The Los Angeles Dodgers have rebounded nicely since their two-game skid, earning a series split with the Atlanta Braves, and taking the first two games against the Minnesota Twins. At 70-31, the Dodgers pace the Majors and are the first team this season to 70 wins.
They’ll look to sweep with the Twins with Brock Stewart on the mound for his first start this year with Los Angeles. Clayton Kershaw’s back injury created a need for a fifth starter, and Stewart being inserted into the rotation at this time gives Alex Wood extra rest before his next turn.
Stewart was limited during the spring by shoulder tendinitis. He’s excelled in a relief role with the Dodgers, throwing 13 scoreless innings over six games. Stewart has allowed just five hits, issued three walks, and collected 10 strikeouts.
He yielded a 3.24 ERA over 8.1 innings (three starts) for Triple-A Oklahoma City this year.
The Twins counter with Ervin Santana, who was named an All-Star for the second time in his career. Santana threw a season-low 3.1 innings in his last start against the Detroit Tigers.
He surrendered five runs on seven hits and two walks, including two home runs in a loss. The 34-year-old has made two Interleague starts this season, with both coming against the National League
West. Santana allowed five runs in seven innings during a loss at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies, but then threw a complete-game shutout against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park.
In nine career start against the Dodgers, Santana is 5-4 with a 3.24 ERA and 1.18 WHIP, though he hasn’t faced them since 2014. The right-hander is winless in two starts at Dodger Stadium, having allowed a combined seven runs on 10 hits in 11 innings.
Overall this season, the Twins’ ace is 11-7 with a 3.26 ERA, 136 ERA+ and 1.15 WHIP. Santana has only faced a few of the current Dodgers, with Logan Forsythe entering Wednesday’s game 2-for-5.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Chris Taylor
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Cody Bellinger
CF: Joc Pederson
2B: Logan Forsythe
C: Yasmani Grandal
RF: Yasiel Puig
P: Brock Stewart
Twins lineup:
2B: Brian Dozier
CF: Zach Granite
1B: Joe Mauer
3B: Eduardo Escobar
LF: Eddie Rosario
RF: Max Kepler
SS: Ehire Adrianza
C: Jason Castro
P: Ervin Santana
