Already set to begin the season without Clayton Kershaw available, the Los Angeles Dodgers likely won’t have Rich Hill as well, due to a knee injury. Thus, Hyun-Jin Ryu was named the club’s Opening Day starter.
The trickle down effect could also include Julio Urias shifting from an expected role as a long reliever into the starting rotation, or create an opportunity for Dennis Santana. As such, the right-handed prospect makes his first Cactus League start Friday.
Tony Gonsolin was initially scheduled to make the start against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Santana has held opponents to a .182 batting average in his three relief appearances thus far, but allowed five runs in 5.2 innings pitched across three games.
Santana made his MLB debut last season out of the bullpen and was scheduled to make a start but was scratched due to injury. At the time it was said to be due to lat soreness, but it was later discovered Santana suffered a rotator cuff strain.
Santana is backed by a Dodgers lineup that Joc Pederson was expecting to be in despite leaving Thursday’s contest because of back spasms. However, Ezequiel Carrera is in left field, as the Dodgers are keeping Pederson out as a precaution.
The Dodgers face southpaw Matt Koch, who is on the mound for a third consecutive start and fifth overall Cactus League game. He’s 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA and 0.83 WHIP.
Dodgers lineup:
1B: Max Muncy
3B: Justin Turner
SS: Corey Seager
CF: A.J. Pollock
RF:Cody Bellinger
2B: Kiké Hernández
C: Austin Barnes
LF: Ezequiel Carrera
P: Dennis Santana
Diamondbacks lineup:
CF: Adam Jones
3B: Eduardo Escobar
2B: Wilmer Flores
LF: David Peralta
RF: Steven Souza Jr.
1B: Christian Walker
SS: Nick Ahmed
C: John Ryan Murphy
P: Matt Koch
