After salvaging the finale of a three-game set against the Houston Astros on Sunday, the Los Angeles Dodgers hit the road for an intriguing Interleague matchup with another American League West contender in the Oakland Athletics.
The Athletics are among the league’s best teams since the middle of June, having posted an MLB-best 33-10 record in their last 43 games. They find themselves a mere four games out of first place in the AL West behind the aforementioned Astros.
The Dodgers and Athletics last faced off in April at Dodger Stadium, when both teams came away with a victory for a series split. Rich Hill, who once enjoyed success as a member of the Athletics, makes his 15th start of the season.
The left-hander spent the first half of his 2016 campaign with Oakland, where he posted a 2.25 ERA in 76 innings before being traded to the Dodgers on Aug. 1.
He enters with a 4-4 record, 3.63 ERA, 4.16 FIP and 1.29 WHIP in 74.1 innings of work this season, having accumulated 81 strikeouts against 26 walks.
After a rough start to the year, Hill has regained his form since coming off the disabled list on June 19. Over the last month of play, the 38-year-old has compiled a 2.00 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across 27 innings pitched (five games, four starts).
Oakland counters with fellow left-hander Sean Manaea, who looks to build off an excellent start against the Toronto Blue Jays. In six innings pitched, he allowed only one run with five strikeouts compared to two walks.
Manaea was tabbed with a tough-luck loss in his last start against the Dodgers in April. Over five frames, he yielded two runs — both via solo home runs — while recording five strikeouts to only one walk.
The 26-year-old is in the midst of his finest season at the Major League level, entering with a 10-7 record, 3.38 ERA, 4.24 FIP and 1.01 WHIP across 141.1 innings of work (23 starts).
Yasiel Puig is back in the Dodgers lineup after missing Sunday’s game with left oblique soreness. The Dodgers were not sure if he would require disabled list stint, although it appears the two days off did the trick.
Matt Kemp also missed Sunday’s game with a minor ankle issue. He is back in the lineup as well, although he is serving as the designated hitters for Los Angeles in the series opener.
Khris Davis has been on an absolute tear for Oakland as of late. In his last 14 games, he is hitting .298/.384/.842 with 10 home runs and 22 RBI.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Brian Dozier
SS: Manny Machado
3B: Justin Turner
CF: Kiké Hernandez
DH: Matt Kemp
LF: Chris Taylor
1B: Cody Bellinger
RF: Yasiel Puig
C: Austin Barnes
P: Rich Hill
Athletics lineup:
SS: Marcus Semien
3B: Matt Chapman
2B: Jedd Lowrie
DH: Khris Davis
CF: Mark Canha
1B: Matt Olson
RF: Stephen Piscotty
LF: Chad Pinder
C: Jonathan Lucroy
P: Sean Manaea
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