After defeating Zack Greinke for the second time in 11 days, the Los Angeles Dodgers now look to do the same with Shelby Miller on the mound in the third of a four-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
Arizona and Los Angeles have split the first two games thus far, and the Dodgers enter play with their magic number to clinch the National League West at 12 games. For Miller and the Diamondbacks, only pride is on the line in what’s been a disappointing season.
The right-hander is 2-11 with a 7.12 ERA, 5.07 FIP and 1.76 WHIP. He’s 0-2 with a 7.04 ERA in three starts since spending one month in Triple-A Reno.
Miller allowed five runs (four earned) on 11 hits in 4.1 innings pitched when he last faced the Dodgers. It’s his lone start against Los Angeles this season.
Miller is a career 1-2 with a 7.02 ERA and 2.04 WHIP in six games (four starts) against the Dodgers. He’s opposed by Brock Stewart in a pitching matchup that changed from the initial probable.
Bud Norris was previously slated to start Saturday night, but was again placed in the bullpen. Norris last pitched Sept. 9, with his last start coming Aug. 31. Stewart finds himself back on the mound for the first time since Sept. 7 when he faced the same Diamondbacks.
In that outing, Stewart only managed to complete five innings, but held Arizona to one run on five hits to earn his first career Major League win. Prior to announcing the pitching change, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Stewart was approaching his innings limit.
Along with pitching for the Dodgers this season, Stewart has spent time High-A Rancho Cucamonga, Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City. He’s thrown a combined 143 innings, which is a career high.
Stewart is 1-2 with a 6.55 ERA, 5.87 FIP and 1.73 WHIP in five games (four starts) for the Dodgers. Their lineup looks much the same as it has in recent weeks, with changes coming in left field as Andrew Toles gets the start, and behind the plate with Carlos Ruiz replacing Yasmani Grandal.
One issue to keep an eye on is Kenley Jansen’s stiff right wrist, though he’s downplaying the injury and is available Saturday. Jansen converted his career-high 45th save on Friday night.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
RF: Josh Reddick
CF: Joc Pederson
LF: Andrew Toles
C: Carlos Ruiz
P: Brock Stewart
Diamondbacks lineup:
2B: Jean Segura
SS: Chris Owings
1B: Paul Goldschmidt
3B: Jake Lamb
C: Welington Castillo
RF: Yasmany Tomas
LF: Brandon Drury
CF: Mitch Haniger
P: Shelby Miller
