After dropping the series opener to the Atlanta Braves behind shaky defense and a forgettable Alex Wood outing, the Los Angeles Dodgers look to rebound Wednesday night.
If his first two starts this season are any indication, the Dodgers may be in good hands as Ross Stripling takes the mound. The rookie threw 7.1 no-hit innings in his Major League debut, getting lifted due to a pitch limit. Stripling followed that by holding the Arizona Diamondbacks to two runs over six innings.
Stripling will need to turn in another strong outing as the Dodgers used five relievers on Tuesday due to Alex Wood only managing to pitch four innings. Stripling is opposed by Julio Teheran, who was initially scheduled to start the series opener but was scratched due to illness.
Teheran is making his fourth start of the season and hoping to put an end to early struggles. After allowing two runs in his season debut, Teheran gave up five (four earned) and six runs in his next two outings.
The 25-year-old right-hander has also fallen victim to the long ball this season, allowing a pair of home runs in two of his three starts. Teheran is a lifetime 0-4 with a 6.88 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in four starts against the Dodgers.
Manager Dave Roberts sends out the same lineup as he did Tuesday, which doesn’t come as a surprise given the Dodgers are again facing another right-handed pitcher.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
RF: Yasiel Puig
C: Yasmani Grandal
LF: Howie Kendrick
CF: Joc Pederson
P: Ross Stripling
Braves lineup:
RF: Nick Markakis
3B: Daniel Castro
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: A.J. Pierzynski
2B: Kelly Johnson
SS: Erick Aybar
LF: Jace Peterson
CF: Mallex Smith
P: Julio Teheran