After dropping two out of three in their series against the San Francisco Giants, the Los Angeles Dodgers got back on track with a come-from-behind win in the opener of a weekend set against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
They now take the field Saturday evening looking to earn a series win over their division rivals, and they send Rich Hill to the mound to do so.
This is Hill’s send start of the season and he looked strong in his season debut last week against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hill gave up a couple of early home runs and was a victim of some poor defense, but he pitched six innings while allowing five hits and five runs (one earned) with six strikeouts and zero walks.
Hill has fared well against the Padres in his career, going 6-4 with a 2.89 ERA and 0.98 WHIP while striking out 78 and walking 21 in 65.1 innings.
For the second straight game, the Padres also send a left-hander to the mound in Joey Lucchesi. In six starts this season, the 25-year-old is 3-2 with a 4.94 ERA, 3.57 FIP and 1.45 WHIP. He has struck out 34 while walking 10 in 31 innings.
The Dodgers faced Lucchesi three times last season, his rookie year, and they was the ball well off him as he went 0-3 with an 8.53 ERA and 1.90 WHIP.
Kiké Hernandez, who is in his familiar leadoff spot against a left-handed pitcher, is 3-for-8 with a home run against Lucchesi. Austin Barnes and Chris Taylor have also homered off him.
As has been the case the last few seasons, the Dodgers as a team have largely struggled against southpaw pitching this season. The team slash line against lefties is .235/.328/.416, which is significantly lower than their .265/.349/.476 line against righties.
Cody Bellinger is not in the lineup one night after his right shoulder popped out of place and back in. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Bellinger is available to pinch-hit and expects his young slugger to return Sunday.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Kiké Hernandez
1B: Cody Bellinger
3B: Justin Turner
SS: Corey Seager
CF: Chris Taylor
RF: Alex Verdugo
C: Austin Barnes
LF: Joc Pederson
P: Clayton Kershaw
Padre lineup:
2B: Ian Kinsler
RF: Franmil Reyes
SS: Manny Machado
LF: Hunter Renfroe
1B: Eric Hosmer
3B: Ty France
CF: Manuel Margot
C: Austin Hedges
P: Joey Lucchesi
