After a disappointing finish to their Opening Series at Dodger Stadium, the Los Angeles Dodgers have rebounded with three consecutive wins. Their longest winning streak of the young season has the Dodgers entering play Friday tied for the MLB lead with five wins.
L.A. nonetheless is tied for second place in the National League West, though only trail the Colorado Rockies (4-1) by mere percentage points. The San Diego Padres also are 5-2, and host the Dodgers for a three-game series that begins Monday.
As for the present, Tony Gonsolin takes the mound Friday night for his 2020 debut. It comes in the same stadium Gonsolin made his MLB debut last season, which Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said helps provide a sense of comfort.
Gonsolin arrived late to Summer Camp for an undisclosed reason and was optioned to the Dodgers’ alternate training site at USC prior to Opening Day. He went 4-2 with a 2.93 ERA in 11 games (six starts) for the Dodgers last season.
Gonsolin is starting for Alex Wood, who is on the injured list and shut down from throwing as the team hopes the inflammation will subside. Josh Sborz was optioned in order to recall Gonsolin.
The Diamondbacks counter with Zac Gallen, who is making his second start of the season. Gallen issued five walks but also had six strikeouts in four innings as he held the Padres to just one run in a no-decision at the beginning of the week.
Gallen faces a Dodgers lineup that has Edwin Rios making his first start of the season, doing so at first base, which puts Max Muncy in the designated hitter spot as the leadoff man. Corey Seager, the DH on Thursday, is back to playing shortstop. Seager has reached safely in all seven games this season.
Dodgers lineup
DH: Max Muncy
RF: Mookie Betts
CF: Cody Bellinger
3B: Justin Turner
SS: Corey Seager
2B: Chris Taylor
LF: Joc Pederson
1B: Edwin Rios
C: Austin Barnes
Diamondbacks lineup
SS: Ketel Marte
RF: Kole Calhoun
CF: Starling Marte
3B: Eduardo Escobar
DH: Christian Walker
LF: David Peralta
C: Stephen Vogt
1B: Jake Lamb
2B: Ildemaro Vargas
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