Fresh off a 9-5 victory on Memorial Day, the Los Angeles Dodgers continue their four-game series with the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium.
The club improved to 36-18 with Monday’s win — their fourth in a row — and currently hold a commanding eight-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres in the National League West.
The Mets, who have been decimated by injuries as of late, find themselves in third place in the NL East with a 26-27 record. They are 6-4 over their last 10 contests.
Rich Hill makes his sixth start of the regular season and looks to build off an excellent outing against the Tampa Bay Rays. In six innings of work, he allowed just one run on five hits while recording seven strikeouts.
The 39-year-old has been dominant over his last two starts, pitching to a minuscule 0.75 ERA and 0.75 WHIP in 12 innings pitched.
Hill enters with a 1-1 record, 2.67 ERA, 4.49 FIP and 1.07 WHIP in 27 innings on the year. He has struggled with the home run ball, but continues to strike out batters at an elite rate (10.3 strikeouts per nine).
In his career against the Mets, Hill owns a 2-2 record, 7.45 ERA and 1.72 WHIP over 29 innings pitched (eight games, six starts). He went 1-0 with a 6.55 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in two starts against New York last season.
The Mets counter with fellow left-hander Steven Matz, who is coming off a solid outing against the Washington Nationals. He yielded 10 hits in six innings of work, but limited the damage to only one run and was tabbed with a no-decision.
The 27-year-old has been one of the Mets’ more reliable starters this season. He enters with a 3-3 record, 3.63 ERA, 4.66 FIP and 1.37 WHIP in 44.2 innings (nine starts).
Matz is 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 23.1 career innings against the Dodgers (four starts). He has struggled on the road this season, accumulating a 6.10 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in 20.2 innings (five games).
In the wake of Austin Barnes being placed on the 10-day injured list with a groin strain, the Dodgers promoted catching prospect Will Smith from Triple-A Oklahoma City. He makes his MLB debut, batting eighth.
Smith is expected to split duties with Russell Martin behind the plate while Barnes is sidelined. For the Oklahoma City Dodgers this season, the 24-year-old hit a scorching .290/.404/.551 with eight doubles, two triples, eight home runs and 28 RBI over 166 plate appearances (38 games).
Dodgers lineup:
CF: Kiké Hernandez
3B: Justin Turner
1B: David Freese
RF: Cody Bellinger
LF: Chris Taylor
2B: Max Muncy
SS: Corey Seager
C: Will Smith
P: Rich Hill
