With a win on Saturday, the Los Angeles Dodgers will clinch a series victory over the Cincinnati Reds and keep pace with the red-hot Colorado Rockies. Los Angeles enters play three games behind Colorado in the National League West standings.
Alex Wood returns from the disabled list to make his first start since May 26. He missed two turns in the rotation due to inflammation in his left SC joint. Prior to the disabled list stint, Wood was among the most productive starting pitchers in May and earned NL Pitcher of the Month honors.
Brandon Morrow was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City to create room for Wood on the active roster.
For the season, Wood holds a perfect 6-0 record and has pitched to a minuscule 1.69 ERA and 1.91 FIP in 48 innings, with a career-high 11.3 strikeouts per nine innings ratio.
In his career against the Reds, Wood owns a 2.30 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 15.2 innings, yielding just nine hits in three games. He’s in the midst of a 25.1 scoreless innings streak.
Getting the nod for Cincinnati is Asher Wojciechowski, who’s making his first career start against the Dodgers.
The right-hander has posted a 4.50 ERA and 5.22 FIP in 14 innings thus far (three starts), with 12 strikeouts to three walks. Wojciechowski has struggled with the home run ball in particular, allowing 1.9 home runs per nine innings.
In his last start against the St. Louis Cardinals, the 28-year-old allowed two runs in six innings but put 10 runners on base in the process. It was the first time all season Wojciechowski exceeded four innings in an outing.
Justin Turner gets the night off after returning from the disabled list on Friday. Logan Forsythe, who’s RBI single in the opener against the Reds snapped an 0-for-26 skid, gets the start at third base.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Corey Seager
CF: Chris Taylor
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
LF: Cody Bellinger
C: Yasmani Grandal
3B: Logan Forsythe
RF: Yasiel Puig
P: Alex Wood
Reds lineup:
2B: Jose Peraza
SS: Zack Cozart
1B: Joey Votto
3B: Eugenio Suarez
CF: Scott Schebler
C: Devin Mesoraco
LF: Scooter Gennett
RF: Patrick Kivlehan
P: Asher Wojciechowski
