The Los Angeles Dodgers won their sixth straight game Tuesday evening, with each victory coming over what is believed to be the elite of the National League Central in the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals.
In the process of taking the first two of a four-game series at Busch Stadium, the Dodgers have moved a half-game ahead of the Colorado Rockies for first place in the National League West.
With Alex Wood on the 10-day disabled list due to left SC join inflammation, Hyun-Jin Ryu gets the start Wednesday in his place. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has had a difficult time finding a spot for Ryu in the rotation.
Because of that, Ryu has only pitched once since May 18, and that was his first career relief appearance on May 25 against the Cardinals. Ryu tossed four shutout innings to earn his first career save.
Overall on this season, he’s is 2-5 with a 4.28 ERA, 5.24 FIP and 1.50 WHIP in eight games (seven starts). Ryu has struck out 38 and walked 16 in 40 innings of work. He’s struggled away from Dodger Stadium, going 0-4 with a 5.59 ERA in four road starts.
In 18 career innings against the Cardinals, Ryu has found some success, yielding a 1.50 ERA. Opposing Ryu is the Cardinals ace, on paper, Carlos Martinez.
The 25-year-old flamethrower has started 10 games this season, going 3-4 with a 3.32 ERA, 3.65 FIP and 1.14 WHIP, while striking out 71 and walking 24 in 65 innings pitched.
In seven career games (six starts) against Los Angeles, Martinez is 2-2 with a 3.55 ERA and 1.39 WHIP. Like Ryu, Martinez has been much better at home this season as he has a 2.40 ERA in six starts at Busch Stadium compared to a 4.94 ERA in four road starts.
Veteran second baseman Chase Utley is swinging a red-hot bat for the Dodgers. In 24 games this month, Utley is hitting .333/.423/.606 with three home runs and 14 RBIs. He is 5-for-8 with a double, triple and home run thus far in the series.
Yasiel Puig gets the day off against Martinez, meaning Kiké Hernandez starts in right field and bats eighth. Hernandez has also swung the bat well in May, slashing .268/.354/.518 with two home runs and 11 RBIs in 25 games.
Dodgers lineup:
3B: Logan Forsythe
SS: Corey Seager
C: Yasmani Grandal
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
2B: Chase Utley
LF: Cody Bellinger
CF: Chris Taylor
RF: Kiké Hernandez
P: Hyun-Jin Ryu
Cardinals lineup:
CF: Dexter Fowler
1B: Matt Carpenter
C: Yadier Molina
3B: Jedd Gyorko
LF: Tommy Pham
RF: Stephen Piscotty
2B: Paul DeJong
SS: Aledmys Diaz
P: Carlos Martinez
