After dropping the first three of a four-game series to the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, the Los Angeles Dodgers have gotten back on track by winning back-to-back games against the Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers.
Now, for the fourth time this season, the Dodgers send a pitcher to the mound for his Major League. Brock Stewart joins a group that includes Kenta Maeda, Ross Stripling and Julio Urias. Stewart began the year with Class A Rancho Cucamonga, allowing up one run in 11 innings in two starts before promoted to Double-A Tulsa, where he was dominant.
He posted a 1.12 ERA in nine starts with the Drillers, which earned Stewart a promotion to Triple-A Oklahoma City. In three starts with OKC, he was 3-0 with a 2.89 ERA while striking out 27 in 18.2 innings. Overall, the 2014 sixth-round draft pick has a 1.47 ERA in 86 innings on the season.
The 24 year old becomes the ninth starting pitcher used by the Dodgers this season. He’s opposed by Brewers rookie Junior Guerra.
The 31 year old has made 10 starts on the season and is 4-1 with 3.67 ERA, 3.89 FIP and 1.14 WHIP. In 61.1 innings he has struck out 53 and walked 19.
Guerra started against the Dodgers on June 16 and allowed up five runs on five hits in 5.1 innings of a no-decision. Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson is out of the Dodgers lineup after crashing into the center field wall Tuesday while catching a deep fly ball off the bat of Chris Carter.
Pederson was diagnosed with a bruised AC joint in his right shoulder, but the injury isn’t said to be too serious. Trayce Thompson starts in center field and bats sixth in Pederson’s place. Thompson is 2-for-3 with a home run and double off the right-handed Guerra in his career.
Justin Turner also returns to the Dodgers lineup after sitting out Tuesday’s game. Turner has hit eight home runs in the month of June, which ranks third in the National League, to go along with 22 RBIs.
For the Brewers, second baseman Scooter Gennett is back in the lineup. The left-handed batter actually has reverse splits, as he has a .289 batting average against lefties compared to .263 against righties. Five of his seven home runs on the season have come with right-handers on the mound.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
LF: Howie Kendrick
CF: Trayce Thompson
RF: Yasiel Puig
C: A.J. Ellis
P: Brock Stewart
Brewers lineup:
SS: Jonathan Villar
2B: Scooter Gennett
LF: Ryan Braun
C: Jonathan Lucroy
1B: Chris Carter
3B: Aaron Hill
CF: Kirk Nieuwenhuis
RF: Ramon Flores
P: Junior Guerra
