After successfully splitting the Opening Series with the San Francisco Giants, the Los Angeles Dodgers now head to Chase Field for the first time this season to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The two clubs squared off in the 2017 National League Division Series, where the Dodgers swept their rival in three games. They split Cactus League meetings this year.
Hyun-Jin Ryu takes the mound for his season debut, and is looking to bounce back from a rough Spring Training. He posted a 7.04 ERA and 1.83 WHIP in 15.1 innings, yielding 23 hits while recording 13 strikeouts to five walks.
Despite the negative results, Ryu felt healthier than ever this spring. Last season, he logged over 100 innings for the first time since 2014 and accumulated a 3.77 ERA, 4.74 FIP and 1.37 WHIP over 25 appearances (24 starts).
Through four games, the Dodgers’ starting staff has yielded just one run in 25 innings (0.36 ERA). That occurred on Opening Day, when Clayton Kershaw allowed a solo home run to Giants second baseman Joe Panik, who hooked the ball just inside the right field foul pole.
The Diamondbacks send right-hander Taijuan Walker to the mound, who thrived in his first season with the club last season. He pitched to a 3.49 ERA in 157.1 innings, accumulating a personal-best 8.4 strikeouts per nine.
Likewise, Walker enjoyed moderate success against the Dodgers in 2017. In three starts, he compiled a 3.24 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with 17 strikeouts to just five walks.
As Dodgers manager Dave Roberts intimated would be the case, Joc Pederson makes a second start in as many games. However, Pederson this time is in center field and batting leadoff. He’s 0-for-6 with one RBI in three games (one start) this season.
Chris Taylor’s night off is his first, and part of the Dodgers’ plan to strategically rest their regulars. Meanwhile, Logan Forsythe returns to third base despite impressive play by Kyle Farmer at the position. Farmer, Forsythe and Pederson are Dodgers position players still searching for their first hit.
The Diamondbacks have been led in the early going by Nick Ahmed, who is hitting .455/.500/.909 with a team-high six RBI. Ahmed is also the only Diamondbacks player to slug a home run thus far.
Dodgers lineup:
CF: Joc Pederson
SS: Corey Seager
RF: Yasiel Puig
C: Yasmani Grandal
1B: Cody Bellinger
LF: Matt Kemp
2B: Chase Utley
3B: Logan Forsythe
P: Hyun-Jin Ryu
Diamondbacks lineup:
LF: David Peralta
2B: Ketel Marte
1B: Paul Goldschmidt
CF: A.J. Pollock
RF: Chris Owings
3B: Jake Lamb
SS: Nick Ahmed
C: Alex Avila
P: Taijuan Walker
