Looking to snap a record-tying 10-game losing streak, the Los Angeles Dodgers head to AT&T Park for the final time this season for a three-game series with the San Francisco Giants. The Dodgers boast a 7-6 record against the Giants in 2017, but have struggled on the road against their rival, winning just three of seven games in San Francisco.
Entering play on Monday, the Dodgers lead the second-place Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West by nine games, with a magic number of 11 to clinch.
Taking the mound for Los Angeles is Kenta Maeda, who is making his 24th start of the season (26th overall appearance). For the year, the right-hander has posted a 4.02 ERA, 3.88 FIP and 1.13 WHIP in 125.1 innings with 130 strikeouts to 31 walks.
In his last outing against the Diamondbacks, Maeda allowed one unearned run and four hits over five frames with eight strikeouts. Dating back to the All-Star break, he’s pitched to a 3.42 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 47.1 innings.
Since joining the league in 2016, Maeda owns a 4.58 ERA and 1.68 WHIP in 19.2 career innings against the Giants (four starts).
The Giants send Chris Stratton to the mound for his seventh start of the season (10th appearance), in what will additionally be his first career start against the Dodgers. Stratton has one previous appearance against Los Angeles out of the bullpen, where he allowed two hits and one run in one inning.
The 27-year old allowed three earned runs and 11 baserunners in his last outing against the Colorado Rockies and hasn’t won a decision since Aug. 21 against the Milwaukee Brewers. This season, Stratton has pitched to a 4.10 ERA, 4.04 FIP and 1.56 WHIP in 41.2 innings with 37 strikeouts to 23 walks.
One of the lone bright spots in the Dodgers lineup over the past two weeks has been Justin Turner, who is batting .311/.367/.556 (144 wRC+) with seven extra-base hits in 49 plate appearances. Against the Giants this season, Turner is hitting .326 with 14 hits in 43 at-bats.
Giants second baseman Joe Panik has torn the cover off the ball over his last 56 plate appearances, batting .375/.455/.646 with four doubles, three home runs and eight RBI.
After being sidelined for a few games to allow for an epidural injection to set in, Adrian Gonzalez returns to the Dodgers lineup. That pushes Cody Bellinger to center field for his second career start at that position.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Curtis Granderson
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
CF: Cody Bellinger
RF: Yasiel Puig
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
C: Yasmani Grandal
2B: Chase Utley
P: Kenta Maeda
Giants lineup:
RF: Hunter Pence
2B: Joe Panik
CF: Denard Span
1B: Buster Posey
SS: Brandon Crawford
LF: Jarrett Parker
3B: Pablo Sandoval
C: Nick Hundley
P: Chris Stratton
