After a lackluster performance on Monday and a slow start on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Dodgers responded with 11 unanswered runs to earn a comeback victory over the New York Mets and even their three-game wet.
The Dodgers now go for a series win on Wednesday, sending left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu to the mound in a rare weekday afternoon game at Dodger Stadium.
Ryu is coming off a strong start against the Arizona Diamondbacks in which he went seven innings, allowing just four hits and two runs while striking out five. He is in the midst of the best season of his Major League career, although has been limited to only 10 starts due to injury.
In those 10 starts, Ryu is 4-1 with a 2.24 ERA, 3.13 FIP and 0.96 WHIP while striking out 59 and walking 12 in 52.1 innings. He has dominated the Mets in his career, going 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in five starts.
Ryu has enjoyed the friendly confines of Chavez Ravine this season, posting a 1.51 ERA in six home starts compared to 3.78 in four outings away from Dodger Stadium.
The Mets counter with right-hander Zack Wheeler, who is having a very solid season. The 28-year-old is 9-7 with a 3.37 ERA, 3.19 FIP and 1.19 WHIP in 26 starts. He has 159 strikeouts and 50 walks in 160.1 total innings.
He did not fare well the last time he pitched at Dodger Stadium though as the Dodgers tagged him for eight hits and seven runs in two innings in July 2017. Wheeler has an 11.00 ERA in two career games against Los Angeles.
Cody Bellinger has worn out Wheeler, going 3-for-5 with three home runs and eight RBI against him. Justin Turner and Yasmani Grandal have also had success against the righty, going 3-for-5 and 2-for-6, respectively, with a home run apiece.
Manny Machado gets his first day off in a couple weeks, and that puts Kiké Hernandez at shortstop. Hernandez has been much improved against right-handed pitching this season, hitting .238/.322/.500 with 12 of his 19 home runs.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Joc Pederson
RF: Alex Verdugo
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Max Muncy
CF: Cody Bellinger
C: Yasmani Granda
SS: Kiké Hernandez
2B: Brian Dozier
P: Hyun-Jin Ryu
