After suffering back-to-back losses to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Los Angeles Dodgers now face the Colorado Rockies for the start of a quick two-game series at Dodger Stadium. The Rockies enter 9-5 this season and tied with the Diamondbacks atop the National League West.
Tuesday’s contest is a rematch between Hyun-Jin Ryu and rookie Kyle Freeland. Ryu has yet to reach the five-inning mark this season, throwing 4.2 innings in both of his outings. Against the Rockies at Coors Field, he gave up two runs on six hits, and issued one walk.
Ryu did record five strikeouts, though suffered the loss in a 2-1 Rockies victory. Then facing the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, the southpaw fell victim to the long ball.
Ryu allowed four runs on six hits, including surrendering homers to Addison Russell and Anthony Rizzo. Ryu again took the loss. He enters 0-2 with a 5.79 ERA and 1.61 WHIP.
In 27 career starts at Dodger Stadium, Ryu is 11-8 with a 3.17 ERA, 1.25 WIP and 4.63 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Tuesday’s outing is his first home start of the year. In six career starts against the Rockies, Ryu is 3-3 with a 3.98 ERA and 1.39 WHIP.
Freeland largely stymied the Dodgers on April 7 in his Major League debut. The 23-year-old allowed just one run on four hits, and had six strikeouts across six innings of work. Freeland struggled in his follow-up start, as the San Diego Padres tagged him for six runs on eight hits and three walks.
Justin Turner went 2-for-3 with a double off Freeland earlier this month. Scott Van Slyke also has a double in two at-bats against Freeland, while Kiké Hernandez has an RBI groundout. Of the trio, Hernandez and Turner are in the Dodgers lineup.
So too is Joc Pederson, for his third start this season against a left-handed pitcher. Pederson has five hits and one RBI in 15 at-bats when facing a lefty. He went 1-for-2 with one strikeout against Freeland at Coors Field.
The Dodgers made a roster move prior to the series opener, placing Grant Dayton on the 10-day disabled list with a left intercostal strain, and recalling Josh Fields from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Logan Forsythe
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
RF: Yasiel Puig
LF: Kiké Hernandez
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
C: Austin Barnes
CF: Joc Pederson
P: Hyun-Jin Ryu
Rockies lineup:
CF: Charlie Blackmon
2B: DJ LeMahieu
3B: Nolan Arenado
RF: Carlos Gonzalez
1B: Mark Reynolds
SS: Trevor Story
LF: Stephen Cardullo
C: Dustin Garneau
P: Kyle Freeland
