The Los Angeles Dodgers snapped a two-game losing streak by defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates in Tuesday’s opener at PNC Park and now are in position to win the series with another victory on Wednesday.
Prior to first pitch, the Dodgers reinstated Tony Gonsolin from the 60-day injured list. To make room for the right-hander, the club placed Yoshi Tsutsugo on the 10-day IL and transferred Scott Alexander to the 60-day IL.
Gonsolin missed the first two months of the regular season with right shoulder inflammation, which surfaced at the end of Spring Training. He completed a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City last week, lasting only 3.2 innings due to what Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained was a “little stomach thing.”
Gonsolin threw 10.1 overall innings across three rehab starts for Oklahoma City, allowing four runs on six hits (two home runs) and collecting nine strikeouts. “I’m good for whatever,” he said when asked if he’ll be limited in his 2021 debut against the Pirates.
“Personally, I’m feeling good. I haven’t hand an outing where I felt like I was getting tired, so that’s definitely a positive. So whatever Doc needs me for [Wednesday], I’m ready to take that task.”
Gonsolin appeared in nine games (eight starts) for the Dodgers during the shortened 2020 season, going 2-2 with a 2.31 ERA, 2.29 FIP and 0.84 WHIP over 46.2 innings pitched. Wednesday marks his first career start against the Pirates.
Pittsburgh counters with Tyler Anderson, who looks to provide more length in his 12th start of the season. The left-hander hasn’t logged more than 5.1 innings in any of his outings since May 9 when he went eight frames against the Chicago Cubs.
That also marked the last time Anderson won a game. Since then, he’s gone 0-2 with a 7.97 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 20.1 innings pitched across four starts.
All-in-all, Anderson enters at 3-5 with a 4.67 ERA, 4.17 FIP and 1.20 WHIP in 61.2 innings this season. Having spent the bulk of his career in the National League West, the 31-year-old has seen the Dodgers a lot over the years.
In 14 career starts — his most against any opponent — Anderson owns a 3-6 record, 4.69 ERA and 1.52 WHIP with 55 strikeouts against 30 walks over 71 innings pitched.
Max Muncy is getting a scheduled night off as the team is cautious in handling his return from a right ankle issue. Albert Pujols starts at first base against the southpaw, which would’ve pushed Muncy to second base, where he doesn’t feel comfortable moving laterally just yet.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
2B: Chris Taylor
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Albert Pujols
CF: Cody Bellinger
LF: AJ Pollock
C: Will Smith
SS: Gavin Lux
P: Tony Gonsolin
Pirates lineup
2B: Adam Frazier
3B: Ke’Bryan Hayes
CF: Bryan Reynolds
1B: Colin Moran
RF: Gregory Polanco
SS: Kevin Newman
C: Michael Perez
LF: Ka’ai Tom
P: Tyler Anderson
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