After dropping two of three to the Chicago Cubs, the Los Angeles Dodgers continue their road trip with the opener of a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.
James Paxton looks to build on a solid, but unspectacular start against the San Francisco Giants in his 2024 debut. The left-hander did not allow a run in five innings pitched, but struggled with his command as he walked five batters.
“I felt good but wasn’t really sharp,” Paxton said after the game. “The five walks, I was kind of in and out of rhythm, but Will (Smith) did a great job back there. I made pitches when we had to.”
Paxton was built up to go six innings and throw 90 pitches, but the walks made that challenging. “That got the pitch count up a little faster than I would have liked,” Paxton acknowledged. “I’m going to work on getting some things zeroed in so I don’t have that issue going forward.”
The 35-year-old is in his first season with the Dodgers after spending the previous 10 years in the American League. He owns a 4-1 record with a 2.61 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 10.9 strikeouts per nine in seven career starts against the Twins.
Minnesota counters with Bailey Ober, who is coming off a forgettable start against the Kansas City Royals in his 2024 debut. He gave up eight runs on nine hits (three home runs) in just 1.1 innings of work.
Ober earned a win in his only start against the Dodgers last season, allowing one run and six hits across six innings.
The Dodgers are going with their primary lineup against right-handed pitchers, but with Jasyon Heyward still on the 10-day injured list, Taylor Trammell gets the start in left field.
Dodgers lineup
SS: Mookie Betts
DH: Shohei Ohtani
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
3B: Max Muncy
RF: Teoscar Hernández
2B: Gavin Lux
CF: James Outman
LF: Taylor Trammell
Twins lineup
RF: Manuel Margot
SS: Carlos Correa
DH: Ryan Jeffers
CF: Byron Buxton
3B: Jose Miranda
2B: Kyle Farmer
C: Christian Vázquez
1B: Carlos Santana
LF: Austin Martin
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