Behind a strong pitching performance from Ross Stripling and three home runs, the Los Angeles Dodgers earned a victory in Tuesday’s series-opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates, extending their winning streak to four games.
Moreover, they’ve won 14 of the last 18, and eight straight on the road. Los Angeles now looks to keep that going on Wednesday when they send 21-year-old left-hander Caleb Ferguson to the mound in what’s his MLB debut.
Ferguson was a 38th round draft pick of the Dodgers in 2014 out of West Jefferson High School in Ohio. Part of the reason that he was drafted so low was because he had just undergone Tommy John surgery.
Ferguson made eight starts for Double-A Tulsa this season, going 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA and 1.05 WHIP while striking out 40 compared to 10 walks in 39 innings. He was then called up to Triple-A Oklahoma City and in two starts, posted a 2.25 ERA in eight innings.
The Pirates counter with 26-year-old right-hander Trevor Williams, who has had a tale of two seasons so far through the first two months of the season. Williams gave up two runs or less in all six of his starts in April, amounting to a 2.29 ERA.
May was a different story though, as he gave up three or more runs in five of his six starts which ended up being a 5.51 ERA.
Overall in 12 starts, Williams is 5-3 with a 3.84 ERA, 4.08 FIP and 1.21 WHIP while striking out 47 compared to 22 walks in 68 innings. He has posted a 4.91 ERA in two career starts (11 innings) against the Dodgers.
Yasiel Puig (2-for-4) and Chris Taylor (2-for-5) have both homered against Williams in their career. Puig is swinging an extremely hot bat since returning from the disabled list, hitting .345/.424/.776 with all seven of his home runs in his last 19 games.
To make room for Ferguson on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers had to let go of recently-acquired pitcher P.J. Conlon, who was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets. Then to make room for him on the 25-man roster, reliever Pedro Baez was optioned to Oklahoma City.
Dodgers lineup:
SS: Chris Taylor
1B: Max Muncy
3B: Justin Turner
LF: Matt Kemp
CF: Cody Bellinger
RF: Yasiel Puig
2B: Logan Forsythe
P: Caleb Ferguson
Pirates lineup:
2B: Josh Harrison
RF: Austin Meadows
CF: Starling Marte
C: Francisco Cervelli
LF: Corey Dickerson
1B: David Freese
3B: Colin Moran
SS: Sean Rodriguez
P: Trevor Williams
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