The Los Angeles Dodgers have suffered back-to-back losses since having their four-game winning streak snapped by the San Diego Padres, and now face the prospect of dropping a series at Dodger Stadium for the first time since April 12-14.
That weekend, they salvaged a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers with a win in the finale to avoid being swept. Even with the consecutive losses, the Dodgers enter play Sunday an MLB-best 37-11 at home.
Their offense has been grounded some, as the Dodgers scored a combined three runs and went 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position the last two nights. Their slide prompted manager Dave Roberts to call for his hitters to make necessary adjustments.
They’ll look to turn matters around in support of Ross Stripling, who makes a third start since replacing an injured Rich Hill in the rotation. Stripling is 3-2 with a 3.45 ERA, 3.61 FIP and 1.27 WHIP in 22 games (eight starts).
He went three innings in his first time making a start since Hill was placed on the injured list, and 4.2 innings his last time out. Stripling has four strikeouts in two innings across a pair of relief appearances against the Padres this season.
How Stripling and the Dodgers fare Sunday may very well boil down to Hunter Renfroe. He of course is remembered for a walk-off grand slam hit off Kenley Jansen, but Renfroe has delivered clutch home runs in the past two games.
The Padres start Joey Lucceshi, who had modest results when he faced the Dodgers in May. The southpaw allowed three runs over five-plus innings and didn’t factor into the decision of a Dodgers’ win. Lucceshi is 6-4 with a 3.91 ERA this season.
Dodgers lineup:
SS: Chris Taylor
2B: Kiké Hernandez
3B: Justin Turner
RF: Cody Bellinger
1B: Max Muncy
LF: Kyle Garlick
CF: Alex Verdugo
C: Austin Barnes
P: Ross Stripling
