The Los Angeles Dodgers have rebounded nicely from a disappointing six-game road trip by winning two consecutive games against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks were in sole possession of first place in the National League West when the wraparound series began Friday.
Having withstood just four innings from Kenta Maeda on Jackie Robinson Day, the Dodgers now hand the ball to Rich Hill. Trayce Thompson was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City so that Hill could be activated from the 10-day disabled list. Sunday is the first day Hill was eligible to be reinstated.
He missed one start while nursing and recovering from a blister on his left middle finger. In his first start this season, Hill allowed one run on two hits, and issued three walks in five innings.
Although the veteran left-hander didn’t have his ideal command, Hill earned the win. He’s faced the Diamondbacks just once since being traded to the Dodgers last August. It turned out to be the only regular-season start for Los Angeles where Hill has allowed more than two runs.
In the outing at Chase Field last September, he was knocked around for four runs on four hits, though did have eight strikeouts in 5.1 innings.
The 37-year-old has made five career starts against the Diamondbacks, with the other four coming when he was still a member of the Chicago Cubs (2005-08). Overall, Hill is 1-2 with a 4.60 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in the five games.
The Diamondbacks counter with hard-throwing right-hander Taijuan Walker. He was acquired from the Seattle Mariners in a five-player trade last November that also involved Jean Segura.
Walker made headlines in the NL West in his previous outing when he struck San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey in the head with a fastball. Both of Walker’s starts this season have come against the Giants.
During his first, on April 5, he gave up four runs on seven hits in six innings pitched, earning a win during the Diamondbacks 8-6 victory. He followed that up with a loss, permitting three runs (two earned) on five hits and four walks in five innings pitched.
The 24-year-old primarily relies upon his four-seam fastball, mixing in a splitter, slider and curveball. Walker does have experience against the Dodgers, making a start at Dodger Stadium during the 2015 season.
He suffered a loss that evening, allowing five runs on six hits and issuing four walks in just four innings pitched. Last season, Walker went to an 8-11 with a 4.22 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 4.99 FIP and 96 ERA+.
Many Dodgers will face Walker for the first time on Sunday, with few players having some success against him. Scott Van Slyke, who is 1-for-2, has a two-run double to his name, while Adrian Gonzalez has an RBI single.
The Dodgers are without Logan Forsythe, who was removed Saturday night for precautionary reasons after feeling tightness in his hamstring. Forsythe is expected to be reevaluated at some point on Sunday to determine his status moving forward.
The Dodgers are 5-1 at home this season, have won 10 of their last 11 contests at Dodger
Stadium, dating back Sept. 21, 2016, including winning the past four.
Whether at home or on the road, they’ve been buoyed by a pitching staff that ranks first in the NL with a 2.75 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, .204 opponents’ batting average and 3.96 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Andrew Toles
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
C: Yasmani Grandal
CF: Joc Pederson
RF: Yasiel Puig
2B: Chase Utley
P: Rich Hill
Diamondbacks lineup:
CF: A.J. Pollock
SS: Chris Owings
1B: Paul Goldschmidt
3B: Jake Lamb
LF: Yasmany Tomas
2B: Brandon Drury
RF: David Peralta
C: Chris Iannetta
P: Taijuan Walker
