While the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched a fifth consecutive National League West title, they still have home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs and World Series to play for. Entering Saturday night they lead the Cleveland Indians by 1.5 games and the Washington Nationals by 5.5 games.
Hyun-Jin Ryu takes the mound in what initially was expected to be his final start of the season. However, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts backpedaled on his previous marks that Ryu would be placed in the bullpen as a test for the playoffs.
The southpaw is 4-5 with a 3.36 ERA in 11 career start against the Giants. He’s faced them twice this season, allowing just one run on 10 hits across 13 innings pitched. Ryu is 0-1 in those contests.
Overall this season, he’s 5-7 with a 3.46 ERA, 4.49 FIP and 1.33 WHIP. Since the All-Star break, Ryu is 2-1 with a 2.36 ERA in in nine starts.
The Dodgers see Madison Bumgarner for a second time in 2017, with both outings coming after he missed three months due to injuries sustained in a dirt biking accident. Bumgarner is 3-9 with a 3.48 ERA and 1.11 WHIP.
He threw seven shutout innings and struck out seven while allowing just five hits in a start at Dodger Stadium in July. Kiké Hernandez is a career 13-for-27 off Bumgarner, with four doubles, three home runs and six RBI.
Yasiel Puig has also enjoyed success against the southpaw, going 10-for-38 with two doubles, two home runs and three RBI. Kyle Farmer makes his first career start at first base. His first career hit — a walk-off two-run double — came against the Giants.
Dodgers lineup:
CF: Chris Taylor
SS: Corey Seager
LF: Kiké Hernandez
RF: Yasiel Puig
3B: Logan Forsythe
C: Austin Barnes
1B: Kyle Farmer
2B: Charlie Culberson
P: Hyun-Jin Ryu
Giants lineup:
LF: Gorkys Hernandez
2B: Joe Panik
CF: Denard Span
C: Buster Posey
RF: Hunter Pence
SS: Brandon Crawford
3B: Kelby Tomlinson
1B: Ryder Jones
P: Madison Bumgarner
