Kenta Maeda takes the mound Tuesday with the Los Angeles Dodgers looking to extend their winning streak to a season-best six games. During their current run, the Dodgers have outscored opponents 30-8. What’s more, Los Angeles has hit seven games over their past two wins.
Maeda’s start is his second since returning from left hamstring tightness. The right-hander threw five innings in his previous start, which was against the same St. Louis Cardinals.
Maeda allowed three runs in the first inning but followed it with four scoreless frames. He was backed by Hyun-Jin Ryu who converted a four-inning save in the Dodgers’ 7-3 win.
In his lone start against the Cardinals last season, Maeda limited them to two runs on five hits in 5.2 innings to earn a win. Entering Tuesday’s start, Maeda has had varied results in his three road starts this year.
In outings at Coors Field and Chase Field, he a combined allowed 10 runs on 14 hits, including five home runs, in 10 innings pitched. However, Maeda responded by allowing two runs (one earned) in five innings pitched at Petco Park in his last road start.
Incorporating a cutter has really paid dividends of late, and the 29-year-old enters 4-2 with a 5.08 ERA, 4.19 FIP and 1.24 WHIP. Maeda duels with Michael Wacha for a second time in five days.
Wacha’s last start was the first time this season in which he did not last at least six innings. The one-time All-Star allowed six runs on seven hits and two walks in just four innings pitched.
Entering Tuesday’s showdown, Wacha has made five career starts against the Dodgers. In the outings he is 1-3 with a 5.06 ERA and 1.65 WHIP. However, Wacha is strong at home, going 18-8 with a 3.53 ERA and 1.23 WHIP.
Overall this season, the Cardinals righty is 2-2 with a 3.66 ERA, 3.49 FIP and 1.24 WHIP. Yasiel Puig enters the game 3-for-5 against Wacha, while Yasmani Grandal and Chase Utley are each 3-for-9.
Corey Seager, who leads all National League shortstops in voting for the All-Star Game, is replaced in the lineup by Kiké Hernandez. Of his 25 hits this season, 19 have gone for extra bases.
Dodgers lineup:
3B: Logan Forsythe
LF: Cody Bellinger
C: Yasmani Grandal
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
CF: Chris Taylor
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Kiké Hernandez
RF: Yasiel Puig
P: Kenta Maeda
Cardinals lineup:
CF: Dexter Fowler
RF: Tommy Pham
1B: Matt Carpenter
C: Yadier Molina
SS: Aledmys Diaz
3B: Jhonny Peralta
2B: Paul DeJong
LF: Jose Martinez
P: Michael Wacha
