After dropping two of three to the San Diego Padres, the Los Angeles Dodgers continue their road trip with the opener of a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park.
The Dodgers enter play at 27-15, which is good for first place in the National League West. The Giants, at 19-23, are in fourth place and trail L.A. by eight games in the standings.
The Dodgers swept the Giants in three games in their first meeting of the season on April 1-3.
Shohei Ohtani is back in the lineup after sitting out on Sunday with back tightness. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts emphasized it was precautionary, and the superstar did indeed miss a short amount of time.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is on the mound looking to continue his run as arguably MLB’s most effective starter since Opening Day for all MLB clubs.
Since March 28, Yamamoto has pitched to a 1.76 ERA with a 0.90 WHIP and just shy of 10 strikeouts per nine innings.
His last outing was arguably his best as he pitched into the eighth for the first time, allowing just two runs. Yamamoto has gone at least 6 innings in four consecutive starts.
San Francisco counters with Jordan Hicks, who has been effective in his first season as a starting pitcher. He is 3-1 with a 2.30 ERA, 3.14 FIP and 1.12 WHIP in 43 innings over eight starts so far.
Hicks has allowed three runs or fewer in all of his appearances this year. He has not given up a run in 9.2 innings across eight career appearances (one start) against the Dodgers.
Dodgers lineup
SS: Mookie Betts
DH: Shohei Ohtani
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
3B: Max Muncy
LF: Teoscar Hernández
2B: Gavin Lux
RF: Andy Pages
CF: James Outman
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