The Los Angeles Dodgers lost to the San Diego Padres in Peoria on Wednesday, although there were some positives as Andrew Toles, Will Smith and Yusniel Diaz all homered, and Wilmer Font struck out four in two innings of work.
The Dodgers return to Camelback Ranch on Thursday as they host the Cleveland Indians, which originally had Ross Stripling scheduled to make the start. But many in the Dodgers clubhouse have fallen ill, and Stripling is one of them so he was scratched from the outing.
Manny Bañuelos, who was signed to a Minor League contract during the offseason, gets an opportunity to prove what he is capable of as he’s been tabbed the starter in Stripling’s place.
Thr 26-year-old left-hander spent the 2017 season with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim’s Triple-A affiliate, going 5-6 with a 4.93 ERA and 1.64 WHIP in 39 games (nine starts). He struck out 85 and walked 49 in 95 innings of work.
Bañuelos will be opposed by former Dodgers right-hander Stephen Fife, who is a non-roster invitee with the Indians this spring.
This will be Fife’s first start of the spring, although he did make one relief appearance in which he tossed two shutout innings, yielding one hit and two walks while striking out one.
Fife spent the 2017 with the Miami Marlins Triple-A affiliate, going 4-3 with a 3.97 ERA in 12 starts. He also made five starts for the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan, posting a 6.86 ERA.
Dodgers lineup:
SS: Chris Taylor
3B: Justin Turner
LF: Matt Kemp
RF: Yasiel Puig
C: Yasmani Grandal
DH: Joc Pederson
CF: Alex Verdugo
1B: Max Muncy
2B: Jake Peter
Indians lineup:
LF: Melvin Upton Jr.
C: Yan Gomes
1B: Yonder Alonso
DH: Edwin Encarnacion
3B: Richie Shaffer
CF: Greg Allen
RF: Rob Refsnyder
SS: Yu-Cheng Chang
2B: Drew Maggi
