The Los Angeles Dodgers dropped two of three games to the Colorado Rockies in the Opening Series at Coors Field and now come out of the off day looking to snap an early losing streak.
Weather permitting, Andrew Heaney is scheduled to take the mound for his regular season debut with the Dodgers. Heaney had mixed results during Spring Training as he allowed five runs in both Cactus League appearances.
Heaney attributed some of that to experimenting with his breaking ball. After signing with the Dodgers, the left-hander noted he was looking forward to working with coaches on refining his pitch mix and improving on last year’s 5.83 ERA and 1.32 WHIP.
In two career starts at Target Field, Heaney is 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA, holding opposing hitters to a .140 batting average.
The Twins counter with Chris Archer, who is also making his debut outing for a new team. Archer spent last season with the Tampa Bay Rays but had his season cut short after six appearances due to forearm tightness.
Dating back to 2019, Archer has a 5.12 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and has struggled with walks and giving up the long ball.
Dodgers hitters will need to capitalize on the struggles of Archer who could still be shaking off some rust from Spring Training. L.A. only managed to score 11 runs during the Opening Series.
Mookie Betts enters play with the most success against Archer with a 1.189 on-base plus slugging percentage and four homers in 36 at-bats dating back to 2014.
Byron Buxton has gotten off to a hot start this season, but Carlos Correa is only batting .125 thus far. Although Correa is no longer a member of the Houston Astros, there figures to be lingering animosity with the Dodgers.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
SS: Trea Turner
3B: Max Muncy
DH: Justin Turner
C: Will Smith
CF: Cody Bellinger
LF: Chris Taylor
2B: Gavin Lux
Twins lineup
CF: Byron Buxton
SS: Carlos Correa
2B: Jorge Polanco
3B: Gio Urshela
DH: Gary Sánchez
RF: Max Kepler
C: Ryan Jeffers
1B: Miguel Sanó
LF: Gilberto Celestino
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