The Los Angeles Dodgers have been playing very uninspiring baseball as of late, dropping the first three games of a four-game series at home against the Cincinnati Reds.
They look to avoid the sweep Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium, with left-hander Rich Hill taking the mound on Mother’s Day.
The 2018 season has not gotten off to a good start for Hill as in four starts he is 1-1 with a 7.11 ERA, 6.46 FIP and 1.74 WHIP. In 19 innings he has struck out 21 batters compared to nine walks.
Hill spent some time on the 10-day disabled list with finger inflammation and did not fare well in his first start back. He went four innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks last Tuesday, giving up seven hits and five runs while striking out five and walking two.
Opposing Hill is the Reds young, prized right-hander, Luis Castillo. The 25-year-old hasn’t pitched well in 2018 either, going 2-4 with a 6.47 ERA, 4.96 FIP and 1.54 WHIP in eight starts. In 40.1 innings he has 38 strikeouts compared to 15 walks.
He is coming off one of his best starts of the season though, allowing just three hits, one walk and two runs while striking out seven in 5.2 innings against the New York Mets.
Max Muncy gets another start at third base for the Dodgers as he has had a nice series so far. In the first three games, he is 5-for-11 (.455 batting average) with a home run and three RBI.
Luckily for the Dodgers, Reds second baseman Scooter Gennett is out of the lineup for the series finale. He has worn the Dodgers out, going 10-for-14 (.714 batting average) with two home runs and six RBI in the series.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
CF: Joc Pederson
C: Yasmani Grandal
1B: Cody Bellinger
LF: Matt Kemp
SS: Chris Taylor
3B: Max Muncy
RF: Yasiel Puig
P Rich Hill
Reds lineup:
SS: Jose Peraza
2B: Alex Blandino
1B: Joey Votto
3B: Eugenio Suarez
LF: Adam Duvall
RF: Scott Schebler
C: Tony Cruz
P: Luis Castillo
CF: Billy Hamilton
