The Los Angeles Dodgers returned home on Monday night and defeated the Cincinnati Reds, courtesy of another Clayton Kershaw masterpiece. Kershaw earned the win with a complete game shutout effort, his third in the month of May.
Ross Stripling was originally scheduled to make his 10th start of the season, but after pitching three frames in the 17-inning marathon against the San Diego Padres, he was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Instead, the Dodgers hand the ball to Mike Bolsinger.
The right-hander made a spot start last week, limited to 80 pitches due to having only two rehab assignments under his belt since recovering from an oblique strain. Bolsinger suffered the loss as he allowed three runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings.
Bolsinger was 6-6 with a 3.62 ERA, 3.91 FIP and 1.36 WHIP in 21 starts for the Dodgers last season. The Reds also call on a previously unexpected starter as Daniel Wright was recalled from Triple-A Louisville to make his Major League debut.
Tim Adleman, initially scheduled to start, was forced to the disabled list with an oblique strain. Wright posted a combined 0.79 ERA through 34 innings pitched in Double-A Pensacola and Louisville this season.
He’s coming off a three-hit shutout in his last Minor League start. Yasmani Grandal returns to the lineup after fouling a ball off of his foot on Saturday, causing him to miss two games.
Elsewhere, Trayce Thompson starts a ninth consecutive game. He’s batting .281/.343/.552 with five doubles, seven home runs and 19 RBIs. A win on Tuesday will be the Dodgers’ third straight, matching a season high that’s twice been reached.
They enter play in second place in the National League West standings, 4.5 games back of the rival San Francisco Giants.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
LF: Trayce Thompson
CF: Joc Pederson
RF: Yasiel Puig
C: Yasmani Grandal
P: Mike Bolsinger
Reds lineup:
SS: Zack Cozart
1B: Joey Votto
2B: Brandon Phillips
RF: Jay Bruce
LF: Adam Duvall
3B: Eugenio Suarez
CF: Billy Hamilton
C: Tucker Barnhart
P: Daniel Wright
