Fresh off a wild win against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field to finish with a 4-2 record on their road trip, the Los Angeles Dodgers open a seven-game homestand Monday night.
First on the home docket are the Miami Marlins and former Dodgers manager Don Mattingly. Also making their return to Dodger Stadium are Marlins bench coach Tim Wallach and outfield/baserunning coach Lorenzo Bundy.
The Marlins, of course, also boast All-Star second baseman Dee Gordon and slugger Giancarlo Stanton, among other young and talented players on their roster.
Wei-Yin Chen takes the mound for Miami in his fourth start of the season. The southpaw enters 0-1 with 4.91 ERA, 3.26 FIP and 1.20 WHIP. Chen was linked to the Dodgers last winter prior to signing a five-year, $80 million contract with the Marlins.
The southpaw is coming off a seven-inning start, in which he allowed three runs on six hits, and had seven strikeouts. Chen’s lone career outing against the Dodgers came in 2013 when he was with the Baltimore Orioles.
He threw six innings, allowing just one run and earning a win. With a left-hander on the mound, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stacked his lineup with all right-handed batters. Adrian Gonzalez’s night off is his first of the 2016 season.
Gonzalez is replaced at first base by Yasmani Grandal, which puts A.J. Ellis behind the plate. Roberts said prior to the game he didn’t have any concerns over starting both catchers. As for the Dodgers, Ross Stripling looks to bounce back from somewhat of a disappointing outing.
The rookie right-hander only managed to throw 3.2 innings, allowing the Atlanta Braves to push across three runs (two earned) on six hits. Stripling, who was named the Dodgers’ fifth starter prior to the season beginning, is pitching on an unspecified innings limit in 2016.
Stripling hasn’t earned a decision in any of his three starts this season. He’s sporting a 2.65 ERA, 2.80 FIP, 1.06 WHIP and has 13 strikeouts over 17 innings pitched. Opponents are batting just .183 against Stripling in his first three starts.
According to STATS, LLC, the last Dodger pitcher to have a lower opponents’ batting average in his first three outings is Edwin Jackson in 2003 (.177). Dodgers reliever Louis Coleman was reinstated from the bereavement list prior to Monday’s game, with Luis Avilan getting optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Kiké Hernandez
2B: Howie Kendrick
RF: Yasiel Puig
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Yasmani Grandal
CF: Trayce Thompson
C: A.J. Ellis
SS: Charlie Culberson
P: Ross Stripling
Marlins lineup:
2B: Dee Gordon
CF: Marcel Ozuna
LF: Christian Yelich
RF: Giancarlo Stanton
1B: Justin Bour
C: J.T. Realmuto
3B: Derek Dietrich
SS: Adeiny Hechavarria
P: Wei-Yin Chen
