The Los Angeles Dodgers exploded for five home runs hit off Zack Greinke in Monday’s series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks and cruised to a 10-2 victory. Riding a modest three-game winning streak, Los Angeles sends the third of what will be four consecutive rookie to the mound.
Ross Stripling enters 3-6 with a 4.15 ERA, 3.82 FIP and 1.30 WHIP in 17 games (13 starts) with the Dodgers. He owns a 3.72 ERA in 9.2 innings pitched over two starts against Arizona this season.
Stripling hasn’t faired particularly well at Dodger Stadium, as he owns a 4.48 ERA in 44.2 innings across nine games, seven of which have been starts.
He’s opposed by Shelby Miller, who makes just his second start for Diamondbacks since returning from Triple-A Reno.
Miller went 2-9 with a 7.14 ERA and allowed opponents to hit .312/.386/.523 over his first 14 starts with the Diamondbacks. He was demoted in mid-July to Triple-A as a result of his struggles.
Miller responded by going 5-1 with a 3.91 ERA and 1.28 WHIP over eight starts for Reno. In his return to the Majors, Miller allowed two runs on six hits in six innings and suffered a tough-luck loss to the San Francisco Giants.
The 25-year-old has yet to face the Dodgers this season. Miller is 1-1 with a 6.57 ERA in five career games (three starts) against Los Angeles.
On top of facing a lineup that combined to hit five home runs on Monday, Miller sees a red-hot Yasmani Grandal who has homered in three consecutive games. Grandal is tied for the lead among all catchers with 24 home runs this season.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
C: Yasmani Grandal
RF: Josh Reddick
LF: Howie Kendrick
CF: Joc Pederson
P: Kenta Maeda
Diamondbacks lineup:
2B: Jean Segura
SS: Chris Owings
CF: A.J. Pollock
1B: Paul Goldschmidt
3B: Jake Lamb
C: Welington Castillo
RF: Yasmany Tomas
LF: Brandon Drury
P: Shelby Miller
