After splitting the first two games, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks meet in the rubber match of their three-game series at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers enter play 7-2 in their latest stretch at Dodger Stadium and with the best home record in baseball.
Hyun-Jin Ryu is back from a brief stint on the 10-day injured list that was required due to neck stiffness. Although it was enough to sideline Ryu, it was not considered serious.
“The team asked me to take a look at it with the doctor, and he told me how having this kind of discomfort might affect my mechanics, so I thought it was a good time take a break,” he explained last week. “I don’t think it’s something that’s too serious.”
Ryu twice been on the IL this season, previously with a groin strain in April. He’s 11-2 with an MLB-best 1.66 ERA, to go along with a 0.94 WHIP in 21 starts. Ryu last faced the Diamondbacks in June, holding them to just three hits over seven shutout innings at Chase Field.
The Diamondbacks counter with Mike Leake in what’s his second start for the team. Leake pitched around traffic in his debut with Diamondbacks as he allowed 11 hits and issued a walk but only two runs (one earned) in 5.1 innings pitched against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Kenley Jansen is unavailable Sunday due to pitching in the past two games. A more consistent usage rate is something Jansen believes will lend to better results in a season that’s seen him blow five saves.
Dodgers lineup:
RF: Joc Pederson
2B: Max Muncy
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Cody Bellinger
SS: Corey Seager
C: Will Smith
LF: Matt Beaty
CF: Kristopher Negrón
P: Hyun-Jin Ryu
Diamondbacks lineup:
LF: Tim Locastro
CF: Ketel Marte
3B: Eduardo Escobar
1B: Christian Walker
2B: Wilmer Flores
RF: Adam Jones
SS: Nick Ahmed
C: Carson Kelly
P: Mike Leake
