The Los Angeles Dodgers lost a series for the first time since early June, and now begin a seven-game road trip that opens with a series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Rich Hill takes the mound for the first time since losing a perfect game and no-hitter in deflating fashion.
Logan Forsythe’s error in the bottom of the ninth gave the Pittsburgh Pirates their first baserunner, then Josh Harrison’s walk-off home run in the 10th inning prevented Hill from making any sort of history. Hill takes the mound Tuesday with a 9-5 record, 3.32 ERA, 3.89 FIP and 1.14 WHIP in 19 starts this season.
The veteran has hit his stride of late, going 5-1 with a 2.25 ERA in his last nine starts. He faced the Diamondbacks on July 9 and allowed just one run on two hits, while recording nine strikeouts without issuing a walk in seven innings.
The Dodgers’ offense was to blame in Hill’s outing against the Pirates, and they’ve been relatively quiet of late. They’ll look to come alive at the hitter-friendly Chase Field against Zack Godley.
While he’s been a pleasant surprise for the Diamondbacks, the month of August has not been kind to the right-hander. Godley is 1-3 with a 3.45 ERA in five starts during August, the last three of which have resulted in a loss.
Overall, Godley is 5-7 with a 3.15 ERA, 3.27 FIP and 1.11 WHIP, while striking out 124 compared to 40 walks in 117 innings.
In two starts against Los Angeles this season, he has given up 11 hits and four runs in 12.1 innings (2.92 ERA). Godley took the loss in one outing and didn’t factor into the decision earlier this month for a game the Diamondbacks won at home.
Justin Turner is 3-for-12 off Godley, with two home runs. Yasmani Grandal and Chris Taylor (two apiece) are the only other Dodgers with more than one hit off the right-hander. The Dodgers have managed just 11 runs in their last five games and were twice shut out.
They are without Corey Seager, at least defensively, as a sore elbow has limited him to pinch-hit duty. Kiké Hernandez starts at shortstop in Seager’s place.
Diamondbacks All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is on a tear the last seven games, batting .381/.480/.762 with two home runs and eight RBIs. He is 2-for-8 in his career off Hill.
Dodgers lineup:
CF: Chris Taylor
LF: Curtis Granderson
3B: Justin Turner
C: Yasmani Grandal
RF: Yasiel Puig
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
2B: Logan Forsythe
SS: Kiké Hernandez
P: Rich Hill
Diamondbacks lineup:
LF: David Peralta
C: Chris Ianetta
CF: A.J. Pollock
1B: Paul Goldschmidt
RF: J.D. Martinez
2B: Brandon Drury
3B: Jake Lamb
SS: Adam Rosales
P: Zack Godley
