Just like last week’s meeting at Petco Park, the Los Angeles Dodgers dropped the series opener to the San Diego Padres and turn to a right-hander to reverse their fortunes.
Dustin May held the honor in the previous case, and it now goes to Ross Stripling. Like with May on Monday, the start is Stripling’s second consecutive outing facing the Padres. He was stung by the long ball in San Diego, allowing four home runs on six hits in 5.2 innings.
Stripling did finish his night with a season-high tying seven strikeouts. “Really, really happy with the way I threw. I thought the ball was coming out well, I thought I held my stuff deep into those innings,” he said after the game.
“The ones that make me mad are the Profar walk, the Machado walk and obviously the Tatis bomb. I felt like I was throwing the ball well, curveball was great, threw some good changeups, heater command was good. Box score doesn’t necessarily show how well I feel like I threw.”
On the season Stripling is 3-0 with a 4.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in three starts.
He’s opposed by Garrett Richards, who originally was slated to start Monday but the Padres instead went with Luis Perdomo as an opener. Richards has gone at least five innings in each of his three starts this season.
Included in that was five innings against the Dodgers last Wednesday, when the right-hander allowed four runs on five hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Richards is a lifetime 1-1 with a 2.55 ERA against the Dodgers in seven appearances (five starts).
He faces an L.A. lineup that does not include Corey Seager for a fourth consecutive game. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts remains hopeful Seager will continue to recover from lower back discomfort and avoid being placed on the 10-day injured list.
Teams are permitted to backdate IL stints by a maximum of three days, which makes Tuesday a tipping point of sorts in order to not lose credit for time missed thus far.
Cody Bellinger slides over to first base for a semi-rare start at the position, and AJ Pollock is manning center field.
Dodgers lineup
LF: Joc Pederson
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Cody Bellinger
3B: Justin Turner
CF: AJ Pollock
DH: Max Muncy
SS: Chris Taylor
2B: Kiké Hernandez
C: Austin Barnes
Padres lineup
SS: Fernando Tatis Jr.
CF: Trent Grisham
3B: Manny Machado
DH: Tommy Pham
1B: Eric Hosmer
RF: Wil Myers
2B: Jake Cronenworth
C: Austin Hedges
LF: Jurickson Profar
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in our shows, and more!
