After dropping the series opener and having their six-game winning streak snapped, the Los Angeles Dodgers take the field on Tuesday night looking to get back on track against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
On the mound for the Dodgers is Ross Stripling, who is making his first start since April 25. With Rich Hill expected to be out for a while, Stripling has essentially been selected to temporarily take his spot in the rotation.
In 20 games (six starts) this season, Stripling is 3-2 with a 3.08 ERA, 3.65 FIP and 1.17 WHIP with 48 strikeouts and 16 walks in 49.2 innings. He hasn’t thrown more than two innings since moving to the bullpen, so he likely won’t be able to get very deep into the game.
Chase Field is a place that Stripling hasn’t had much success in his career. He is 0-4 with a 5.57 ERA and 1.62 WHIP in 12 career games (two starts) there. However, two of the players that wore him out, A.J. Pollock and Paul Goldschmidt, are no longer with the Diamondbacks.
Nick Ahmed is a third player who has found success against Stripling though, going 5-for-9 with a double and home run.
Getting the start for the Diamondbacks is a pitcher the Dodgers are very familiar with in Robbie Ray. The left-hander has faced L.A. 17 times in his career and has had a lot of success, posting a 7-4 record to go along with a 2.89 ERA and 1.16 WHIP.
In 16 starts this season, Ray is 5-4 with a 3.87 ERA, 3.70 FIP and 1.34 WHIP. He has a high strikeout rate, punching out 115 compared to 43 walks in 88.1 innings. Lefties are batting just .232/.267/.354 against him, so Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has filled out his lineup with seven righties.
Kiké Hernandez, who has been a lefty killer for the Dodgers over the years, has seen the ball well against Ray. He has a .935 on-base plus slugging percentage against him with three home runs in 34 career at-bats. Hernandez is in the leadoff spot for Los Angeles.
Will Smith was the hero on Sunday afternoon when he hit his second carer walk-off home run, and now he gets his first start behind the plate since being recalled. Smith is hitting .304/.360/.739 with three home runs in just eight career big league games, all this season.
As previously planned, Austin Barnes is playing the infield (second base), and Russell Martin may soon follow suit.
Dodgers lineup:
CF: Kiké Hernandez
3B: Justin Turner
RF: Alex Verdugo
SS: Chris Taylor
C: Will Smith
LF: Kyle Garlick
1B: Matt Beaty
C: Austin Barnes
P: Ross Stripling
Diamondbacks lineup:
RF: Adam Jones
2B: Ketel Marte
3B: Eduardo Escobar
LF: David Peralta
1B: Christian Walker
CF: Jarrod Dyson
SS: Nick Ahmed
C: Carson Kelly
P: Robbie Ray
