After the Los Angeles Dodgers split a two-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays, the team traveled north of the border to face the Toronto Blue Jays in a three-game set at Rogers Centre. Both teams enter the series at .500, with the 14-14 Dodgers atop the National League West, while the 15-15 Blue Jays are third in the American League East.
The Dodgers used multiple off days this week to juggle their rotation a bit, swapping Kenta Maeda and Alex Wood. As a result, Maeda starts the series opener on Friday night. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained the decision was tied to Maeda being a better matchup for Blue Jays’ batters.
That Maeda is pitching on one weeks’ rest was a benefit, Roberts acknowledged. The Japanese native takes the hill for his sixth start this season and his first look at a lineup with a designated hitter.
On the season, Maeda is 3-1 with a 1.41 ERA, 2.80 FIP, and 0.94 WHIP. In his last outing, the 28-year-old righty suffered his first career loss, coming at the hands of the now-streaking Miami Marlins. Maeda went 6.2 innings in the loss, allowing seven hits and four runs.
Friday’s game against the heavy-hitting Blue Jays figures to be Maeda’s most significant test to date. He’s opposed by Marcus Stroman, who essentially missed all of last season after tearing his ACL.
Stroman recovered in time to start four games last September, and three postseason games. He’s 4-0 with a 3.77 ERA, 3.82 FIP and 0.95 WHIP over six starts this season. The right-hander is fresh off allowing just one run and collecting nine strikeouts over eight innings against the Rays.
While Stroman has put together a strong start to the season, his numbers at Rogers Centre aren’t exactly dominant. In three starts at home this season, Stroman owns a 4.95 ERA (11 runs in 20 innings pitched), and has 11 strikeouts to seven walks.
Chase Utley makes his first start since April 30 and bats leadoff. Carl Crawford is in left field, Joc Pederson in center and Yasiel Puig mans right. The DH roulette lands on Howie Kendrick, who is 2-for-3 in his career against Stroman.
Puig is 6-for-13 with one double, one home run and three RBIs in three career games at Rogers Centre. Other Dodgers who have hit well at the Jays’ home stadium are Crawford (.293 batting average), Adrian Gonzalez (.356) and Utley (.372).
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
RF: Yasiel Puig
C: Yasmani Grandal
DH: Howie Kendrick
CF: Joc Pederson
LF: Carl Crawford
Blue Jays lineup:
LF: Michael Saunders
3B: Josh Donaldson
RF: Jose Bautista
DH: Edwin Encarnacion
1B: Justin Smoak
CF: Kevin Pillar
C: Russell Martin
SS: Ryan Goins
2B: Darwin Barney
