The Los Angeles Dodgers offense came alive in Saturday’s 8-3 victory over the New York Mets at Citi Field to earn their second straight win. They now go for the sweep over the Mets, sending left-hander Rich Hill to the mound.
This is Hill’s second start since coming back from a blister issue, and he was masterful in his first start. Facing his former team, the Chicago Cubs, Hill tossed six shutout innings, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out six.
Overall in seven starts this season, Hill is 1-2 with a 4.99 ERA, 5.51 FIP and 1.57 WHIP while striking out 31 compared to 15 walks in 30.2 innings.
Hill has struggled in his career against New York, holding a 1-2 record with an 8.00 ERA and 2.00 WHIP in six games (four starts). He has 25 strikeouts with 12 walks in 18 innings. He has only pitched once at Citi Field, giving up six hits and three runs with eight strikeouts and one walk in five innings.
Left-hander Jason Vargas was the Mets scheduled starter for Sunday’s game, but he was instead placed on the 10-day disabled list with a strained calf, so instead New York is going with a bullpen game.
Southpaw Jerry Blevins will pitch the first inning. He has a 4.86 ERA, 4.66 FIP and 1.68 WHIP in 32 appearances on the season with 13 strikeouts and 12 walks in 16.2 innings. He has faced that Dodgers eight times in his career and has not given up a run in 4.1 innings.
Chris Taylor is out of the Dodgers lineup for the third straight day due to left hamstring tightness. Kiké Hernandez gets the start in his place and will get the first crack at Blevins, batting leadoff.
Hernandez is hitting .236/.330/.461 with six of his 10 home runs against lefties this season.
Dodgers lineup:
SS: Kiké Hernandez
3B: Max Muncy
LF: Matt Kemp
1B: Cody Bellinger
RF: Yasiel Puig
2B: Logan Forsythe
CF: Joc Pederson
C: Austin Barnes
P: Rich Hill
Mets lineup:
CF: Brandon Nimmo
3B: Todd Frazier
2B: Asdrubal Cabrera
1B: Wilmer Flores
RF: Jose Bautista
LF: Dom Smith
C: Kevin Plawecki
SS: Jose Reyes
P: Jerry Blevins
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