As part of Saturday’s split-squad doubleheader, the Los Angeles Dodgers will simultaneously play host to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Camelback Ranch while additionally taking on the Colorado Rockies for the first time this spring.
Making his 2020 Cactus League debut is Walker Buehler, who is expected to throw two innings. Prior to this weekend, he had been limited to three sessions of live batting practice.
Buehler’s latest round of live BP consisted of three innings, which is more than traditionally seen. “I guess if you look at everyone else (three innings is aggressive) but it’s not a game,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts noted.
“He just faced one hitter. I think threw three or four pitches in that third inning.”
Buehler looks to build off a dominant 2019 campaign in which he posted a 14-4 record, 3.26 ERA, 3.01 FIP and 1.04 WHIP over a career-high 182.1 innings pitched (30 starts).
Buehler was the only Dodgers starter to throw multiple complete games last season (two), earned his first All-Star nod and finished ninth in National League Cy Young Award voting.
The 25-year-old had mixed results against the Rockies but enjoyed one of his best starts of the year against them on June 21, striking out a career-high 16 batters in nine innings of work.
Colorado counters with fellow right-hander Peter Lambert, who is coming off a struggle-filled rookie campaign. He went 3-7 with a 7.25 ERA, 5.97 FIP and 1.74 WHIP in 89.1 innings pitched (19 starts).
In his lone Spring Training appearance against the Cleveland Indians, Lambert tossed two hitless innings with three strikeouts and one walk.
Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger are among the Dodgers regulars that traveled to Salt River Fields. The 2019 NL MVP will get some reps at first base while Kiké Hernandez starts in center field.
Dodgers lineup:
SS: Corey Seager
CF: Kiké Hernandez
1B: Cody Bellinger
3B: Matt Beaty
C: Austin Barnes
LF: Zach Reks
RF: Cody Thomas
DH: Anthony Garcia
2B: Zach McKinstry
Rockies lineup:
CF: David Dahl
SS: Trevor Story
RF: Charlie Blackmon
3B: Nolan Arenado
2B: Ryan McMahon
LF: Ian Desmond
DH: Sam Hilliard
C: Elias Diaz
1B: Josh Fuentes
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