After a thrilling comeback win, the Los Angeles Dodgers enter play Sunday in position to complete a three-game series sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
They can do so with Rich Hill making his 2019 debut and Russell Martin makes his first start since returning from the 10-day injured list. Caleb Ferguson (oblique) was placed on the 10-day injured list as a corresponding move to activating Hill.
Hill’s start comes six weeks from the last time he was on the mound. It was at the end of that Spring Training start that he sustained what was later determined to be a strained MCL in his left knee.
The veteran left-hander struggled some in that outing against the Milwaukee Brewers, and finished with a 3.27 ERA in four Cactus League starts. Hill allowed one earned run or fewer in three of his games.
He should form a battery with Martin in what will be the catcher’s first game since starting April 8. Martin missed 18 days due to lower back inflammation. He was available Saturday after being reinstated but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts successfully stayed away from him.
The Pirates counter with Trevor Williams, who is making his sixth start of the season. Williams has turned in a quality start in each of his outings and is coming off holding the red-hot Arizona Diamondbacks to just two runs in seven innings of work.
Williams made two starts against the Dodgers in 2017 and one last season. He’s 0-1 in the three games, pitching to a 6.43 ERA with three home runs allowed in 14 innings. Only one of Williams’ starts against the Dodgers has come at Dodger Stadium, but it was an outing he was roughed up in.
He only managed to pitch three innings and gave up eight runs (six earned) on seven hits, including two home runs. Of players on the Dodgers’ current roster, Cody Bellinger and Chris Taylor have each taken the Pirates starter deep.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Joc Pederson
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Max Muncy
1B: Cody Bellinger
CF: A.J. Pollock
RF: Alex Verdugo
2B: Kiké Hernandez
C: Russell Martin
P: Rich Hill
Pirates lineup:
2B: Adam Frazier
LF: Melky Cabrera
RF: Gregory Polanco
1B: Josh Bell
3B: Jung Ho Kang
C: Elias Diaz
SS: Cole Tucker
CF: Pablo Reyes
P: Trevor Williams
