After splitting the first six games on their road trip, the Los Angeles Dodgers arrive in the desert to begin a four-game set with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The series is the last between Arizona and Los Angeles this season.
Left-hander Rich Hill gets the start in the series opener. It is the first start for Hill since he was removed after seven perfect innings and 89 pitches in Miami in a decision that manager Dave Roberts said made him feel sick to his stomach.
Hill has been outstanding with the Dodgers as he is 3-0 while throwing 19 scoreless innings in his first three starts. He has given up just six hits and two walks in that span.
Overall on the season with the Dodgers and Oakland Athletics, Hill is 12-3 with 1.80 ERA, 2.30 FIP and 0.96 WHIP in 17 starts. In four career starts against Arizona, he’s 1-1 with a 4.13 ERA.
In Hill’s last two starts he has given up just one hit while striking out 17 in 13 innings pitched. In order to keep him healthy for the postseason, Hill has yet to throw more than 89 pitches since returning from blister issues.
Roberts said the training staff will keep a watchful eye on Hill throughout the start, as this is his first outing on regular rest since joining the Dodgers. Arizona counters with rookie right-hander Archie Bradley.
The 24-year-old is 6-9 with a 5.10 ERA, 4.51 FIP and 1.57 WHIP in 22 starts this season. He has not faired well at Chase Field, posting a 6.29 ERA in 11 home starts compared to a 3.96 ERA in 11 starts on the road.
Bradley has faced Los Angeles twice this season, both at home. On June 14 he went 4.2 innings while giving up four hits and five runs, suffering the loss. He was improved on July 16, allowing one run on six hits over six innings of a no-decision.
Joc Pederson is 2-for-5 with two home runs off Bradley in his career, while Chase Utley is 3-for-8 with three RBIs. Andre Ethier makes his third start (second in left field) since being reinstated from the 60-day disabled list.
He’s 0-for-8 so far on the season, but is a .305 career hitter at Chase Field. The start is Ethier’s second consecutive.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
C: Yasmani Grandal
RF: Josh Reddick
LF: Andre Ethier
CF: Joc Pederson
P: Rich Hill
Diamondbacks lineup:
2B: Jean Segura
SS: Chris Owings
1B: Paul Goldschmidt
RF: Yasmany Tomas
3B: Brandon Drury
LF: Kyle Jensen
CF: Mitch Haniger
C: Tuffy Gosewisch
P: Archie Bradley
