The Los Angeles Dodgers have won six straight games and 12 of their last 13, largely due to an offense that has averaged 7.08 runs per game in that 13-game span. The Dodgers’ have outscored the New York Mets, 30-8, through the first three games of their series.
A win Thursday night would give the Dodgers a seventh series sweep this season, their first four-game sweep of the Mets since June 1965, and their first overall sweep against the Mets since August 2013.
Hyun-Jin Ryu gets the nod one night than was initially expected, as Dodgers manager Dave Roberts elected to push Alex Wood back so he could start against the division rival Colorado Rockies on Friday.
Ryu has appeared in 12 games this season (11 starts), going 3-6 with a 4.35 ERA, 4.89 FIP and 1.40 WHIP, while striking out 58 and walking 19 in 62 innings of work.
In three career starts against the Mets, Ryu is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. Though, he has not faced them since May 2014.
The Mets also send a southpaw to the mound in Steven Matz. The 26-year-old is making just his third start of the season after missing the first couple months with an elbow injury.
Matz went seven innings in each of those two starts, and is 1-1 with a 3.21 ERA, 5.27 FIP and 1.00 WHIP. Matz is 2-0 in two career starts against Los Angeles, yielding a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings.
Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner had his 14-game hit streak snapped Tuesday night when he went 0-for-4 before being removed from the game due to rest. Turner received Wednesday night off, and now returns to the lineup to bat third.
He’s hitting .432/.523/.703 with three home runs and nine RBIs in 10 games since coming off the disabled list. With the left-handed Matz on the mound, players that usually come in off the bench are in the Dodgers lineup.
Kiké Hernandez, Franklin Gutierrez and Austin Barnes all get starts, batting fifth through seventh. Cody Bellinger is the only left-handed hitter in the Dodgers lineup. Remember, even Ryu bats right-handed.
In 19 games during the month of June, Bellinger has batted .301/.370/.836 with 16 runs, six doubles, 11 home runs and 20 RBIs. One matter to keep an eye on is whether the Mets seek retribution against Yasiel Puig for his admiring of a three-run home run on Wednesday.
The Dodgers struggled tremendously against lefties last season, but have been improved this season. They have a .767 on-base plus slugging percentage against southpaws, which ranks 11th in baseball.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Logan Forsythe
SS: Chris Taylor
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Cody Bellinger
CF: Kiké Hernandez
LF: Franklin Gutierrez
C: Austin Barnes
RF: Yasiel Puig
P: Hyun-Jin Ryu
Mets lineup:
CF: Curtis Granderson
3B: Wilmer Flores
LF: Yoenis Cespedes
RF: Jay Bruce
C: Travis d’Arnaud
1B: Lucas Duda
SS: Jose Reyes
2B: Gavin Cecchini
P: Steven Matz
