The Los Angeles Dodgers have been uncharacteristically bad at home this season as they were just 10-12 entering their series with the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles won the first two games of the series behind the arm of Clayton Kershaw, and a solid Mike Bolsinger and offensive outburst, to pull even at Chavez Ravine and 24-23 overall.
A win on Wednesday will not only give the Dodgers a three-game sweep of the Reds, but also set a season high with a four-game winning streak. It’s also the Dodgers’ final game in a stretch of playing 20 consecutive days.
Scott Kazmir takes the mound for his 10th start this season. He enters 3-3 with a 5.23 ERA, 5.68 FIP and 1.34 WHIP with 48 strikeouts and 20 walks over 51.2 innings pitched. Kazmir owns a 4.07 ERA at Dodger Stadium, compared to 6.26 ERA on the road.
In one career start against the Reds in 2013 when he was a member of the Cleveland Indians, Kazmir gave up eight hits and one run in seven innings of work in a win. He’s coming off a shaky start in which he allowed five runs, two home runs, and issued seven walks over 5.2 innings.
Right-hander Dan Straily gets the start for the Reds. In 10 appearances (seven starts) this season, he is 2-1 with a 2.85 ERA, 4.42 FIP and 1.20 WHIP. In two career appearances (2.1 innings) against the Dodgers, Straily has given up four hits and six runs while walking three.
Straily has struggled with pitch count this season as he has only gone more than six innings once — on May 4 against the San Francisco Giants when he tossed 6.1 frames. Howie Kendrick has faced Straily more than any other Dodger player. He is 5-for-14 (.357 batting average) in his career against the right-hander.
One night after being benched for not hustling out of the batter’s box on a drive to right field, Yasiel Puig is not in the lineup. However, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said it isn’t a carry over from the benching and was a decision made prior to Tuesday’s game.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
RF: Trayce Thompson
CF: Joc Pederson
LF: Howie Kendrick
C: Yasmani Grandal
P: Scott Kazmir
Reds lineup:
SS: Zack Cozart
CF: Billy Hamilton
1B: Joey Votto
2B: Brandon Phillips
RF: Jay Bruce
LF: Adam Duvall
3B: Eugenio Suarez
C: Tucker Barnhart
P: Dan Straily
