Coming off a three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies, the Los Angeles Dodgers continue their road trip with the opener of a four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
Hyun-Jin Ryu makes his third start of the season and looks to build off an excellent outing against the San Francisco Giants. In seven innings of work, he allowed only two runs on six hits with five strikeouts.
In five career games against the Cardinals, Ryu is 1-2 with a 2.25 ERA and 0.96 WHIP over 28 innings pitched (four starts). At Busch Stadium, the southpaw owns a minuscule 0.69 ERA and 0.69 WHIP in 13 innings (two starts).
The Cardinals counter with right-hander Mike Mikolas, who has struggled in the early going of his 2019 campaign. In two starts, he is winless with a 7.20 ERA, 8.09 FIP and 1.50 WHIP across 10 innings pitched.
Mikolas is making his first career start against the Dodgers, but did log three relief appearances against them during the 2012 season as a member of the San Diego Padres. In those games, he posted a 2.70 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with two strikeouts across 3.1 frames.
Cody Bellinger, now batting third, looks to continue his torrid start at the plate. His historic first week of play earned him National League Player of the Week honors for March 31-April 7.
Bellinger moved up in the lineup in some part due to Justin Turner receiving his second break of the season. And with Bellinger playing first base, Alex Verdugo makes a third start this year.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Joc Pederson
SS: Corey Seager
1B: Cody Bellinger
CF: A.J. Pollock
3B: Max Muncy
RF: Alex Verdugo
2B: Kiké Hernandez
C: Russell Martin
P: Hyun-Jin Ryu
Cardinals lineup:
3B: Matt Carpenter
1B: Paul Goldschmidt
RF: Jose Martinez
LF: Marcell Ozuna
SS: Paul DeJong
C: Yadier Molina
CF: Harrison Bader
2B: Kolten Wong
P: Miles Mikolas
