Players Weekend continues as the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers meet for the second of a three-game series at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers earned a 42nd comeback victory in the opener and now hand the ball to Ross Stripling (“Chicken Strip”).
He takes the mound in place of Alex Wood, who was put on the 10-day disabled list for a second time this season because of left SC joint inflammation. Wood joined Yu Darvish and Clayton Kershaw on the DL.
The spot start is the second this week for the Dodgers, with Brock Stewart getting chased in the third inning of his outing. Stripling has pitched in 35 games for the Dodgers this season, each coming as a reliever.
He was last on the mound in the opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates, throwing a scoreless inning in the 12th to earn his second save of the year and career.
The 27-year-old made two appearances against the Brewers in June at Miller Park, and has encouraging results to build off. In a combined two innings pitched, he allowed just two hits and walk, while striking out three.
Stripling is 3-4 this season, with a 3.41 ERA, 124 ERA+, and 1.21 WHIP. He went 3-4 with a 4.52 ERA in 14 starts for the Dodgers last season. Manager Dave Roberts is hopeful to get four innings or 55 pitches out of his right-hander.
The Brewers, losers in three of their last four games, counter with Zach Davies (“Bat Boy”). Davies only allowed two unearned runs over six innings against the San Francisco Giants, though still took the tough-luck loss.
The 24-year-old was able to salvage the June series against the Dodgers, earning a victory to help Milwaukee avoid the sweep. Davies limited Los Angeles to three hits over six shutout innings.
He twice faced the Dodgers last season, allowing a combined seven runs on 13 hits and three walks in 11.1 innings pitched. Davies suffered a loss in one start and a no-decision in the other.
Davies enters 14-7 with a 4.09 ERA, 4.40 FIP, and 1.39 WHIP. In his career he’s allowed home runs to Yasmani Grandal (“YGR Jr.”), Corey Seager (“Seager”) and Justin Turner (“RedTurn2”). Adrian Gonzalez is a career 4-for-9 off Davies, while Chase Utley is 3-for-6 with a double.
Gonzalez is not in the lineup, however, in what’s his first break after eight consecutive starts since coming off the 60-day disabled list. Utley starts at first base in place of Gonzalez.
The Dodgers have won six of their last eight games and in the process stretched their lead in the National League West to 21 games. Los Angeles has also won 31 of 35 games at Dodger Stadium since June 7, including 13 of the last 14.
A win Saturday would be the Dodgers’ 92nd of the season, which would surpass the total they finished with in 2016 to win a fourth straight NL West title.
Dodgers lineup:
CF: Chris Taylor (“CT3”)
SS: Corey Seager (“Seager”)
3B: Justin Turner (“RedTurn2”)
LF: Curtis Granderson (“GrandyMan”)
C: Yasmani Grandal (“YRG Jr.”)
RF: Yasiel Puig (“Wild Horse”)
1B: Chase Utley (“Silver Fox”)
2B: Austin Barnes (“Sam”)
P: Ross Stripling (“Chicken Strip”)
Brewers lineup:
CF: Hernan Perez (“Pan Blanco”)
2B: Neil Walker (“Walkie”)
LF: Ryan Braun (“Ocho”)
3B: Travis Shaw (“Mayor-DDC”)
RF: Domingo Santana (“Showmingo”)
1B: Eric Thames (“Sang Namja”)
C: Manny Piña (“Pineapple”)
SS: Orlando Arcia (“El Niño”)
P: Zach Davies (“Bay Boy”)
