The Los Angeles Dodgers have managed just three runs on seven hits in 22 innings through their first two games against the St. Louis Cardinals. The lack of offensive production has placed a strain on the Dodgers pitching staff. And now enters Kenta Maeda.
The Dodgers are expected to activate the right-hander from the 10-day disabled list for a start Thursday in the rubber match with the Cardinals. Maeda last pitched on May 12, throwing a career-best 8.1 innings.
He was placed on the DL the following day due to left hamstring tightness. Los Angeles skipped Maeda in the rotation on the day he was eligible to return, instead giving the ball to Brandon McCarthy last Sunday.
According to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group, Maeda views his first start off the DL as carrying some significance:
“I think it’s going to be important that I pitch well the first time when I am back to get back into that rhythm of pitching well, building back again some of the routine,” Maeda said.
Overall this season, the 29-year-old is 3-2 with a 5.03 ERA, 4.33 FIP and 1.17 WHIP in seven starts. He’s surrendered eight home runs in 39.1 innings pitched. That was largely a byproduct of over relying on a four-seam fastball.
That was a focal point in a conversation Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had with Maeda one afternoon removed from his allowing a career-worst four home runs to the Arizona Diamondbacks in just five innings.
At the urging of Roberts, Maeda began to move away from throwing the elevated fastball. He’s also incorporated a cut fastball that he first experimented with during Spring Training.
In his past three starts, Maeda has allowed two earned runs or less in each outing, while completing at least seven innings in two of the three games.
