The Los Angeles Dodgers snapped a six-game losing streak at AT&T Park on Tuesday night, and now look to put themselves in position to take the four-game series from the San Francisco Giants. The teams have split the first two games thus far. The Dodgers have not won back-to-back games at AT&T Park since Sept. 13-14, 2014.
One night after making his MLB debut, Cody Bellinger again finds himself in the spotlight as he’s leading off against Johnny Cueto. Bellinger went 1-for-3 with an infield single and intentional walk in Tuesday’s 2-1 victory.
Adrian Gonzalez, Justin Turner and Chase Utley have all homered against Cueto in their careers, and each is in the lineup. Turner is currently in the midst of a career-high tying 11-game hitting streak. During that span he’s batted .357/.449/.452 with four doubles and four RBIs.
Utley is just 1-for-29 (.034 batting average) with four walks this season, but remains in the lineup on a semi-regular basis due to Logan Forsythe’s injury. Utley is batting seventh on Wednesday, and is a lifetime 11-for-34 with a double, home run and two RBI off Cueto.
Cueto, who assumes the role of the Giants ace with Madison Bumgarner of the disabled list, has struggled so far this season, although his record may not be indicative of that. In four starts the right-hander is 3-1 but has a 5.25 ERA, 5.19 FIP and 1.38 WHIP while striking out 19 and walking eight in 24 innings.
In 13 career starts against the Dodgers, Cueto is 5-6 with a 2.74 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. He faced Los Angeles five times last season, going 3-1 with a 2.67 ERA.
Yasiel Puig, who had an RBI single on Tuesday night, continues to find success in San Francisco. In 27 career games at AT&T Park, he’s now batting .305/.376/.448 with 14 runs scored, four doubles, four triples, one home run and five RBI.
Puig has reached base safely in 18 out of his last 19 games in San Francisco, hitting
.324 (24-for-74) with three doubles, three triples and four RBI, along with a .398 on-base percentage during that span.
Alex Wood takes the mound for his third start of the year, with all coming as a replacement for Rich Hill. Wood is 1-0 with a 3.29 ERA, 3.38 FIP and 1.24 WHIP. He’s walked seven and has 14 strikeouts in 13.2 innings pitched, which includes his relief appearances.
The left-hander has not faired well against the Giants in his career. In six games (two starts), Wood has yielded a 6.89 ERA and 1.79 WHIP.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Cody Bellinger
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
C: Yasmani Grandal
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
RF: Yasiel Puig
2B: Chase Utley
CF: Andrew Toles
P: Alex Wood
Giants lineup:
RF: Hutner Pence
1B: Brandon Belt
SS: Eduardo Nunez
C: Buster Posey
3B: Christian Arroyo
2B: Joe Panik
LF: Gorkys Hernandez
CF: Drew Stubbs
P: Johnny Cueto
