation for a potential October role. Of course, with limited off days part of the expanded postseason, May could very easily factor into the starting rotation picture.
The Dodgers don’t have Caleb Ferguson as he is undergoing an MRI to determine the extent of a potential arm injury, but Joe Kelly is now available after serving a five-game suspension.
The Padres also are rolling with a bullpen game, pushing probable starter Chris Paddack back to provide him with extra rest to recover from a slight right ankle sprain.
Adrian Morejon makes his third start of the season, and is 2-0 with a 2.53 ERA in five appearances thus far. The southpaw has not logged more than three innings in any of his games.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
DH: Justin Turner
3B: Max Muncy
C: Will Smith
1B: Cody Bellinger
CF: AJ Pollock
LF: Chris Taylor
2B: Gavin Lux
Padres lineup
CF: Trent Grisham
SS: Fernando Tatis Jr.
3B: Manny Machado
2B: Jake Cronenworth
RF: Wil Myers
1B: Mitch Moreland
DH: Jorge Oña
C: Jason Castro
LF: Jurickson Profar
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