After beginning their road trip with a series win behind consecutive victories against the San Diego Padres, the Los Angeles Dodgers have hit a skid and now need a win Sunday to avoid being swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in four games at Chase Field.
Making matters all the more frustrating for the Dodgers is they were ahead 3-0 in each of the first three contests. They twice blew a lead on Saturday night, and it marked the first time in Clayton Kershaw’s career he suffered a loss when provided at least four runs of support in a regular season start (now 116-1).
With L.A. looking to snap a three-game losing streak, they hand the ball to Ross Stripling on the same day he was reinstated from the 10-day injured list. Stripling returns along with Dylan Floro and David Freese as active rosters have expanded with the turn of the calendar to September.
It’s Stripling first game since July 24, which was the last of six consecutive starts. He’d been sidelined by neck stiffness that then led to biceps tendinitis. The right-hander is 4-4 with a 3.64 ERA, 3.93 FIP and 1.17 WHIP in 26 games (12 starts).
Stripling is expected to be followed by Dustin May, who was initially scheduled to start Sunday. The relief appearance will be May’s second as the Dodgers continue to evaluate him for a postseason role.
The Diamondbacks counter with rookie Alex Young for what’s his 11th start (12th career game). Young is 6-3 with a 3.81 ERA and is facing the Dodgers for a third time. He pitched 2.1 scoreless innings at Dodger Stadium in July, but allowed four runs on five hits in just 3.1 innings of a start last month.
Young faces a Dodgers lineup that sees the return of David Freese. He, along with Stripling and Dylan Floro were reinstated from the 10-day injured list before first pitch. Freese had been out with a left hamstring strain since the middle of August.
Dodgers lineup:
CF: A.J. Pollock
1B: David Freese
3B: Justin Turner
RF: Cody Bellinger
LF: Kiké Hernandez
SS: Chris Taylor
2B: Jedd Gyorko
C: Russell Martin
P: Ross Stripling
Diamondbacks lineup:
CF: Jarrod Dyson
RF: Tim Locastro
2B: Ketel Marte
3B: Eduardo Escobar
1B: Jake Lamb
RF: Josh Rojas
SS: Nick Ahmed
C: Alex Avila
P: Alex Young
