Winners in seven of their last 10 games and on a four-game winning streak, the Los Angeles Dodgers conclude their homestand Wednesday night. They enter play in position to complete a three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Brock Stewart gets the call in the series finale, fresh off being recalled from Double-A Tulsa. Stewart allowed two runs on four hits over three innings in a start for the Drillers on Sept. 2. He last pitched for Dodgers on Aug. 28, turning in a strong outing.
Against the Chicago Cubs, owners of the best record in the Majors, Stewart allowed just two hits and set a career high with eight strikeouts over five scoreless innings.
After allowing a combined five home runs through his first two starts, Stewart hasn’t given up a homer in his past two games (one start).
In eight innings pitched at Dodger Stadium, he’s allowed just one run on four hits. Overall, the rookie right-hander is 0-2 with a 7.94 ERA, 6.45 FIP, 1.84 WHIP and 18 strikeouts over four games (three starts) with the Dodgers.
The Diamondbacks counter with Robbie Ray, who is the first lefty to start the series. Ray tossed a gem in his previous outing, until imploding at the end.
After holding the Colorado Rockies scoreless over four innings, Ray was chased with one out in the fifth inning. He wound up permitting five consecutive singles and two additional base hits in the inning, which led to Colorado scoring six runs.
That was the first outing since Aug. 2 where the 24-year-old allowed more than two runs. Ray has twice faced the Dodgers this season, splitting the games between home and road starts. He allowed two runs on four hits and walked five in 6.1 innings at Dodger Stadium in April.
Ray then tossed seven shutout innings at home on July 17. In six career starts against the Dodgers he is 3-2 with a 1.95 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. Ray enters 7-12 with a 4.46 ERA, 3.51 FIP and 1.45 WHIP.
Kiké Hernandez, who starts in center field and bats second, enters play a career 3-for-7 with one double and a triple against Ray. Yasiel Puig has also fared well, going 4-for-10 with one walk.
Adrian Gonzalez is out of the lineup after starting 33 straight games. The night off should bode the veteran first baseman well as he’ll get an additional rest on Thursday (travel day). Rob Segedin makes first start in the Majors at first base.
Although Josh Reddick again isn’t starting against a southpaw, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Reddick is not platooning with Puig in right field. Corey Seager is the lone left-handed batter in the Dodgers’ lineup.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Howie Kendrick
CF: Kiké Hernandez
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
RF: Yasiel Puig
C: Carlos Ruiz
1B: Rob Segedin
2B: Charlie Culberson
P: Brock Stewart
Diamondbacks lineup:
2B: Jean Segura
SS: Chris Owings
CF: A.J. Pollock
1B: Paul Goldschmidt
3B: Jake Lamb
RF: Yasmany Tomas
C: Chris Hermann
LF: Socrates Brito
P: Robbie Ray
