The Los Angeles Dodgers dropped the series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks in their first time facing Zack Greinke since he departed. As has often been the case this season, Los Angeles struggled to generate any offense, even after getting runners on base.
Further adding to the frustration that comes with a three-game losing streak, the Dodgers have lost each of the games by one run to a National League West opponent. Los Angeles enters play Tuesday night with a 33-32 record and six games back of the San Francisco Giants for first place in the division.
Kenta Maeda is back on the hill after suffering a tough-luck loss to the Colorado Rockies in his previous outing. Maeda delivered 6.2 innings, allowing one run on five hits, setting a career high with nine strikeouts, but could only watch as the Dodgers were shut out.
Maeda faced the Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium on April 12 but didn’t earn a decision in a game the Dodgers lost. He threw six scoreless innings, allowed five hits and had had four strikeouts in the outing.
Overall this season, the Japanese native is 5-4 with a 2.70 ERA, 3.17 FIP, and 1.06 WHIP. Maeda is 3-0 with a 1.57 ERA when pitching on five days’ rest. He’s opposed by young right-hander Archie Bradley, who enters 2-2 with a 5.22 ERA, 4.38 FIP and 1.43 WHIP.
Bradley has struggled this season with his command, as he is averaging 4.6 walks per nine innings. Bradley suffered the loss in his previous outing against the Tampa Bay Rays. Over 5.2 innings pitched, the Oklahoma native gave up four runs on five hits and walked four batters.
Bradley’s only career outing against the Dodgers came last season in what his Major League debut. He allowed just one hit over six shutout innings, collected six strikeouts and had four walks in the victory.
The Diamondbacks have won eight of Bradley’s career 13 outings. He faces a Dodgers lineup that’s largely unchanged from the series opener. Howie Kendrick is back in left field after Scott Van Slyke earned the start Monday night.
The Dodgers have a new option at their disposal as veteran outfielder Will Venable was signed to a one-year deal. He opted out of a Minor League contract with the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday. Austin Barnes was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City to clear room for Venable on the active roster.
Paul Goldschmidt added to his career success against the Dodgers by hitting a solo home run in the series opener. Jake Lamb also took Mike Bolsinger deep, and both players remain in the Diamondbacks’ lineup.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
RF: Trayce Thompson
CF: Joc Pederson
C: Yasmani Grandal
LF: Howie Kendrick
P: Kenta Maeda
Diamondbacks lineup:
2B: Jean Segura
2B: Jake Lamb
1B: Paul Goldschmidt
RF: David Peralta
LF: Peter O’Brien
C: Chris Herrmann
SS: Nick Ahmed
P: Archie Bradley
CF: Michael Bourn
