The Los Angeles Dodgers are currently in the midst of their worst stretch of the 2017 season, losing nine of their last 10 games, including four straight to the Arizona Diamondbacks, who suddenly are the hottest team in baseball and on an 11-game winning streak.
As the Dodgers look to break out of their slump and snap a four-game losing skid, Cody Bellinger makes his first start in center field. Bellinger logged all of 17 innings across two starts in that position for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season.
He played a career 47 games, making 19 starts, in center field during his Minor League career. He’s joined in the outfield by Andre Ethier in what’s his second start since coming off the 60-day disabled list, and Curtis Granderson in right field.
On the mound, the Dodgers hand the ball to Hyun-Jin Ryu. Like Rich Hill on Monday night, Ryu is getting a second look at the Diamondbacks in as many starts.
He allowed six runs on eight hits in just four innings at Chase Field. Half of his runs allowed came in the first inning. Overall this season, Ryu is 5-7 with a 3.71 ERA, 4.62 FIP and 1.34 WHIP in 21 games (20 starts), while striking out 102 and walking 37 in 111.2 innings of work.
In nine career starts against the Diamondbacks, Ryu has yielded a 4.02 ERA and 1.25 WHIP, although those numbers are a bit skewed after last week’s poor performance.
Opposing Ryu is former Dodgers All-Star Zack Greinke. The 33-year-old is tied for the Major League lead with 16 wins to go along with six losses in 27 starts this season. In 172.1 innings he has struck out 188 batters compared to just 39 walks.
Greinke owns a 3.08 ERA, 3.14 FIP and 1.07 WHIP. After a rough first season with Arizona, he’s returned to his usual self. However, in three starts against the Dodgers this season, Greinke has struggled some and gone 1-2 with a 4.58 ERA.
Bellinger has one home run off Greinke and is a lifetime 2-of-6 against him. Having faced the Diamondbacks ace in 70 career plate appearances, Granderson is batting .227/.271/.424 with three doubles, two triples, two home runs and four walks.
Chris Taylor is hitting .364/.417/.636 with three doubles, three home runs and seven RBI in 12 games against the Diamondbacks this season. Included in that is an 8-for-20 clip with three doubles in six games at Dodger Stadium.
Justin Turner, who on Tuesday was named the Dodgers’ nominee for the 2017 Roberto Clemente Award, enters play with a nine-game hitting streak. He’s batting .379/.455/.690 with six doubles, one home run and five RBI during the stretch. Turner is 7-for-19 off Greinke, with three doubles, one triple, one home run and five RBI.
The Diamondbacks’ marquee trade deadline acquisition, J.D. Martinez, has lived up to the hype in his short time with Arizona. He became the 18th player in Major League history to hit four home runs in a game, and overall has hit 18 home runs in 40 games with the Diamodndbacks.
Dodgers lineup:
SS: Chris Taylor
RF: Curtis Granderson
3B: Justin Turner
CF: Cody Bellinger
C: Yasmani Grandal
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
LF: Andre Ethier
2B: Logan Forsythe
P: Hyun-Jin Ryu
Diamondbacks lineup:
LF: Kristopher Negron
C: Chris Iannetta
CF: A.J. Pollock
RF: J.D. Martinez
2B: Brandon Drury
1B: Daniel Descalso
3B: Adam Rosales
SS: Ketel Marte
P: Zack Greinke
