On top of having their three-game winning streak snapped and slipping behind the Colorado Rockies for first place in the National League West, the Los Angeles Dodgers need a victory Tuesday night to avoid dropping their first series since Aug. 20-22.
They take the field technically shorthanded as Yasiel Puig’s appeal was denied by MLB, and he’ll begin serving a two-game suspension Tuesday night. Of course, with active rosters having expanded with the turn of the calendar to September, the Dodgers are in position to withstand his absence.
Matt Kemp starts in right field, which brings Chris Taylor off the bench for a start in left field. Taylor has been out of the Dodgers lineup the past four games, or since going 0-for-4 with four strikeouts against the Arizona Diamondbacks last Thursday.
On the mound, the Dodgers hand the ball to Rich Hill. He’s coming off his first loss since July 10, going 4-1 with a 2.42 ERA in nine games (eight starts) over that span. Hill has notched at least seven strikeouts in each of his past three starts.
He’s opposed by Jason Vargas who has righted the ship of late. The left-hander is 3-0 with a 1.99 ERA over his last four starts. Nonetheless, Vargas is just 5-8 with a 6.56 ERA on the season.
He faces a Dodgers lineup that’s anchored by National League Player of the Month for August, Justin Turner. Until Yasmani Grandal’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning, Turner to that point was responsible for the Dodgers’ only run in the series opener.
In something the Dodgers and Mets both have an interest in, Mike Piazza is celebrating his 50th birthday.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Brian Dozier
3B: Justin Turner
SS: Manny Machado
RF: Matt Kemp
1B: David Freese
CF: Kiké Hernandez
LF: Chris Taylor
C: Austin Barnes
P: Rich Hill
