The Los Angeles Dodgers have gotten off to a hot start this spring, winning their first two Cactus League games over the weekend. They now look to extend that streak to three games on Monday as they host their Camelback Ranch co-tenants, the Chicago White Sox.
Ross Stripling makes his first start of the spring for the Dodgers as he looks to make his case for a spot in the rotation. Both of the Dodgers’ starters in the first two games went an inning apiece, so the same can be expected on Stripling against the White Sox.
Stripling appeared in 32 games (15 starts) for the Dodgers in 2019, going 4-4 with a 3.47 ERA, 3.47 FIP and 1.15 WHIP with 93 strikeouts and 20 walks in 90.2 innings. This offseason was an interesting one for the 30-year-old considering he was almost traded to the Los Angeles Angels but wound up sticking around after the deal fell through.
Getting the start for the White Sox is right-hander Alex McRae, who is a non-roster invitee after signing a Minor-League contract with Chicago. The 26-year-old pitched in 11 games (two starts) for the Pittsburgh Pirates last season and did not fare all that well, yielding a 8.78 ERA, 8.31 FIP and 1.95 WHIP with 19 strikeouts and 16 walks in 26.2 innings.
McRae will be facing a very formidable lineup that includes Dodgers regulars like Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, Cody Bellinger, Kiké Hernandez and Will Smith. This marks the first game that both of the team’s MVPs, Betts and Bellinger, are in the lineup and playing the outfield together.
Betts made his Dodgers debut in Sunday’s win over the Chicago Cubs, so is in the lineup for the second consecutive day. He began the spring by flying out three times, although one was a sacrifice fly so he earned an RBI.
Muncy is sandwiched between the two MVPs in the Dodgers lineup and is already off to a hot start in Cactus League play after reaching base all three times on Saturday. He singled in his first at-bat before hitting a towering home run to right and then walking to finish off the perfect day.
This White Sox team is filled with young talent and that will be on display against the Dodgers. Their lineup features their No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline in first baseman Andrew Vaughn, second baseman Nick Madrigal (No. 4 prospect), right fielder Blake Rutherford (No. 8 prospect) and catcher Zack Collins (No. 9 prospect).
Dodgers lineup:
RF: Mookie Betts
2B: Max Muncy
CF: Cody Bellinger
LF: Kiké Hernandez
C: Will Smith
3B: Matt Beaty
1B: Edwin Rios
DH: D.J. Peters
SS: Zach McKinstry
White Sox lineup:
CF: Adam Engel
SS: Danny Mendick
LF: Nicky Delmonico
DH: Edwin Encarnacion
C: Zack Collins
1B: Andrew Vaughn
2B: Nick Madrigal
3B: Cheslor Cuthbert
RF: Blake Rutherford
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