After taking three of four from the Colorado Rockies to begin the regular season, the Los Angeles Dodgers continue their road trip with a stop at RingCentral Coliseum for the start of a three-game Interleague series against the Oakland Athletics.
Dustin May makes his 2021 regular season debut and looks to pick up where he left off in Spring Training. He went a perfect 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 13.2 innings pitched (three starts), notching 17 strikeouts against six walks.
The strong performance helped May earn the final spot in the Dodgers’ Opening Day starting rotation. “I was super excited. I feel like I’ve worked super hard, it definitely wasn’t given to me,” he said.
“I feel like I went out every day and just did what I was supposed to do,” May said. “Ended up working out for me. Super excited and super ready to get the season going.”
May picked up a win in his only start against the Athletics last season, allowing two runs on three hits with five strikeouts over five innings pitched. Monday marks his first career appearance at RingCentral Coliseum.
The Athletics counter with former Dodgers prospect Frankie Montas, who looks for better results after a disappointing showing in Spring Training. In three Cactus League starts, he posted a 6.75 ERA and 1.63 WHIP with eight strikeouts against four walks over eight innings.
Montas could not build on a breakout 2019 season as he went just 3-5 with a 5.60 ERA, 4.74 FIP and 1.51 WHIP over 53 innings during the abbreviated 2020 campaign.
One of those losses came against the Dodgers, as he allowed five runs, seven hits and three home runs in just four innings of work.
With the Dodgers playing in an American League ballpark, Max Muncy will serve as the DH in Monday’s opener. Manager Dave Roberts expects to rotate players at the position throughout the three-game series.
“It’ll be spread around,” he said. “I’ve got Muncy lined up to DH [Monday], and then we’ll DH Justin on Tuesday, and we’ll see what happens Wednesday.”
Muncy and Gavin Lux were the only Dodgers to start in all four games at Coors Field. While Muncy is still in the lineup as DH, Lux gets his first night off.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
CF: Cody Bellinger
C: Will Smith
DH: Max Muncy
2B: Chris Taylor
1B: Edwin Rios
LF: Zach McKinstry
A’s lineup
CF: Mark Canha
2B: Jed Lowrie
1B: Matt Olson
DH: Mitch Moreland
3B: Matt Chapman
C: Sean Murphy
RF: Ka’ai Tom
SS: Elvis Andrus
LF: Tony Kemp
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